Completion Of Petaluma River Floathouse Within View

PETALUMA, CA — Soon there will be "river access for all" by way of The Floathouse Small Craft Rental Center, a project that has been in the works for nearly a decade and is closer than ever to becoming reality. In January, the installation of new docks was completed at the future site of the boat-rental venue that, if all goes as planned, is set to open this fall.

The Floathouse is a project of the Petaluma Small Craft Center, a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing public access to the 13-mile waterway that is the Petaluma River.

"That’s really what it is: docks and boats," said Maggie Hohle, a community volunteer who has held several roles with the project since its inception.

A generous donation from Petaluma-based Lind Marine, combined with donations large and small from community members, made installation of the docks possible and has put completion of The Floathouse within view, Hohle said Tuesday.

The easily accessible, low-floating docks are 160-feet-long and 20- to 30-feet wide, located in the downtown Turning Basin in front of TAPS Restaurant. A wide variety of rent-able paddle, pedal and rowing boats will be stored on racks on the docks.

"It’s a great facility," Hohle said. "We finished putting in the docks in January and we are working with the City and contractors to improve the wooden docks and build a connecting ramp and gate so things are safe."

Now, in order to meet the goal of opening this fall, 12 local plein air artists, including Mary Fassbinder, who has painted scenes of every national park in the United States, have agreed to paint scenes from all along the river, giving residents and visitors a chance to imagine what they’ll be able to see once The Floathouse is operational, paddling or rowing themselves out to these very spots.

Fassbinder's painting and those of her colleagues will be among the focal points of a series of special events June 14-20 at the Petaluma Arts Center, 230 Lakeville St. A model of The Floathouse will also be on display, Hohle said. The main event is set for Saturday, June 20, when the plein-air pieces will be auctioned off.

Around $32,000 is still needed for the purchase of a high-quality tent for The Floathouse office, followed by roughly $65,000 for the fleet of boats, Hohle said.

In addition to the benefit events set for June, the annual "Fools for the River" fundraiser is still planned April 4-5 at various eateries along the riverfront.

Another way community members can contribute is through various naming opportunities associated with the Floathouse fleet and facility by helping to purchase anything from a life vest to an electric boat, through which The Floathouse recognizes donors as a part of Petaluma history, Hohle said.

"We have an incredible resource in the River," she said. "I am so excited that soon, everyone will be able to experience Petaluma from the River."