More than 70 percent of respondents to an online poll Dec. 5, 2007 say the $7.8 million Water Street Promenade was a good investment, but 75 percent say problems of vandalism, graffiti and drug use need to be addressed.
Asked what should be done to improve the promenade, 65 percent said more public events, 61.3 percent said more police patrols and 47.5 percent said more lighting.
Here are some of the comments by those who responded to the poll:
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“One of the best things would be to have a police officer on a bike or walking in the area periodically. This has worked well in the past. The officers are very effective when they engage in personal, community policing. When they are locked away in cars waiting to catch criminals, they miss the opportunity to be a calming presence and to prevent disruptive public behaviors, helping to keep our young people safe and part of our community, not pushed to the edges where they become vulnerable.”
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“The street is a little desolate without the parking and traffic where it used to be. It would have been a good idea if businesses faced the river and more pedestrian traffic came that way. It is not very people-friendly back there.”
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“I won”t park there at night. I worry about leaving my car there with the kids hanging around, being loud and rambunctious.”
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“Those kids are part of the community. Skateboarding is not a crime. Include them.”
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“I feel like Petaluma has been moving forward with a grand vision of what kind of city we want to be. The promenade has great potential to be the kind of place everyone would like to hang out, which would move the vandalism, graffiti and drug use to somewhere less public. We should move forward to make the promenade a more happening place for everyone. Vendors and other events would be a lovely way to do this.”
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“How about more restaurants on the waterfront with outdoor seating?”
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“Cobblestones a big problem and a bigger mistake! I took my elderly mother there when it was first done because she really wanted to see it. She twisted her ankle on the stones. $7.8 million of wasted money that could have been spent in a much better way!”
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“The promenade idea is fine, but I believe it did not need to cost $7.8 million. Did we really need real cobblestones when stamped concrete or asphalt would have been just fine?”
Additionally, a lot of money was spent on lighting but because of the way it was installed, it has been vandalized. Had it been installed in a manner that would not make it so easy to vandalize, we might have more illumination on the Water Street Promenade! Who is accountable for these types of decisions? The contractor? The city manager and/or City Council? The citizens?”
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“The transformation of Water Street into a pedestrian friendly space has been a good step, but it is only the first step. We cannot judge the success of Water Street until we have repaired the adjacent railroad trestle; One doesn”t stroll very far on our waterfront “promenade” before reaching the blighted carcass of the trestle. If we do not show pride and respect, how can we expect it of others? It is unrealistic to assume that public spaces will take care of themselves. The French, as do many cultures, revel in their public spaces and so do those of us who visit: They stroll, play games, shop, sleep, eat, kiss, and let their little dogs piddle. They also have routine clean up crews. Public space is something we must encourage and nurture.”
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“The cobblestones are dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. The city needs to do something before someone gets seriously hurt and sues.”
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“Right now Water Street is just an extension of the local bar scene.”
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“I used to use Water Street for parking, but with the changes I have never been able to find a parking space there. I do like the look of Water Street and sometimes walk there in the early evening, before the problems start. I believe that the problems are getting worse and having increased police patrols might work.”
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“The kids who hang out downtown are not as disrespectful and do not harass people as a lot of the merchants say they do. They mind their own business. Yes, certain activities could be toned down, but they are not causing the problems.”
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“I wish the “promenade” was longer along the river.”
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“Police need to walk beats, and this should be one of them.”

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“My fake Gucci shoes passed the cobblestone test, maybe the snobs at Joe Hamer”s hair salon should move their salon to where their clientele came from.”
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“Water Street is often beautiful and casino online full of people. We need more activities to keep people coming and much of the “troubles” will go away.”
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“The local merchants should lead the way in making this area work. More open air markets, events, festivals.”
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“Water street is the heart of Petaluma for pedestrians. The improvements made have opened up a multitude of opportunities for Petalumans and tourists alike.”
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“Merchants could utilize more rear entrances to stimulate business.”
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“I think it”s absolutely wonderful.”
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“The cobblestones are so uneven, they are dangerous. How about getting someone to sand them down so that we would want to walk there. Even driving a car down that parking area is unpleasurable.”
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“Graffiti is universal. One could equate it with a certain canine attribute around fireplugs. Anyway, archeologists & historians love finding ancient grafitti for what it tells them about culture. Drug use/sales and gang activities, on the other hand, are illegal & should be policed. Finally, any activity putting people on the promenade participating in legit activity promotes civility.”
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“Improvements are nice on Water Street, now, what”s going to be done on the north side of E Washington. Why is nothing ever done to lure in the many RV”s that transit Petaluma on their way to the coast?”
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“It”s lovely… and parents should be responsible for their offspring!”
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“Kids have always been there. The promenade is a wonderful contributin to the city.”
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“Like the design – hope that more businesses orient toward the river and Water Street.”
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“Water st is so under used, More plants downtown.”
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Great idea but it hasn”t been executed well. This area has been taken over by a bad presence.”
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“I work in the middle of it. It is a considerable problem, I do not think returning parking and making it a cut through again, will solve the problem. When I leave my work in the evening or into the night, most of the intimidating factors are congregating in amongst the parked cars, often in and around one of their cars, music going, alcohol be consumed and pot being smoked, in a very obvious and brazen fashion. Why? It is fairly discreet, in amongst the ustle of the cars, they have their own to hang out in. There has been little to NO foot police presence. I have been advocating for community policing, waking beats, cops getting to know the “players” downtown, and randomly walking the territory. It is proven to work in other cities. Survelience cameras will do nothing. Responsible police prescence will do much. Also, increased reason for other demographics to use te area, during the day, maybe into early evenings, kiosks with business could be valuable, as well.”
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“Water Street has the potential to draw us all to the river if busineses will open to the river!”
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“One night, the outside lights were off in back of Grafitti”s in the residential area – it is Dangerous when it is dark. Please keep the lights on in the dark.”
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“Foot traffic on the waterfront is a great addition to the city. This could be extended down to Apple Box.”
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“I”m not ready for more surveillance cameras in modern life – especially in our lovely small town. I DO want that area “saved” for merchants, shoppers and passers by. To that end I invite an extremely tough response from the Police, not on kids just “hanging out” but particularly towards any anti social behavior.”
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“Pet Blvd businesses open shop fronts on Water Street.”
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“Rermember Putnam Plaza when it first opened – there were adjustments which needed to be made so the public space was pleasant and safe for all.I think Water St is having growing pains and needs some more attention.”
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“Tell those drug dealing “hippies” to go back to Keller Street where they came from.”
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“The Water Street Promenade is one of the glaring examples of the wasteful, grandiose spending from the “Cobblestone Council.” Lord help us with some of them still in the mix with the 101 activities!”
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“More police foot or bike patrols, we need to keep gangs at bay!”
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“Stop treating it as an alley encourage the buildings to Face the river.”
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“The city doesn”t have money to fix the streets, but they can afford to build a walking promenade and repave sidewalks that were fine. Interesting…”
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“Like it or not, kids gathering is a sign of design success.”
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“I think the Water Street Promenade is a huge improvement for our town, visually, functionally, and recreationally. I particularly enjoy seeing the eating establishments provide outside seating and wish that the River Festival and similar events would take advantage of the lovely riverside space. Of course, it amplifies the neglected appearance of the adjacent abandoned train track area, which is the remaining “sore spot” along the Water St to D St riverfront. Other than that, the whole area is a wonderful attraction. I”d like to see the improvements extended both north and south of Water St. If there are graffiti or other typical urban problems, I don”t think they are any worse along Water St than elsewhere and need similar attentions. I”d hate to see the place lit up like a prison yard – that would deter strollers, tourists, and customers as much as anyone else. And I don”t think surveillance cameras help either.”
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“It”s a huge improvement that deserves more community events. It”s a very unique place.”
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“This is a very important public space downtown. It offers the possibility of actually using our waterfront. We need public and commercial activities there. We need police on a foot patrol. Cars won”t work. Police need to have beat cops who get to know the players there, and to intervene ahead of time. Our youth still needs their own “downtown living room”, so making this work is very important. A heavy hand won”t work. Let”s enjoy this space, and make it a success: keep car access limited. Traffic flows, however, should be reversed, as envisioned in the original CPSP: flow should be north from Pet. Blvd, not south from Washington. Current flow puts cars on an endless loop onto Pet. Blvd looking for parking, adding to congestion at Pet. Blvd and Washington.”
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“My understanding is that this project was being done anyway as a part of the River Enhancement Plan which included major, long overdue infrastructure improvements The Plaza idea came out of a series of Public meetings where the community provided input on wishes. To frame the question as though the $7.8 million paid for some cobblestones and benches is very disingenuous.”
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“The city has made a good investment in the Water Street Promenade but needs to follow through with the investment and finish the railroad trestle. Combining this with a beat cop on regular patrol.”
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“The City of Petaluma turned its back on the river for over 50 years. It will take a lot less than 50 years to bring vitality back to the Riverfront. We are moving in the right direction. Vendor Kiosks, storefronts opening onto Water Street, more surveillance will help this public space succeed.”