By Adrian Rodriguez | arodriguez@marinij.com | Marin Independent Journal
A dream two decades in the making to build a bridge linking the Canal neighborhood to central San Rafael is closer to becoming a reality.
The city closed escrow this month on a former boatyard on a 1.65-acre lot along San Rafael Creek. The property at 620 Canal St. is slated to become a community park. The long-term hope is that it could serve as an entrypoint for a bridge across the creek.
“Acquiring land for a new park in the Canal is more than a land deal — it creates opportunities, connects communities, improves health and educational outcomes and strengthens public safety,” said Omar Carrera, chief executive officer of Canal Alliance, a nonprofit serving the neighborhood.
Carrera said the community has been asking for this for years, and Canal Alliance has been working to drive the effort.
“This progress happened because people showed up consistently, listened deeply and committed to long-term collaboration,” he said.
The $3.35 million acquisition was made possible by a partnership involving the city, the county, the Trust for Public Land, Canal Alliance and the Marin Community Foundation, said San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin.
In June, the City Council authorized the purchase agreement with the Anthony Cavallo Trust and committed $500,000 of city funds toward the acquisition. Marin County supervisors approved $1.35 million in Measure A tax revenue toward the effort in September.
The acquisition, which was led by the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit organization, collected donations to fill the funding gap. The remaining funds came from the Marin Community Foundation and individual philanthropists.
The city has been discussing the idea since 2006.
“We are thrilled to be a major step closer to realizing community priorities that have been decades in the making,” Colin said. “The opportunity for this site as a space to increase community connection, recreation, health and well-being is unprecedented.”
The parcel is on the south side of San Rafael Creek in the low-income, predominantly Latino Canal neighborhood. San Rafael High School, San Pedro Elementary School and shopping sites such as Trader Joe’s and United Markets are on the other side of the creek.
The only route for cyclists and pedestrians to get from the neighborhood to such sites is Francisco Boulevard East to the Grand Avenue bridge, which for some adds 20 minutes of travel time.
The Canal neighborhood, with more than 10,000 residents, is served by only one community park, Pickleweed Park. The new park will offer another place to congregate and play.
“This project will help ensure all residents, especially those in the Canal neighborhood, have safe access to recreation and the waterfront,” Marin County Supervisor Dennis Rodoni said.
Craig Richardson, a planner for Marin County Parks, said that when voters reauthorized the Measure A quarter-cent sales tax in 2022 it expanded the use of revenue to include new types of projects.
“The guidelines were changed to invite proposals from local jurisdictions seeking to create new local and neighborhood parks and to allow for larger grants covering a greater proportion of the overall acquisition cost, particularly in situations where the new park would expand access to communities that are disadvantaged and/or underserved,” Richardson said. “This project in the Canal is a perfect fit.”
In January, the city announced it received a $1.575 million grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to conduct a study and preliminary design of the bridge.
The bridge must allow for boats to traverse the creek. The feasibility study would identify and compare potential bridge options, costs and impacts, staff said.
City staff are planning to select a consultant to begin that study in early 2026, said April Miller, director of public works. Once a consultant is on board, staff will have a better idea about when the report will be completed.
The city’s next step will focus on community engagement, design, planning and looking for funding, officials said.
“With the acquisition of the property and the potential for many levels of community benefit, the city believes this project will be highly competitive for grant funding,” said Catherine Quffa, the city’s director of libraries and recreation.
Quffa said staff are working closely with Canal Alliance and other partners to pursue funding for planning, community engagement and construction.
Canal Alliance is already working on the community engagement. The effort, focused on park usage and design priorities, is guided by the resident-led neighborhood vision plan, Nuestro Canal Nuestro Futuro.
The group has organized trips for residents and community leaders to study the India Basin Waterfront Park in San Francisco, and it has consulted with Petaluma River Park on successful engagement strategies.
Diana Benitez, a community development planner at Canal Alliance, said residents have shared ideas on how the park could be used, including providing a safe designated space for street food vendors; a green space for activity; and spaces to honor culture, community identity and local entrepreneurs.
“This milestone moves us closer to public spaces that truly reflect the values, culture and vision of the people who live here,” Benitez said.
The property is occupied by Hi-Tide Boat Sales and Service, whose proprietor, Anthony Cavallo, died in 2023 at the age of 80.
“My clients are so happy that this property can become a park that will improve the lives of the local community,” said Matt Wertheim, a representative for the owners. “I was honored to work with TPL to get this deal done.”