Gathering at Green Music Center celebrates T-Mobile grant to enhance Copeland Creek Community Trail
Community members from Sonoma State University and the city of Rohnert Park gathered in the Trione Courtyard at Green Music Center on Thursday, October 9 to celebrate a new grant from partner T-Mobile that will support improvements along the stretch of Copeland Creek Community Trail that traverses campus.
The project plan reflects expertise from across the SSU academic community and aims to make the beloved stretch of trail more accessible to visitors of all generations. Planned enhancements include interactive QR-coded trail markers and shaded picnic tables and seating in the SSU Kenneth Stocking Native Plant and Butterfly Garden.
The project plan also envisions a Walking Buddy program, pairing older adults with SSU students – primarily kinesiology majors – for regular walking sessions.
“Like our campus itself, the trail is a natural connection point for people of all generations and interests,” said SSU Interim President Emily Cutrer, one of several speakers at the event, which coincided with National Ageism Awareness Day. Cutrer added that the improvements enabled by support from T-Mobile would help residents and university community members “connect to nature and also to the future.”
Dr. Yonjoong “YJ” Ryuh, an assistant professor in SSU’s department of Kinesiology who helped draft the successful grant proposal, encouraged attendees to return in a year to experience the new features along the Copeland Creek Trail. Thursday’s celebration culminated with guided walks along the trail.
-- Jennifer Thomas