Looking at Shollenberger Park today, it might be difficult to envision it as a dumping ground. That's exactly what it was, however, when the 165-acre former ranch became property of the city of Petaluma in 1970. It wasn't a dumping ground for trash, though, but rather a depository for "dredge-spoils." You see, in order for the Petaluma River to stay healthy and navigable by boat, it had to be periodically dredged—i.e., de-gunked of excess mud and silt. The mud was transported to Shollenberger Park after each dredging, and eventually the space naturally evolved into a beautiful oasis.

Upon recognizing its potential, the city turned this dredge-spoils site into a public park in the 1990's. Locals are happy that they did because now a couple hundred people visit the park each day. It's home to a two-mile loop that many like to run or walk with their dogs, as well as another one-mile cutoff trail that runs right through the Alman Marsh and to Petaluma's marina. Thanks to its rich biology, the park also plays host to many critters, including a wide array of birds.

Shollenberger Park
1900 S. McDowell Boulevard
Petaluma, CA 94954
petalumawetlands.org/public-wetlands/shollenberger-park
www.yelp.com/biz/shollenberger-park-petaluma

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/L'eau Bleue