An Oakmont Natural Park Created by Volunteers

While someone might buy the Oakmont golf course property, one has to doubt that it has much value or could even be developed given it is zoned open space.  Changing the zoning is difficult and given that Oakmonters vote in the VERY high percentages, our objections would probably kill any such effort.

What does the scenario look like if OGC abandons the business or it is left to the OVA to make the decision to close the area for golf?

We have a handy example of what is possible in such an event, and it isn’t the dire pictures of Adobe Creek and others similar golf course closures.  The Santa Rosa Cemetery provides an example of what Mother Nature did to a landscaped piece of property that was abandoned in the 30’s and not touched until some volunteers got the city to take it over with the volunteers providing most of the effort.

Now it is used as a city park.  There is limited parking so the local neighborhood folks are the primary users, and they use it a lot.

It is only a few acres, but going there will give you the idea of what could happen here.  Basically an oak forest with trails.  If we had an active planting program we could transform it much faster.  While our area is much larger, think of the visual similarities.  We also have limited parking near entrances to the golf courses and unlike the city, we can put up “For Residents Only” signs.

I worked with the cemetery maintenance crew for a few years.  Due to the headstones, we couldn’t use mowers and had to weed whack.  The golf courses could be mowed, probably only 2-3 times a year without irrigation.  The view would be different.  Trees vs grass.  But green none the less.

Andy Baldwin, Oak Leaf Dr