Community Update for May 8, 2025

Image of a child jumping into a community pool in Petaluma

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Hello, Petaluma!

As we inch closer to summer, excitement is building across Petaluma with a season full of community events and local happenings! Planning for the Petaluma Fair is well underway, with opening day on June 19 promising plenty of fun and festivities. This year, we’re especially excited to offer a discounted 4-day pass to help you make the most of the Fair experience. More on that in the email below!

In this edition of our Community Update, you’ll also find important information about the Downtown Overlay planning effort, updates to the Lynch Creek Trail, helpful tips for irrigating your garden efficiently this spring, and more. Read on to stay connected and make the most of all that Petaluma has to offer.

Honoring Our History, Planning for Our Future

May is National Historic Preservation Month—a time to celebrate the people, places, and stories that make Petaluma so unique. Our city’s identity is deeply rooted in a shared commitment to preserving our historic character, from cherished buildings and bustling downtown blocks to the legacy of the Coastal Miwok and our rich agricultural past.

Throughout the month, we invite you to join us in honoring Petaluma’s history through a series of special events organized by the Petaluma Historical Museum Association, in collaboration with the City, Sonoma County Library’s Petaluma History Room, Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, and the Petaluma Arts Center.

📅 View the Events Flier

🔗 Learn about Petaluma’s Historic Preservation Efforts

As we celebrate the past, we are also shaping our city’s future in ways that reflect and respect our historic roots.

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About the Downtown Housing & Economic Opportunity Overlay

In April, the Petaluma City Council approved the Downtown Housing & Economic Opportunity Overlay, a zoning tool designed to breathe new life into an underutilized two-block section of our historic downtown on Petaluma Boulevard. This overlay encourages revitalization—allowing for some increased height and lot coverage for projects that provide community benefits like:

Public open spaces
Streetscape improvements
Preservation of cultural and historic resources
High-quality, architecturally compatible buildings

To qualify for increased height or lot coverage, projects in the Overlay must meet strict standards to protect the character of our downtown, while also supporting new housing, local businesses, and a more walkable, vibrant city center.

We understand that change invites discussion. There is currently a referendum effort underway to gather signatures to potentially reverse the Overlay decision by a citywide vote. We encourage all residents to learn more about the overlay and explore the facts before making decisions.

🔗 Visit the Overlay Information Page & FAQs

🔗 Overlay History Page | Appellation Petaluma Hotel Project Page

Have questions? Please contact Brian Oh, Director of Community Development, at [email protected].

Buy your Tickets for the Petaluma Fair!

Step right up! Early Bird tickets are now on sale for the Petaluma Fair! Through May 25, you can purchase discounted tickets to this year’s event, including a NEW four-day, all-access pass. Whether you come for the animals or the acrobats, the rides or the rhythm, you won’t want to miss a moment of fun.

This homegrown celebration will shine a spotlight on our incredible community and offer both traditional and brand new-programming, including:

Carnival rides and all your favorite Fair foods,
Livestock and still exhibits, honoring both our agricultural history and the future of farming,
A full musical line-up including Country, R&B, Latin, Pop, Americana, and Brass musicians, plus Play Marimba featuring students from Petaluma City Schools.
The Good Earth Grove, a showcase of sustainable living and green inspiration,
Live metal forging,
Play Dog Play’s Pup-Palooza dog costume contest,
Stirring dances from the Sonoma County Pomo Indians, the vibrant steps of Ballet Paquiyollotzin Folklórico, and the lively rhythms of the Kennan Irish Dancers,
Acrobats, jugglers, hypnotists, balloon twisters, accordion players, storytellers, and live painters,
Plus, the Demolition Derby, returning to the Petaluma Speedway after nearly a decade!

The Petaluma Fair is YOUR fair—a celebration of community, creativity, and the joy of Country Nights and Carnival Lights. From first-time visitors to long-time locals, there’s something for everyone beneath the big top. We can’t wait to welcome you to the 2025 Petaluma Fair!

Petaluma Swim Center Replastering – Almost Ready to Make a Splash!

Construction is moving right along at the Petaluma Swim Center, and we’re excited to share that both the 50 meter pool and wading pools are expected to be completed and ready to reopen on Monday, June 9—just in time for summer fun!

Curious what the remaining pool replastering process and timeline looks like?

May 12-13: Specialized main valve replacement installed.
May 14: New plaster will be applied to both pools and the filling process begins the same day.
May 16: Pools will be fully filled.
May 16–28: Crews will carefully balance the water chemistry and start up systems to ensure safe, clear, sparkling water.
May 28–30: Final inspections scheduled.
May 31–June 8: Punch list items are completed, final clean up, safety equipment staged and facility prepped for patrons!

We’re also enhancing perimeter fencing and upgrading the southwest entrance gate to improve safety and security as part of this work.

We can’t wait to welcome you back—see you poolside soon!

To learn more and sign up to receive project updates, please visit: cityofpetaluma.org/swimcenter.

May is Also National Bike Month!

May is the perfect time to celebrate biking as a fun, healthy, and sustainable way to get around Petaluma as part of National Bike Month. Thanks to funding from voter-approved Measure U, we’ve made meaningful safety and accessibility upgrades to bike paths across the city—helping more residents ride with confidence.

We’re also proud to lead the Petaluma Safe Routes to School Task Force, a city-sponsored initiative that brings together our Public Works and Police Departments, Sonoma County Safe Routes to School, and all three of Petaluma’s public school districts. Since launching in 2023, we’ve conducted walk audits at every public school, identified priority improvements, and already delivered upgrades like safer crossings and clearer signage.

Together, we’re working to make Petaluma’s streets safer and more accessible for everyone—whether you walk, bike, roll, or drive. By improving how students and families travel to school and around town, we’re creating a community where people of all ages have safer, healthier options for getting where they need to go. Let’s ride!

CLICK HERE to check out a list of upcoming bike events that are fun for the whole family!

Lynch Creek Trail Murals Ribbon Cutting

We’re excited to invite you to a special ribbon-cutting bike ride on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, celebrating both Bike Month and the latest public art addition to the Lynch Creek Trail — Petaluma’s vital Cross-Town Bike Connector.

This joyful event marks the unveiling of “Slough Birds,” three stunning murals by local artist Jonny Hirschmugl, whose vibrant work brings fresh color and life to our ever-improving trail. His art captures the spirit of our local wildlife and adds beauty to a space we all share.

How to Join:

Meet at either the Water Street or North McDowell trail entrances at 5:15 PM
Ride or walk the trail and meet in the middle at 5:30 PM, beneath Payran Street, for the Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony
Enjoy the murals, spring blooms, and community spirit

This celebration is part of the Lynch Creek Trail Improvement Project, which enhances safety, accessibility, and the overall trail experience. It’s a great way to support a greener, more bike-friendly Petaluma while enjoying art, nature, and connection.

Bring your bike, helmet, water, and most importantly — your community spirit. Whether you’re a regular cyclist or a casual walker, your presence helps build a more colorful, welcoming city.

As One Petaluma, we can’t wait to ride with you and celebrate!

Learn more about the trail at: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/lynch-creek-trail-and-smart-pathway-loop.

Irrigate Efficiently this Spring

As temperatures rise and summer approaches, so does your outdoor water use, mostly on lawns and landscapes. Below are a few ways you can use water more efficiently:

If you need to irrigate, set it to run in the early morning or evening to beat day time evaporation. Experts estimate that 50 percent of the water we use outdoors goes to waste from evaporation, wind, or runoff due to overwatering.
Inspect your irrigation systems: Fix leaks and broken or clogged sprinkler heads or drip emitters. Make sure you’re watering the landscape, not the sidewalk, street, or driveway.

For help identifying leaks, adjusting irrigation timers, and guidance on how to use water efficiently outdoors, schedule a free Water-Wise HouseCall by calling (707) 778-4507.

To learn more about water conservation rebates and programs, visit cityofpetaluma.org/conserve.