After more than a year of closure, Larson Park in Boyes Hot Springs is back — and Sonoma County Regional Parks is inviting the whole community to celebrate with a free event today, Sunday, April 19, starting at 1:30 p.m.
Key Takeaways
- Larson Park at 329 DeChene Ave., Boyes Hot Springs, officially reopens Sunday with a free community celebration at 1:30 p.m.
- The park closed in April 2025 for comprehensive safety and accessibility upgrades.
- Renovations added accessible restrooms, a renovated parking lot, new picnic areas, age-appropriate playgrounds, baseball and soccer fields, and three tennis courts.
- Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chair Rebecca Hermosillo will speak and give away 50 free soccer balls to attendees.
- No registration required; refreshments including lemonade, cookies, and paletas will be available.
A year in the making
Larson Park sat fenced off for roughly a year while crews overhauled a facility that had aged past its useful life. The improvements go well beyond fresh paint: accessible restrooms replace outdated facilities, a resurfaced parking lot improves safety and drainage, and picnic areas have been reconfigured to better serve large family gatherings. Boyes Hot Springs — a densely populated, majority-Latino community in Sonoma Valley — has historically received fewer park amenities per capita than higher-income areas of the county, making the upgrades a meaningful win for the neighborhood.
The project reflects ongoing county investment in regional parks even as officials grapple with significant budget pressures driven by potential federal funding cuts. Sonoma County Regional Parks manages more than 50 parks and preserves across the county.
What’s been upgraded
The renovated park includes separate playground structures scaled for different age groups, a move that safety advocates have long recommended to prevent injuries. The sports facilities — baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and three resurfaced tennis courts — give youth leagues and pickup players a renewed home. The accessible restrooms and improved pathways bring the park closer to ADA compliance, removing barriers that had made the space difficult to use for people with mobility challenges. Pickleball demonstrations are also on the agenda at today’s event, reflecting the sport’s growing popularity across Sonoma County.
Today’s celebration
The free ribbon-cutting and community celebration runs from approximately 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. at 329 DeChene Ave. in Boyes Hot Springs. Board of Supervisors Chair Rebecca Hermosillo will deliver remarks and personally distribute 50 soccer balls — a nod to Sonoma Valley’s passion for the sport, on display recently when hundreds gathered in Rohnert Park to honor beloved youth soccer coach Marcus Ziemer. Local organizations will staff information booths, and free refreshments (lemonade, cookies, and paletas) will be on hand. Additional food will be available for purchase. No registration or tickets are required.
The Sonoma Valley community has seen a string of cultural investments in recent months, including new leadership at the Sebastiani Theatre aimed at expanding programming. Larson Park’s reopening adds one more piece to a neighborhood that residents say has long been overdue for renewed attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Larson Park celebration?
The free community event takes place Sunday, April 19, 2026, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Larson Park, 329 DeChene Ave., Boyes Hot Springs. No registration is required, and the event is open to all ages. Plan for the celebration to run about two and a half hours.
What upgrades did the park receive during the renovation?
Sonoma County Regional Parks renovated the facility to include accessible restrooms, a repaved parking lot, improved picnic areas, new age-appropriate playground equipment, baseball and soccer fields, and three resurfaced tennis courts. The upgrades also improve ADA accessibility throughout the park.
Is there parking, and are there costs involved?
The celebration itself is free, and the renovated parking lot at the park is available for visitors. Refreshments including lemonade, cookies, and paletas will be offered at no charge, with additional food available for purchase from vendors on site.
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