CAN EL SOBRANTE GET A PARK?
It’s time for action if West County is to get a new opportunity for the community to grow
By Matt Larson
Big changes don’t come easily, but time is of the essence.
At this writing, El Sobrante has a chance to acquire
the San Pablo Creekside Property, aka the Mowery
Property, a 1.5-acre parcel of land which could be
transformed into an urban park. This could potentially
lead to a multitude of benefits for the local community,
and economy. They’re ready to do it! All they need … is
funding.
Citizens for a Greener El Sobrante (C4AGES), founded
in 2011 by Executive Director Sharon Korotkin, has
been advocating in favor of this project. They’ve stirred
plenty of community interest, and even got the attention
and support of Supervisor Gioia, but the funds to
purchase the parcel are still desperately needed. The
property is currently on the market, so before someone
else steps in, C4AGES is searching for a likeminded
investor who wants to help make this park a reality.
“We see it as a catalyst, a gateway to the revitalization
of the downtown to make it a useable place,” Korotkin
explained. “It will create an attraction for activity—a
Farmer’s Market, dog run, respite by the creek, for
example—if we can get the park, and get access to the
creek, one of the main components is connecting to an
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existing trail system, and eventually the Bay Trail system.”
The possibilities are truly endless.
“The biggest challenge is that the county doesn’t have
the funds for the acquisition,” she lamented. “That’s
going to be exclusively up to the community to pull
together. I don’t think it’s impossible with willpower, and
if we can reach enough people, but we’re hoping for a
large benefactor.”
Thus far they’ve raised maybe $15,000, but a few
hundred thousand is needed. They’ve pulled together
lots of support from residents, county officials and local
organizations alike, but they’re at a bit of a catch 22 for
bringing in some of the bigger corporations. “We don’t
have a complete business/development plan,” Korotkin
explained. “That’s a huge undertaking, and it’s not for
one person or small group of people to decide; there
has to be a forum. In my view, this comes after the
acquisition as it’s too much energy and time to figure
out how to do all that unless we have the property.”
So the question now is, what can we all do to help?
Spread the word, really. Talk to your neighbors, any
community contacts you have, and see if you can help
stir some interest throughout El Sobrante and West