Jem b.A.
pudi comment
August 19, 2025
Dear Mayor Sedgley and City Council Members,
Over the past few years, a dedicated group of local
stakeholders and community members has come together
as an advisory committee to help shape a shared vision
for The Napa Riverline.
Inspired in part by New York City's iconic High Line, the Napa Riverline will be a multi-use path connecting diverse neighborhoods along the riverfront and into downtown.
Our aim is to create a world-class public space that
enhances mobility, celebrates the river, strengthens
community identity, and supports local economic
development.
In early 2024, City of Napa representatives Brendan
Hurley and Neal Harrison led a successful grant
application to the Economic Development Corporation,
securing funding for the project's initial design. Their leadership was instrumental in making this opportunity
possible.
Throughout the design process, our committee worked
closely with Brendan, Neal, and the landscape
architecture firm SWA to help guide the evolving vision. As Chair of the advisory committee, I'm pleased to be here in support of this project and SWA's fine work.
In the coming months, we plan to establish a nonprofit
organization that will lead the planning, fundraising, and implementation of the project. This structure will provide long-term stewardship and enable strong public-private
partnerships moving forward.
Our goals:
1. Execute a continuous 4.3-mile pathway from Trancas
to Imola that capitalizes on existing flood control
segments and leverages construction projects already
funded by the City and County.
2. Prioritize the Downtown "Core" Segment by
concentrating our resources and efforts around the
Oxbow and focusing on basic but critical connections
to the Oxbow Preserve and downtown Napa.
3. Establish the Riverline Station as our most strategic investment and amenity. The Riverline Station will be
a single, well-located facility that connects the Vine
Trail, Rail Arts District and The Napa Riverline with
bike storage, basic educational programming about
the river, public restrooms, and a small café
overlooking the river.
4. Leverage Existing Parking Facilities in Downtown by
designing and implementing a parking management
plan that provides safe and convenient customer
parking for visitors coming to the Riverline.
We strongly believe the Napa Riverline represents a
transformative opportunity for our community, but success depends on matching our ambitions with our resources. It is our belief that these four priorities ensure our efforts remain achievable while delivering measurable community benefit.
We look forward to continued collaboration with the city, members of the public, and other public agencies and are grateful for your support as we take the next steps in
bringing this exciting project to life.
Respectfully submitted,
Steve Carlin
Napa Riverline Advisory Committee Chair