Argus-

City’s parks are on the rebound.

Late in 2012, a ballot measure to improve Petaluma’s dilapidated parks failed at the polls, despite receiving more than 60 percent voter approval. The following month, thieves stole a bronze plaque commemorating 15 local soldiers who died in Vietnam from its pedestal at a downtown park. As the year came to a close, it seemed like many of Petaluma’s parks were headed towards extinction.

Today, however, despite a continued lack of city funding to properly maintain and improve local parks, there is more being done to renovate parks and add new ones than at any time in Petaluma’s recent history, with much of the work financed through donations and volunteer efforts.

The loss of the bronze plaque at the 140-year-old Walnut Park galvanized community interest in the park and, thanks to community donations, the memorial plaque was eventually replaced. That effort, in turn, sparked a far more ambitious plan to completely renovate Petaluma’s oldest park. Enter the Petaluma Service Alliance. Led by uber-volunteer Maureen Frances and 1,300 members of seven local service clubs, the group undertook a major overhaul of Walnut Park.

Benches were replaced, new landscaping was planted and cracked walkways repaved. An eight foot-tall granite and stainless steel obelisk was installed this week with the word “Peace” inscribed in different languages. Supplies and labor for the improvements have been donated by Friedman’s Home Improvement, Nelson Construction, Lagunitas Brewing Co., Shamrock Materials, V. Dolan Trucking and many more. To raise additional funds, volunteers are selling commemorative bricks that will encircle the park’s historic gazebo.

At McNear Park, a similar project is about to get underway that will include the installation of new landscaping, picnic tables, benches, bocce-ball courts, and the renovation of sidewalks and pathways. The project is being led by Golden State Lumber owner Seth Nobmann and Mentor Me Petaluma which recently took over operation of the Cavanaugh Center at the park. Mentor Me is acting as the fiscal agent to accept monetary donations aimed at the park’s renovation.

On the east side of town, a new 25-acre park is under construction that will open in the spring with three lighted, artificial-turf fields that are much needed by the growing legions of youth soccer and lacrosse players. Unlike the donor-driven park renovation projects on the west side, the city’s newest park is being funded primarily by developer impact fees as well as a $2 million grant from the county’s Open Space District. That said, donations will undoubtedly be welcomed to help underwrite park amenities.

The opening of the new park on East Washington in the spring will be a joyous and welcome occasion. But the ongoing and unmet needs of existing parks throughout the city are still a problem. At some point, it would be great if Petaluma city government found the resources to properly maintain and improve all of its parks.

Until that day comes, the community has shown that it’s willing to step up to fill the cracks, sometimes literally.