New park for Roseland part of ongoing revitalization

In a sign of the ongoing revitalization of Roseland, Sonoma County officials on Wednesday dedicated a new playground and “fitness zone” on a swath of land planned for a plaza and mixed-use development.

“The Roseland Village Joe Rodota Trail Linear Park” bears a long name for a relatively modest $176,000 upgrade in the heart of the lower-income area, which in the last year has added a community center and a branch of the Sonoma County Library that shares space with the Boys and Girls Club.

Underlining the fluid nature of the evolving neighborhood is the location of the new park about 150 feet away from a temporary, fenced-off homeless encampment that was established on county property behind the Dollar Tree store.

Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo, who represents Roseland, said the new park is just the beginning of many changes to come, part of the long-term vision for Roseland Village. The residential and commercial project with a 1-acre plaza is planned on the former Albertsons supermarket site and surrounding property.

“This is an investment in our community, not just an investment in physical equipment,” Carrillo told a crowd of about 50 people, including county officials, residents and students from Roseland Elementary School.

The play structure in the shape of a railroad steam engine with an adjacent slide is designed for children from 2 to 5 years old, and includes water fountains with a bottle-filler option. And the exercise area with a sturdy rowing machine, leg press, elliptical trainer and other machines is for teenagers, parents and grandparents to work out.

“This is such a vibrant community. The value of a park like this is immeasurable,” said Fernando Torres, a former Roseland resident who said the area will grow along with the predominantly Latino population.

“It’s really great. It’s important to have,” said Marcos Suarez, a manager with the county Economic Development Board, who said residents won’t have to join a gym to stay in shape.

“It’s a great start to things that are coming here,” he said.

The 7-acre, $60 million Roseland Village, which grew out of a vision approved by the community a decade ago, is a joint public-private venture with MidPen Housing, which was selected earlier this year as the developer to work with the county. MidPen will be unveiling the latest details of their project in two public workshops, with the first scheduled at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Roseland Community Center.

The new park is not only a stone’s throw from Camp Michela, named after a homeless woman who died in 2012, but is adjacent to the Joe Rodota bike and pedestrian trail, which has plenty of highly visible transients.

But county officials say the self-governing tent village has actually made things safer because rules are enforced and anyone causing problems is asked to leave.

Carrillo said the new park with night lights and security patrols has the potential to make the area a more inviting place for families.

“Anytime you build a park asset there is always concern over graffiti and negative elements. With families and children present, it will deter those type of activities,” he said.

He said the playground dedication was an opportunity to “celebrate the good in community and the good that is yet to come.”

You can reach Staff Writer Clark Mason at 707-521-5214.