Petaluma park lovers are hoping their solid showing this year in an online "America's Favorite Park" contest can translate into first place next year - and a $100,000 prize.
Shollenberger Park, a 165-acre wetlands park behind the Petaluma Marina along the Petaluma River, placed 61st in the annual online contest sponsored by Coca Cola.
With more than 2,000 parks in the running, Shollenberger made a fine showing with more than 30,000 votes, said Joan Cooper of Friends of Shollenberger, a nonprofit group that works to preserve and enhance the park.
She said strong community support raised Shollenberger from 2,023rd place to 61st in just nine days after the park's name was entered into the contest late. Votes were encouraged through the group's email list and social media contacts.
The top three vote-getters win grants from Coke of $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000, with a random winner of $15,000 chosen from the rest of the top 25, according to Coca Cola. The final tabulations are ongoing for the winners.
The "America Is Your Park" grants are to help restore, rebuild or enhance activity areas in parks where people can play and be active, the company says.
Cooper said this year's abbreviated but strong showing is encouraging for next year.
"Shollenberger Park is the most popular park in Petaluma, with over 150,000 visits annually," she said. "If each of these visitors voted 100 times, Shollenberger could win one of these grants."
Friends of Shollenberger plans to organize a campaign for next year's contest, she said.
The park is loved for its wetlands, birding and walking opportunities. It wends its way through a flat expanse of restored wetlands that boasts tidal plants such as pickleweed and cattails and tidal mudflats that attract both migrating and resident shorebirds.
One- and two-mile trails through marshland offer views of Sonoma Mountain to the east and the chance to see any number of interesting birds and wildlife skittering around.
Friends of Shollenberger is fighting an asphalt plant the county approved for construction across the river. A lawsuit filed by the city of Petaluma and others is pending in the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco. The nonprofit group has raised money to help the city fund the appeal.
Last year's top vote-getter in the contest was Oak Park in Minot, N.D. After a flood destroyed the small-town park, residents organized to get out the vote. The $100,000 grant is being used to help rebuild the park, according to Coke.
Contact Staff Writer Lori A. Carter at 762-7297 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: