San Rafael is asking Canal neighborhood residents to help shape a new waterfront park and a potential pedestrian-bike bridge at the site of a former boatyard on the San Rafael Canal.
The city acquired the 1.6-acre property at 620 Canal St. in November 2025 through a partnership with the Trust for Public Land, Marin County Parks, Marin Community Foundation and Canal Alliance. An online survey in English and Spanish is open for residents to weigh in.
The planned park would sit along the proposed extension of the San Francisco Bay Trail. A feasibility study is underway to evaluate options for a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that would connect the Canal to downtown San Rafael, including Montecito Plaza and San Rafael High School.
For Canal residents, that bridge could eliminate a mile-plus walk along busy frontage roads that is the current route to schools, jobs and services, according to the city's June grant announcement.
Planning backed by $800,000 grant
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) awarded San Rafael an $800,000 Priority Conservation Area Grant on June 24 to fund community engagement and design for the park. The grant was part of an $8 million award split among 16 Bay Area projects.
When the city announced the grant on June 30, Mayor Kate Colin said the park addresses long-standing gaps in the neighborhood. "A park at 620 Canal Street is not just about green space — it's about dignity, health, and belonging," Colin said.
The bridge has been a neighborhood priority for years. Canal Alliance, a neighborhood advocacy organization, listed the bridge to the high school area as a key project in its 2026 neighborhood vision plan. The Canal is home to more than 13,000 residents, about 84% of whom are Latino, according to Canal Alliance. More than 30% of the neighborhood's residents are between the ages of 5 and 18, according to the city.
How to weigh in
The city has scheduled several ways for residents to participate:
- Saturday, Sept. 26, 2–5 p.m.: Project booth at the Canal Community Fair, Albert J. Boro Community Center/Pickleweed Park
- Friday, Oct. 9, starting at 6 p.m.: Project booth at Movies in the Park, Pickleweed Park
- Online survey open through Monday, Oct. 12: Available at qrco.de/canalparkbridge in English and Spanish
The city is also organizing focus groups for residents who live within a mile of 620 Canal St. Residents can email [email protected] to join.
