Join Us on Weekly Volunteer Days!
Every Wednesday from 8:30am to 11:30am

In February 2005, Russian Riverkeeper received donation of the 5-acre parcel from the Horne Family. Located on the north bank of the Russian River between the Hwy 116 and pedestrian bridges in Guerneville with the intention of creating a public park and river access. The property is over-run by invasive non-native plants, garbage and drug users making it a community nuisance.

Our concept is to create a natural pedestrian park with access to the Russian River in downtown Guerneville that reflects and demonstrates the goals of restoring the native plant community and proper ecological stewardship of the river banks for the benefit of lower river property owners while balancing human desires for view corridors and river access. The park should connect visually and physically to downtown Guerneville and improve the visual gateway to Guerneville. The park will provide space for a natural kids play area, interpretive loop trail, demonstration pervious parking area, picnic tables, sitting benches and small gathering area for watershed education. Russian Riverkeeper intends to retain ownership and maintenance responsibility of the park property and utilize it for ongoing educational programs ourselves and make it available to other organizations. Park planning is under way with funding from Russian River Redevelopment and we will be looking to the community for input as we work on the design process via community meetings that will be scheduled for late 2007 and early 2008.

This project would increase river access in this heavily used section of river, provide stewardship examples and resources to lower river property owners, provide a downtown park for the local community and visitors as well as provide educational programs and train volunteers in native revegetation. This park project would be connected via the pedestrian bridge to the new county Guerneville River Park across the river and would compliment the county Park's amenities for users, especially on busy summer weekends.

We are very proud to announce our partnership with Marmot Mountain LLC on our Demonstration Revegetation and Community Park project between the bridges in Guerneville. On May 18th, 2007, over 60 Marmot Mountain employees (everyone but shipping!) came out to Guerneville to roll up their sleeves and put in some sweat equity for the local community. This was the fourth work-day that the hardworking and funloving Marmot crew came out to Guerneville as part of their environmental stewardship and community efforts - What an Effort!! Under the guidance of Creekkeeper Volunteer and experienced revegetation pro Victoria Wikle, the hard working Marmots have to date removed over 65 cubic yards of invasive and non-native vegetation by hand, clear out over 30 cubic yards of trash weighing over 2000 pounds, moved and spread over 25 cubic yards of mulch, installed 250 feet of water lines for new plants and have helped get the project off to a fast start!

On April 25, 2008 the IT department of Medtronic came out to volunteer as part of Medtronic’s Earth Day week activities with over 20 volunteers lending a hand moving mulch for pathways and removing invasive Himalayan Blackberry, Vinca Major and Ivy. After some hard work the Medtronic crew helped plant another 30 new native plants in the area cleared of invasive plants - Thanks Medtronic!

On May 9th, over 40 Marmot Mountain employees came out for their 3rd year of volunteering at the Park! The well trained and hard working Marmot crew worked on establishing a new watering line for new plants, cleared another 800 square feet of invasive plants, moved 3 tons of boulders into position as path markers, painted over graffiti on the bridges and picked up 10 cubic yards of trash. The Park volunteer crew worked together with the Marmots who give the volunteers a big lift when they see how much gets done in one Marmot Day! (see picture above)

Thanks to the Marmot crew!

Come Out and Join Us on Volunteer Days!

What: Work at the Park to help restore riverbank habitat. No experience necessary. Everyone and all ages are welcome. Activities include: planting and caring for native plants, weeding, erosion control, restoration education and Park cleanup. Students can receive volunteer credit for participating. Visit the park to see the transformation or be part of the transformation taking place. Light refreshments provided.

When: Every Wednesday. Event cancelled when there is enough rain to need a raincoat.

Time: 8:30 am – 11:30 am, please join us for all or part

Bring: water and gloves - wear sturdy shoes