The new Veterans' Cemetery located behind the Sonoma Veterans Hall on First Street West will be undergoing further construction beginning mid-September and into October 2003. A walkway connecting the cemetery to the hall was recently funded through an A.D.A. Grant and County General Funds. First District Supervisor Valerie Brown was the driving force in getting the walkway funded.

During construction, gates will be installed to close the parking lot to vehicles. Building staff will work with groups that are renting the facility during this time to access portions of the lot for parking. The building staff will facilitate parking to accommodate all events during the during the construction period.

The new walkway from the cemetery to the building will be utilized for Veterans' memorial ceremonies, which will result in an increase in foot traffic through the parking lot. The new cemetery is also attracting more visitors to this area. For safety reasons, during construction, using the parking lot as a short cut to downtown will be discouraged by the installation of a gate between the Veterans Building parking lot and the Arnold Field parking lot. Both parking lots will remain open for use for those attending events at the building, cemetery or field. County and City Officials will be working together to devise a plan for long term safety.

The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department, which oversees the seven Veterans hall, has completed several large-scale projects at the Sonoma building. These include installation of a HVAC system, new windows in the dining room, newly refinished hardwood floors, an A.D.A. accessible men's restroom and stage lift, new gutters and exterior paint. Customers are also delighted with the newly-paved driveway accessing the back of the kitchen, making loading/unloaded food and supplies much easier.

Community members and businesses that have not visited the building recently are invited to view the improvements and see how the Veterans Memorial Hall can serve you for your upcoming meeting or special event. For building rental information, call the Regional Parks Department at (707) 565-2041 weekdays, or visit www.sonoma-county.org/halls.