Thumbs up: The gates are opening at Tolay park

The long wait for Sonoma County's newest and largest regional park is finally ending. On Oct. 27, a week from Saturday, Tolay Lake Regional Park will finally open to the general public. The 3,400-acre park southeast of Petaluma features old ranch structures, trails and a spectacular 360-degree view of San Francisco Bay, Mount Diablo, Mount Tamalpais and Mount St. Helena. The park has been open on a limited basis for several years and also is site of a popular fall festival. But the property has remained largely closed to the public for more than 10 years as plans and restoration and development projects were completed.

The park will be co-managed by the Sonoma County Regional Parks Department and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Indian, who contributed $500,000 to help get the park open. If you want a sneak peak, this is the final weekend of the Tolay Fall Festival, so the park will be open Saturday and Sunday. Thumbs up.

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