Lafferty Park atop Sonoma Mountain as seen from Petaluma FLP's "Walk to the Park" Events Winter cascade of Adobe Creek in Lafferty Park
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Lafferty Chronology

Press Democrat photo of February 2002 walk to Lafferty Park

Press Democrat photo of FLP's February 24,
2002, "Walk to the Park." For image purchase
information, see
www.merlin-net.com and
search for "lafferty".

Walk Buttons

Participants in each walk received
one of these commemorative buttons
designed by Bruce Hagen and hand-
crafted by Dave Libchitz.

January 13, 2002:

February 24, 2002:

March 24, 2002:

April 28, 2002:

May 19, June 16, and August 18, 2002:

July 21, 2002:

On Sunday, January 13, 2002, Friends of Lafferty Park led a group of 50 park supporters on our first 7-mile road walk from downtown Petaluma to the (closed) gate of Lafferty Park. This walk was repeated every month throughout 2002. Some walks included over 100 participants, others far fewer. One walk was truncated due to inclement weather.

While the walks had some aspects of a social outdoor outing, they were primarily informational demonstrations to call attention to the fact that our mountaintop park is not yet open.  And if we don't get our park open, we will -- ultimately, inevitably -- lose it.  Some carry signs highlighting the need for specific county actions needed to get Lafferty Park open.

FLP expects, or equivalent events, in the near future. See this website's EVENTS page for more information on upcoming activities.

Watch for the video

Independent filmmaker John Bertucci made an extraordinary 28-minute video of the early walks to Lafferty Park. It will be airing on public access cable and at various venues around Sonoma County. Who is that man hiding in the bushes talking to Sheriff's deputies on his cell phone, anyway?

Contact Larry at larrymod@comcast.net to purchase a copy of the video or arrange a screening.

Sing the song

At the closed gate of Lafferty Park, following each of our exhilarating 7-mile walks, we sang the new, topical lyrics by Hank Zucker for Woody Guthrie's bedrock movement song. Learn the words to "This Land is Your (Lafferty) Land" so you can sing along at future events!

Photos of the May 19 and Later Events

An unusual late-season rainstorm led us to truncate the May event. We drove to Lafferty's gate, had a short ceremony in the rain, and returned to town. Here are some photos:

Summer event photos
by Yigal Toister
Thumnail of group at Lafferty gate, by Yigal Toister May event photos
by Yigal Toister

Thumnail of group at Lafferty gate, by Deanna Issel

May event photos
by Deanna Issel

Photos of the April 28 Event

The April 28 walk was another beautiful walk among green fields and wildflowers. Here are some photos:

Thumnail of group at Lafferty gate, by Deanna Issel Event Photos
by Deanna Issel
Thumnail of Yigal's photo of Julia and Hollie Event Photos
by Yigal Toister

Photos of the March 24 Event

The March 24 Walk was splendid! The weather was perfect, the spring flowers were abundant, and the Sheriff's deputies were not. Take a look at these photos:

March 24, 2002 walk to the park thumbnail Event Photos
by Yigal Toister (1)
Unfurling the Lafferty quilt cloth -- thumbnail Event Photos
by Yigal Toister (2)

Lafferty gate image by Connie Madden, thumbnail

Event Photos
by Connie Madden
Thumnail of young hiker resting on Lafferty gate Event Photos
by Larry Modell

Press coverage and photos of the February 24 Event

Note: Most of the following links take you to external websites.

Yigal 2/24 thumbnail Event Photos
by Yigal Toister
Thumnail  of marchers on lower Sonoma Mountain Road Event Photo
by Larry Modell

Press coverage and photos of the January 13 Event

Note: Links to Argus-Courier articles and letters take you to the Argus-Courier website.

Yigal ralley thumbnail Event Photos
by Yigal Toister
Event Photos
by Scott Hess (1)
Hess rally thumbnail Event Photos
by Scott Hess (2)
Scott Hess photo thumbnail Event Photos
by Scott Hess (3)