Food, Agriculture, and Resilient Ecosystems Grants
Updated: October 12, 2023
Parks Measure A funds FARE (Food, Agriculture, and Resilient Ecosystems), competitive matching grants that support sustainable food systems.
Passenger Vehicle Parking Fees Eliminated
Updated: June 26, 2023
Passenger parking fees eliminated at McNears Beach, Paradise Beach, and Stafford Lake parks, as well as Black Point and Miller Boat launches.
Grants Focus on Key Barriers to Parks
Updated: March 16, 2023
Up to $200,000 will be awarded to Marin County community-based organizations to help overcome barriers and connect communities to parks.
McDowell Ranch Preserved
Updated: July 12, 2022
723-acre McDowell Ranch near Tomales preserved as agricultural land with help from the County of Marin and a local land trust.
Tiburon Peninsula Land
Updated: June 16, 2022
Proposal to convert Martha Property on Easton Point into County open space.
Leave No Trace
Updated: June 16, 2022
Northern California counties partner to create a cleaner coast.
Parks Measure A
Updated: February 16, 2022
Parks Measure A renewal is headed to June 2022 ballot.
Mill Valley/Sausalito Pathway Resurfacing
Updated: September 15, 2021
1.4 miles of the Mill Valley/Sausalito Pathway undergoes a surface treatment for preventative maintenance.
McNears Parking Lot Repaving
Updated: August 24, 2021
Parking lot at the popular regional park in San Rafael to be repaved for the first time since the 1970s.
Bay Area Counties Require Masking Indoors
Updated: August 2, 2021
Beginning August 3, 2021, everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear face coverings when indoors in public settings.
2021 Community Grants Support Mental Health
Updated: May 20, 2021
Parks Community Grants collaborates with Behavioral Health and Recovery Services to support mental health programs that make use of parks and open space.
County Gears Up to Support Pandemic Response
Updated: February 1, 2021
Marin County employees mobilize to support COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Stay-Home Order Lifted in Marin
Updated: January 25, 2021
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) lifts the regional stay-home order for the Bay Area, including County of Marin.
Parks Continues Bridge Renovations on Pathway
Updated: December 23, 2020
Two bridges along the Mill Valley/Sausalito Multiuse Pathway are being renovated in January 2021.
Health Officers Implement State Order
Updated: December 4, 2020
Marin health officers implement the state's regional stay-at-home order.
COVID-19 Restrictions
Updated: November 17, 2020
Marin County is one of 40 California counties tightening restrictions per State of California mandates in response to a surge of COVID-19 cases across the state and region.
Sustainability Planning for Muir Woods
Updated: September 24, 2020
The National Park Service and Marin County Department of Public Works present a progress update on Muir Woods parking and traffic at the Board of Supervisors meeting on October 6.
Woodward Fire Basecamp Relocates to San Geronimo
Updated: August 23, 2020
Fire officials have relocated the Woodward Fire incident command basecamp to San Geronimo.
Point Reyes National Seashore Wildfire
Updated: August 18, 2020
Woodward fire in Point Reyes has caused national park closures and evacuation warnings in West Marin.
Red Flag Warning: Wildfire Weather
Updated: August 15, 2020
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the entire Bay Area, due to wildfire weather conditions.
Marin County on State Watch List
Updated: July 3, 2020
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that Marin County was added to the list of California counties that are being closely monitored for increased COVID-19 activity.
Social Bubbles Allow Small Group Gatherings
Updated: June 19, 2020
Marin Public Health is adopting a model that will guide safe gatherings of small groups of friends and family during the COVID-19 pandemic. A "social bubble" is a stable group of 12 people or fewer who have collectively agreed to limit their in-person social activities to only each other for at least three weeks.
Regional Shelter-in-Place Orders Extended
Updated: April 29, 2020
Health officers in seven Bay Area counties - including Marin County - extended the stay-at-home order from May 4 through May 31, 2020. The new order provides for first steps toward safely easing restrictions.
Parks Closure Order
Updated: March 31, 2020
Health officers in seven Bay Area jurisdictions - including Marin County - updated a previous stay-at-home order through May 3, 2020, to preserve critical hospital capacity across the region..
Shelter in Place
Updated: March 17, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shelter-in-place order has caused many of the County of Marin’s 22 departments to make service adjustments to adhere to recommendations to prevent the virus’ spread. The public shelter-in-place order issued March 16 will be in effect through April 7.
2020 Breath/Respira Community Grants
Updated: January 16, 2020
Breathe/Respira Grants, funded by Measure A, are awarded to organizations that provide programs to underserved, high-risk, or vulnerable populations and promote health, wellness or environmental education in Marin. Through February 24, 2020, local community organizations are invited to send in letters of interest in applying for the competitive grants.
Conservation Corps North Bay Apprenticeship Program
Updated: December 5, 2019
Parks is collaborating with Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) on a six-month pilot apprenticeship program. Corpsmembers will receive hands-on training as they help support vegetation management and fire fuel reduction projects. CCNB, based in San Rafael, gives corpsmembers a leg up in the job market by providing opportunities to earn skill-based certifications and to access job and internship openings.
Pathway Bridge Renovations
Updated: September 30, 2019
Bridges along the Mill Valley/Sausalito Pathway in southern Marin were renovated in October 2019. Decaying deck boards were replaced for safety, prior to the start of rainy season. Two of the bridges are over 100 years old.
Family-Friendly StoryWalk Debuts at Bothin Marsh
Updated: September 18, 2019
Through the end of 2019, visitors can combine a reading adventure with a fun family walk along Bothin Marsh. Visitors of all ages will enjoy a series of reading panels featuring A Stone Sat Still, a new book by award-winning author and illustrator Brendan Wenzel. “The Bothin Marsh StoryWalk encourages wonder and imagination,” said hydroecologist Veronica Pearson, who coordinated the project for Marin County Parks. “It deepens appreciation for this incredibly dynamic wetland habitat and how it is changing over time." One Tam partners, Marin County Parks and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, collaborated on the StoryWalk with local libraries and Chronicle Books.
E-Bike Proposal Heads to Supervisors
Updated: September 12, 2019
The Board of Supervisors is reviewing a proposal to allow electric-assisted bicycles on paved, multiuse pathways such as the Mill Valley/Sausalito Path, the Corte Madera Creek Path, and the Pacheco Path. This change would not affect rules that prohibit e-bikes on Marin County Open Space District land.
2019 Breathe/Respira Community Grants
Updated: July 10, 2019
For the past five years, a grant program offered by Marin County Parks has helped underserved local residents have better access to parks and open space preserves, leading to better overall health and relationships throughout the community. A new round of grants worth a combined $190,000 was approved by the Marin County Board of Supervisors during its July 9, 2019 meeting. This community grants program is funded by Measure A.
Parks Fees Reduced
Updated: June 11, 2019
On June 11, 2019 the Marin County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to amend Parks’ fee schedule. Summer weekend and holiday passenger vehicle parking fees at McNears Beach Park, Stafford Lake Park, and Paradise Beach Park were reduced to $5. Parking was previously $10. The reduced entry fees take effect July 1, 2019. Beginning in August, entry to McNears Beach swimming pool will be free. The pool fee was previously $5. The fee reductions, supported by Measure A funds, were put in place after a community survey indicated that park fees were a barrier to entry for some residents.
Measure A Farmland Preservation
Updated: June 4, 2019
758-acre Ielmorini Back Ranch in the hills between Nicasio and Novato has been preserved, thanks to a Measure A Farmland Preservation grant and matching funds from the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT). Over the past five years, Marin County Parks has awarded 12 grants to help purchase agricultural conservation easements for over 7,000 acres of working farms and ranches. This latest easement adds to a large block of protected ranches that are classified as essential to regional conservation goals by the Bay Area Open Space Council's Conservation Lands Network.
Community Survey Results
Updated: May 7, 2019
Marin County residents have noticed recent improvements in Marin County Parks properties and facilities and want to see the work continue, according to results from an online survey. More than 4,800 people contributed feedback through the survey. "We are taking immediate steps to put the feedback we received to good use in budget planning and next steps for the department,” said Parks Director Max Korten. “The survey results will guide how we apply Measure A funds and other resources.”
New Proposal to Reduce Wildfire Threat
Updated: March 26, 2019
In response to lessons learned from North Bay wildfires, Marin County is pursuing a variety of efforts to prepare for wildfire, including an enhanced partnership between Marin County Parks and Marin County Fire.
Parks Community Survey
Updated: February 11, 2019
Marin County Parks launched an online community survey to get feedback from local residents about the programs they enjoy, potential areas of improvement, and new priorities. The survey opened February 11, 2019 and takes only about 5 minutes to complete. The survey will be available until March 25, 2019. Results will then be summarized in a report shared with the community and the Marin County Board of Supervisors.
Call For Measure A Community Grants
Updated: January 17, 2019
Community grants administered by Marin County Parks will support local organizations that help underserved, at-risk, or vulnerable Marin residents enjoy county parks and open spaces. Local organizations are invited to apply for the grants, totaling $135,000, through February 25, 2019. Breathe/Respira grants are funded by Measure A, which was passed by Marin voters in 2012. Director Max Korten stated, "“Our community grant program is one of many steps we’re taking to ensure all Marin residents enjoy and benefit from the public lands that surround them.”