Napa County is moving forward with its plans to buy Skyline Park from the state.
The state legislature Tuesday approved a bill by Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, allowing Napa County to purchase Skyline Park as state surplus property.
Assembly Bill 2279 passed the Assembly on Tuesday in a 51-25 vote on amendments taken in the Senate, following a 22-12 Senate vote last Thursday.
The bill now heads to the governor for his signature or veto.
“We are very excited to be so close to protecting this gem in our community for future generations to enjoy,” Evans said in a prepared statement. “This has been a labor of love for so many in Napa. I hope the governor stands with us this time.”
AB 2279 would allow Napa County to purchase Skyline Park — 850 mountainous acres on the grounds of Napa State Hospital — by January 1, 2015, as state surplus property. With Skyline Park classified as surplus state property, county officials have sought Evans’ help in Sacramento because of concerns that the land could be sold to private developers.
Napa County Supervisor Keith Caldwell, whose supervisorial district includes Skyline Park, has said he expects Napa County to purchase Skyline Park as early as next year if the bill is approved.
Evans’ bill stipulates that any land purchase must be made at fair market value, and the county can use the land only as a park or wilderness preserve.
The conditions of purchase also include the granting of an easement to Napa State Hospital for the continued use of Camp Coombs, where the hospital hosts activities such as barbecues, picnics, nature walks, and gardening activities. The camp also serves as a destination for Napa County’s youth groups and schools.
“The preservation of Skyline Park has long been a top conservation priority,” Sen. Pat Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, co-author of AB 2279, said in a prepared statement. “We must maintain this precious recreational resource as parkland, and I am optimistic that this legislation will eventually become law.”
Wiggins sought similar legislation in 2007, and the county budgeted about $1 million to purchase Skyline Park, expecting the bill to pass. But after passing both the Senate and Assembly, the governor vetoed bill.
Since that time, while Evans served as chairwoman of the Assembly Budget Committee, the governor has signed legislation allowing the state to sell numerous properties to help close the state budget gap. Beyond these contextual changes, AB 2279 is different from Wiggins’ bill in that it allows Napa County to work with a nonprofit land trust or nonprofit conservation entity to purchase the property.
Napa County has leased Skyline Park from the state since 1979. Located on Napa State Hospital, grounds, the park includes more than 12 miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding and bicycling. The park features a native plant garden, horse arena, archery range and a disc golf course.
