NORTH BAY DESTINATIONS | ROHNERT PARK
“No matter how old you are, and what your interests are, there’s something for you here.” —Susan Hollingsworth Adams
By Cerrissa Kim
I n 1956, with Highway 101 recently completed at the Cotati bypass, Rohnert Park began to be laid out and built as a planned city. In a summer election in 1962, Rohnert Park was the first town to incorporate in Sonoma County since Sebastopol in 1902. Known today as “The Friendly City,” the town that was once thought of primarily as a bedroom community has evolved into a Northern California destination— filled with interesting activities to engage individuals, groups and families from the North Bay and beyond. What makes Rohnert Park standout as a fun place is its “sheer volume of choices,” says Rohnert Park City Councilmember Susan Hollingsworth Adams. “No matter how old you are, and what your interests are, there’s something for you here,” she says. And Hollingsworth Adams should know. Having grown up in the city and returned after college, she and her husband raised their three sons here—and she has experienced pretty much everything the city has to offer. Steven Elliott , who owns and operates the hobby and activities shop Fundemonium with his wife Jean, started their venture in Petaluma 20 years ago. When their lease was up, they decided to move the company to Rohnert Park. “We liked the idea of Rohnert Park because it’s a central location drawing people from throughout Northern California,” says Elliott. Finding an affordable location in Rohnert Park meant the Elliotts could expand their operations, which allowed them to focus on providing more activities for patrons of all ages. “We have activities for young children as well as a group of men in their 70s, 80s and 90s who gather weekly to make scale wooden ship models together here,” says Elliott. Fundemonium’s annual fall model train show draws crowds
young and older from around the North Bay, as does their Big Model Railroad event which takes place this year on Nov. 23 and 24. Rohnert Park City Manager Marcela Piedra moved to the city in 2022 with her then 11-year-old daughter. Before making the transition, she and her daughter spent a few days getting to know the city to help them decide if it would be a good fit. “I introduced my daughter to many of the fun activities the city has to offer,” says Piedra. They went to Scandia Family Fun Center and Nitro City Racing among other places, and both decided it would be a good place to live. “When you have positive development in a community, businesses attract other businesses—and those businesses can enhance the experience of residents and visitors,” says Piedra. She says Rohnert Park is one of the cities that has been master planned and that makes it an easy city to navigate. It is also a city that is clean and well maintained with ample free parking, she says. Piedra and Hollingsworth Adams both say city workers strive to keep the city clean and make sure they put their best foot forward, which Piedra and Hollingsworth Adams both say helps attract businesses and visitors because they feel safe. With myriad choices for activities to meet the needs of a wide variety of North Bay residents and visitors, and lots of options for great food and entertainment, it’s no wonder Rohnert Park has become a favorite destination for North Bay families—and will continue to expand as a draw throughout the Bay Area in the future, as even more options are added with the development of the new downtown. Given how much there is to do in Rohnert Park, longtime residents like Hollingsworth Adams have kept plenty busy— and so can visitors looking for an abundance of fun and entertainment.
38 NorthBaybiz
Rohnert Park 2025
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