Community Corner
Rebuilding Together Brings Hundreds of Volunteers Out to Spruce Up Petaluma
Both skilled professionals and students, residents participate in more than a dozen projects around town
More than 300 volunteers turned out Saturday and earlier this week to help build two community parks and repair 13 homes in Petaluma as part of Rebuilding Together, a national day of community service.
Volunteers helped put in energy & water efficiency upgrades, paint homes, put in new flooring and install smoke detectors, landscaping and other features for needy families as well as seniors who would otherwise not be able to afford the repairs.
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Two of the projects included waterfront pocket parks at the end of G Street and H Street that will give the public access to the river and which organizers hope is the first step toward redeveloping the riverfront.
“It’s very satisfying to take this small step in implementing river access as described in the Petaluma River Plan," said Jane Hamilton, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Petaluma. "Many of us worked for many years to develop these visions and plans and we never imagined that it would take this long for them to start becoming reality.
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On Saturday, members of the Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Council planted trees and installed benches made by Petaluma High School students. Free wi-fi will be made available to each pocket park to encourage people to linger there.
On Upham Street, 92-year-old World War II veteran Robert Hammel watched as a crew of volunteers descended on his home to landscape the yard, fix the stairs and safety rails, and rebuild fences.
This is the 15th year that Petaluma has participated in Rebuilding Together, pairing skilled professionals with average folks in the community.
