Shaping the Future of Stafford Lake Park

PHOTO: Stafford Lake Park near Novato. CREDIT: Marin County Parks Ranger Craig Solin

THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS RELEASE FROM THE COUNTY OF MARIN:

What should Stafford Lake Park look like in five years? Ten years? Twenty years? Marin County Parks, which operates the park near Novato, is collecting opinions from the best sources – including you.

The 139-acre regional park is in need of an orchestrated timeline of improvements. Stafford Lake has been a County-owned park since the 1970s, but all upgrades thus far – there haven’t been many – have been handled on an as-needed, as-approved basis. Now, Marin County Parks has embarked on a master plan for Stafford and wants to hear from you.

Parks staff will host a community meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. October 15 at the Hill Community Room, 1650 Hill Road, near the Margaret Todd Senior Center in Novato. Participants will be invited to contribute ideas and preferences that will be used to establish a clear vision and framework for the future of the park. It’s your chance to participate.

After hearing an overview of the planning process, participants will learn about current park site issues, future opportunities, constraints, and next steps.

Today, the regional park serves as a quiet, bucolic getaway – a taste of rural West Marin without being too far from civilization. It is s an ideal location for festivals and concerts, company picnics and family gatherings. It features children’s play structures and facilities for volleyball, horseshoes, disc golf and other sports that require a large grassy area. Shore fishing is permitted at Stafford Lake, which is owned by North Marin Municipal Water District.

Over the past year, in partnership with area mountain bikers and their supporters, County staff has started construction on Marin County’s first progressive skills bike park at Stafford Lake Park. The facility, in the works now, will occupy 17 acres near the northwest corner of the park. Once complete, the full featured bike park will provide a spectrum of challenges for bike riders of all ages and skill levels. Organizers are staging a Ride the Lake fundraiser for the project on Oct. 19 at the Novato City Green, next to City Hall, at 901 Sherman Ave. That event will be another opportunity to learn more about the park’s future.

Feedback from the October 15 community meeting will be factored into a preliminary master plan, which will be shared with the public at a second workshop. The time is right to join us and help shape the future of Stafford Lake Park!