On Monday, June 23, 2025 the San Rafael City Council approved the use of up to $500,000 in City funds to support the purchase of the property located at 620 Canal Street for future public uses.
The 1.65-acre site is located along the southern edge of the San Rafael Creek (Canal) and is a potential site for a waterfront park as well as a bicycle and pedestrian bridge crossing to connect the Canal with the nearby Montecito Plaza Shopping Center and San Rafael High School.
The effort to purchase the property has been a multi-agency effort, led by the Trust for Public Land. Funding for the acquisition is anticipated to come from a combination of sources including the $500,000 approved by the City Council and $1,350,000 in Measure A funds from the County of Marin. The Trust for Public Lands is also actively seeking philanthropic contributions to fill an outstanding funding gap and make this purchase a reality.
In addition, on Monday the City Council authorized the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Grant Agreement for Measure A Funds and to Negotiate and Enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the property located at 620 Canal, provided the City’s Contribution does not exceed $500,000.
The County’s Measure A grant is scheduled for consideration by the Marin County Board of Supervisors later this summer. If approved, the funding would require that the site be permanently used as a public park.
“The partnership with the City of San Rafael, Trust for Public Land and the County of Marin is a refreshing example of the power of collaboration to get things done for the Canal Community”, said Supervisor Dennis Rodoni.
“The level of cooperation is a testament to San Rafael’s leadership and to the City’s longstanding relationship with the Canal Alliance and Canal residents” said Erica Williams, Senior Project Manager with the Trust for Public Land.
The property acquisition is a critical and important step towards increasing open space and improving connectivity in the Canal neighborhood. For decades, residents have consistently expressed the need for more parks, plazas, walkways, and recreational amenities in this area. These priorities are reflected in the City’s 2009 Canalfront Conceptual Design Plan, the 2023 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and the 2040 General Plan.
“This project represents a unique opportunity to advance a long-standing community vision of expanding open space and improving connectivity in the Canal neighborhood,” said Mayor Kate Colin. “Since 2006, when the City developed its first Canal Neighborhood Community-Based Transportation Plan, residents have consistently expressed a desire for a canal crossing to the north. While any future crossing would require significant planning and funding, the park itself would be a meaningful step forward for the neighborhood.”
Currently, the only way for Canal residents to walk or bike to the Montecito Shopping Center, San Rafael High School, and San Pedro Elementary School is by walking on Francisco Boulevard East to the Grand Avenue Bridge. This route is lengthy for bicyclists and pedestrians and can add up to a mile (or 20 minutes) to the trip to Third Street destinations including schools, shops, restaurants, and community services.
“This long-awaited project, prioritized by Canal families and community leaders for decades, represents more than a park or bridge, it’s a lifeline. It will strengthen emergency preparedness, improve daily connectivity to schools, jobs, and transit, and create a vital space for health and belonging,” said Omar Carrera, Chief Executive Office, Canal Alliance. “Achieving system-level impact like this is only possible through the power of public, private, and community partnerships. Cross-sector collaboration is not optional, it’s essential.
Earlier this year, the City received a $1,575,000 Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant to fund a feasibility study of a potential bicycle and pedestrian bridge across the Canal. The City anticipates receiving the results of the feasibility study by July 1, 2028.
While purchasing the property is the first step in delivering on this community priority, it will take several years to secure the additional funding needed to make the site safe and accessible for public use. Community engagement and longer-term planning for a future park and bridge crossing could take upwards of a decade to complete, depending on available funding.