Walnut Park — Attraction in Petaluma

134 year old public park (as of 2022), has bathrooms, playground, picnic tables

1.3-acre Petaluma landmark, designated a “historic American landscape” by the US Library of Congress in 2000.

In addition to a seasonal Farmer’s Market in Walnut Park, a number of other annual events take place there, from the annual Veterans’ Day celebration to the yearly Art in the Park show, and many other activities. On any given day, the park is used by hundreds of people, from families with children to those taking a casual stroll to group picnics and parties. Located at the corner of D Street and Petaluma Boulevard (called Main Street when the place was established), Walnut Park was officially set aside as a park in 1873. At the time, it was only Petaluma’s second public plaza.

originally known as D Street Plaza, is now best known for that iconic gazebo at the center of the plot, where Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson once made a speech in 1952. That gazebo has appeared in a number of movies and commercials over the years, including George Lucas’ “American Graffiti” and also Ronald Reagan’s famous “Morning in America” campaign ad.

Addie Atwater, who formed the Women’s Improvement Club in the 1870s, marched down to City Hall time and time again to get them to approve making good on discussions of putting in a park here,” says Frances, pointing across the street. “Over there is where Addie Atwater lived. Livestock was being shipped down the streets of Petaluma from one end to another, and kids who played in the streets were at risk. So she wanted a place her for the children of Petaluma to play and be safe. This building was originally designated as a children’s playroom - I have the original blueprints from Brainerd Jones here somewhere – and that’s what it was for a while, a children’s playroom.” The building is now used for city maintenance and storage, though according to Frances, when the Petaluma Service Alliance refurbished the building - cleaning it out, repainting exterior and interior, installing new tiles inside and new counters facing the windows - their stated hope at the time was that the building would become a Police Department Substation. To support that plan, the Service Alliance even purchased a surveillance camera that was installed in 2014. To Frances’ disappointment, however, she’s still waiting for the proposed police substation to become a reality. “It could happen eventually,” she says. “I hope so.” Moving on across the park, she stops at the aforementioned Peace Pole, pointing out the interpretive display that accompanies the attractive sculpture inscribed with the word “peace” in numerous languages. “Each language represents three or four different countries where the language is spoken,” she says. “I’ve seen school buses pull up on field trips to see the pole. It’s a teaching tool. And then of course, there’s the nice, colorful playground, something that’s becoming more and more of a rarity in many parks.” The playground, though not especially huge, is still one of the largest in Petaluma. Petaluma Rotary Club donated and installed it, as a sign indicates at one end of...

Petaluma's Walnut Park is a nice place to stop for a quick lunch in your vehicle or at one of the picnic tables. Note: this is a small, square block park with 2-hour street parking only - which is ample time if you're traveling and just want to stop for a liesurely meal and rest. Playground is great for kids, and the memorial gazebo and surrounding benches or the picnic tables offer plenty of places to sit and soak in some peace. (You also might want to check out Wickersham Park or the 7.7-acre McNeary...

Hey guys, tristan here! Today we are reviwing the infamous Pataluma Park. First of all, the park itself. It had a sandbox. Is therr more to say? It even has colorful imagery across the board. And the gazebo is insane. The obolisk?????? Are you kidding meek!!! It has so many words for peace on it!!! That’s insane. It also has a flag. That’s cool I guees. We also did a game with the swinsgs. That was cool too. The graffiti was awesome too. That sonic and quilava shapes on the table is insane!!!! Alright,...