FRIENDS of the petaluma river (FRIENDS) is building a dock at steamer landing park that will provide access in accordance to criteria established by the american disabilities act (ADA)

This new dock and ADA-friendly boating program will create more equitable public access for the petaluma river. Since 2010 FRIENDS has operated a free public boating program from the david yearsley river heritage center at steamer landing park, which is a cityowned open space park in downtown petaluma managed by FRIENDS. FRIENDS weekly sunday boating at the barn program offered free access to our small fleet of kayaks, canoes, row boats and stand- up paddleboards to everyone. FRIENDS also partners with programs like landpaths vamos afuera program, sonoma ecology center S senderos program and community organizations like the earl baum center for the blind, girl scouts and many others to provide access to the petaluma river for under-represented groups. The dock is open to the public and also provided access for youth participating in FRIENDS nature camps, educational programs and community river cleanups. During the summer of 2020, when the petaluma river was being dredged, the small boat dock belonging to FRIENDS was damaged and needed to be retired. Through funding from the city of petaluma, FRIENDS has been able to design and install a new dock at the park. There are several project elements that still need to be completed and FRIENDS is seeking funding to finish the project. Funding would support the revival and development of FRIENDS free boating program suspended since 2020 and planning and construction of ADA-accessible facilities for river users. Remaining project elements to be funded include ADA-accessible pathway to connect to the gangway to the dock and for facilities for boaters and people fishing (picnic tables, boat washing station, kayak storage and trolley kiosk, way-finding signage, lighting, new single and double kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, new life jackets). The funding will also support staffing and resources for FRIENDS boating program, development of safety protocols, building and training a volunteer workforce, and for advertisement and communications with the community.