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Petaluma Trestle Promenade Now!

Picture of the Trestle on the Petaluma Riverfront with many people standing on the boat docks holding up single letters spelling This Place Matters. The Great Petaluma Mill is in the background and boats are in the foreground. Photo by Scott Hess.

Join Us in Revitalizing Petaluma’s Riverfront

Be part of the movement to transform the deteriorating and unsafe trestle into a stunning Trestle Promenade that enhances our community and environment. Together, we can advocate for a safer, more beautiful riverfront for all Petaluma residents.

Join Our Mailing List →
Picture of the Trestle on the Petaluma Riverfront with many people standing on the boat docks holding up single letters spelling This Place Matters. The Great Petaluma Mill is in the background and boats are in the foreground. Photo by Scott Hess.

Join Us in Revitalizing Petaluma’s Riverfront

Be part of the movement to transform the deteriorating and unsafe trestle into a stunning Trestle Promenade that enhances our community and environment. Together, we can advocate for a safer, more beautiful riverfront for all Petaluma residents.

Join Our Mailing List →
Wave design

Role of Petaluma Trestle Promenade Now

Old Picture of Trestle when it was accessible. Many people are walking on the promenade.

The “Petaluma Trestle Promenade Now” Steering Committee will provide the sustained civic leadership required for our community and city to collaboratively dream, define, and complete the Project. Its volunteer members will serve as project advocates, stewards, resource gatherers, and community liaisons. Mayor Kevin McDonnell will chair the committee.

The missing piece to move this project forward NOW is input from you!  A nationally recognized consulting firm is ready to lead our Community Visioning process and deliver the final design that turns this vision into a buildable plan. We are partnering with the City, but need $50,000 to do this right.

It takes a Village! We need your help to fund that contract – and move the Trestle from vision to reality.

Donate Now

Meet your Petaluma Trestle Promenade Now Steering Committee Members on our About Us page.

Our Vision

Petaluma will create a beautiful and iconic riverfront promenade that invites everyone to enjoy our downtown river district.

Picture taken in olden times with train on trestle and barge up against trestle loaded with bags of feed. Mc Near Feed Company in background.

Our Mission

The mission of Petaluma Trestle Promenade Now is to realize the Vision. We will steer the action and investment required to renovate the trestle and create a public promenade. This asset will stimulate a revitalized riverfront and turning basin district that boosts civic pride and our local economy.

Let’s pull together to realize the vision and get the project done!

Let’s DO SOMETHING NOW!

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Trestle Promenade Benefits All

Community Benefits

The project will provide a beautiful, wide promenade where people can gather and stroll as they connect with nature and the river, attend special events, enjoy outdoor dining, and access our river-area amenities and attractions. It will:

Wide drawing of the turning basin with the trestle midway in the picture and the Petaluma buildings in the background, including the Great Petaluma Mill and the Masonic building with the clock tower.
  • Spur private investment that elevates our downtown riverfront district.
  • Encourage people to walk, visit, shop and recreate in our downtown.
  • Stimulate investment that delivers measurable economic returns.
  • Attract tourism dollars and other revenue streams that fund city services.
  • Honor and preserve the authentic sense of place that connects Petaluma’s river history to its present.
  • Remove blight and turn a deteriorating liability into an asset.
  • Create an urban oasis with multiple benefits.
  • Address climate and environmental issues related to our tidal slough.
  • Foster understanding of Petaluma’s river and rail history.

The Trestle Promenade Project meets all of the City of Petaluma’s Five Main Goals

Picture of Petaluma Trestle and Balshaw Bridge on Turning Basin.

A City that Works for Everyone

Arial picture of the turning basin with the trestle on the left and Taps on the right with Balshaw Bridge at the back. Picture spans up into the Petaluma hills.

An Environmental Legacy We Can be Proud Of

Deteriorating trestle in foreground with green chain link fence separating the trestle from the wharf walkway. Bicyclist on the wharf walkway. In the background is the Great Petaluma Mill.

A Safe Community that Thrives

People walking in crosswalk that is painted in a rainbow for pride with an historic building housing a game store in the background.

An Economy that Prospers

Picture of the last fun River Fest event held on the trestle with people almost shoulder to shoulder enjoying the event.

Spaces and Places that Inspire

Thank you to Scott Hess, Jim Johnson, and the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum for photographs, and Alan Butler for the sketch.