San Rafael, CA – The County of Marin and a national nonprofit are working out an agreement for Marin County Parks to manage a 157-acre property in San Geronimo and allow limited public use of the land for recreation.
Under a proposed agreement, the public would have free access at the former golf course for at least a limited time.The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a purchase agreement in November 2017 with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) for the former San Geronimo Golf Course. TPL is maintaining ownership until the County can raise funds to complete the purchase. On January 30, the Board will consider a lease and management agreement for the County to handle daily maintenance of the property. Golf operations ceased in late December 2017 but Parks is looking for a vendor to take over the golf business for two years.
“The management agreement allows Parks to maintain the fairways and greens in a play-ready condition so that course operations could resume quickly if a vendor is found,” said Carl Somers, Parks’ Chief of Planning and Acquisition. “We believe regular mowing, irrigation, and integrated pest management practices are necessary to help attract an interim operator.”
Shortly after approval of the management agreement, Parks will open the property to limited public use, from dawn to dusk. Interim signage will be posted onsite detailing use rules. In general, all visitors must be considerate of private property and access the property from public entry points.
Golf and equestrian use will not be allowed for the safety of others and the protection of the course during this interim period. Allowed uses include: walking or running, walking dogs on a leash, and riding a bike on the property’s paved pathways. The rules will be revised if an interim golf course operator is found.
County staff is working on plans to get the San Geronimo Valley community and other Marin residents involved in establishing a long-term vision for the property. Visioning workshops could be scheduled as soon as this spring. Proposed future uses for the property would need to be approved by the Board of Supervisors.
For more information, answers to frequently asked questions and to sign up for email updates, visit the San Geronimo Property Acquisition webpage.