Why Does Rohnert Park Get a Bad Rap?

An opinion piece published Sunday on Petaluma360.com struck me. It summarized what I've heard hundreds of times since moving here nearly two years ago. "Disparate Housewife" puts it pointedly: 

 “I don’t think I could live in a city that doesn’t have a downtown” and “What a bleak place; nothing but acres of big box stores and strip malls.”

True. And while there are valliant efforts underway by the City Council and the City Manager, Rohnert Park remains lackluster when it comes to a vibrant, walkable downtown — the places that are so great for communities to mingle and share ideas. In hundreds of cities across America, they're places blazen with drunken banter come nightfall, bustling with busy shoppers during the day, and most often add a mix of businesses to the city that make the economy more diverse and at times, stable. There's culture, diversity, opportunity.

The Press Democrat published last March a story about the city's outlook titled famously: "A City in Reverse." It points out that the town is struggling to find an identity, growing in commercial vacancies and losing students from its schools.

I'll admit, I'm angry sometimes when I feel like people-watching or hanging out with strangers in hopes of stumbling upon good conversation (not really possible here), and I feel a little cheated when I have to go to Petaluma or Santa Rosa to buy local (for the most part — I love Oliver's). But I think Rohnert Park is charming.

The bike paths are safe and roomy, the creeks make for a perfect walk on a Sunday afternoon with my dogs and I've been known to make numerous trips a week to Golden Bean for my favorite Blue Bottle coffee. We've got Sonoma State, a gorgeous library (home to the Friday Night Farmers Market), lit tennis courts at night and parks within walking distance from every neighborhood. 

We've also got now, which has drawn crowds since the opening a week ago, and of this young town. There's green businesses sprouting and flourishing here and,  this is a place to watch.

Remember Disparate Housewife? She lived in Rohnert Park years ago, then moved to Petaluma and now has roots in Cotati. She goes on to say that there are things she likes about this place too.

"While Rohnert Park certainly doesn’t have the charm of historic Petaluma, it does have a lot of what I need: lots of places to buy stuff and plenty of parking when I get there."

Interested in checking out the full blog? Read the whole thing here. And don't forget to tell us what you think. Why do you love working or living in Rohnert Park? What drew you here in the first place? Do you love your neighborhood or your local school? If one person has something to say, we're betting you do too. 

Leave your comments below or email angela.hart@patch.com with your letter to the editor. We'd love to share!

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