Juilliard: The Grand Dame of Santa Rosa’s Urban Parks
Photo: Ranch7 Creative
Sometimes in a world of shiny new things, we forget to appreciate the old gems.
The gem in this case is Santa Rosa’s Juilliard Park. Set on nine acres near downtown, Juilliard is one of Santa Rosa’s oldest parks and is steeped in Santa Rosa’s history. In 1872, a winemaker named Charles Juilliard built a two-story Victorian house on Santa Rosa Avenue, near the center of what is now the park. The house was surrounded by orchards. Mr. Juilliard gave the parcel to the city in 1931 when he moved to New York.
Urban parks like Juilliard are hugely beneficial well beyond climate-friendly green space. They contribute to health, social, and economic impacts as well. This large swath of nature within Santa Rosa provides the community a place to gather, play, party, or simply enjoy quiet moments and decompress. Juilliard’s nine acres host a playground, sculptures, picnic tables, community garden, Bocce courts, a small church, and a stone bridge spanning a meandering stream. Generations of family gatherings and special events have taken place in the park. Ask anyone who grew up in Santa Rosa about Juilliard and they’ll likely share stories of looking for tadpoles in the pond, running around on the grass, or enjoying concerts at the Juilliard Summer Music Series.
In its almost 100 years, this gem of a park has gone through periods of difficulty, for sure. However, these days, it is a lovely place to visit for a midday lunch break, stroll with a friend, or weekend picnic with the kids. The trees are blooming and those famous tadpoles should be getting ready to hatch. Go check it out.