Lucchesi Park
On Monday, September 21st, 1964, Petalumans were stunned to learn of the death of beloved Mario (Moch) Lucchesi. Known as “Mr. Baseball” and devoted to sports and children, he played ball as a young man, coached teams, acted as a groundskeeper for fields, and was instrumental in launching Petaluma’s Little League baseball program.
Shortly after Moch’s death, an idea to honor him by naming a park or Little League field after him began to percolate. At the same time, Little League maintained a baseball field at Kenilworth (the field was located along Washington Street at that time) and was trying to find a location for new fields. A large 40-acre plot of land along McDowell Blvd had been purchased, in 1959 from Cal Water Co., by the Water Department for use as a well field. The department had already allowed development of residential homes along a portion of the property, on Maria Drive, and wanted to sell more of the property to pay down bonds on the city’s water system. Commissioners for Parks and Recreation and Planning had agreed that the land was a fine location for a future community park. The Water Commission was reluctant to give up the land but conceded to let Little League install a temporary diamond on the property.
The Optimists Club soon joined the fray, making a case for a community park that would be named for Moch Lucchesi. The timing was perfect. There was a great deal of sentiment in town that Moch ought to have a fitting tribute, and there was a budding idea that Petaluma should have a community park, then there was the Little League organization, prepared to install and maintain at least a portion of the land as ballfields.
It took a couple of more years to reach consensus, and longer to try to figure out funding. In 1968, landscape architect Sydney Lewin, of San Rafael, was hired to prepare a master plan. Even that decision was fought over, with Vice Mayor Ken Colin vociferously objecting to the use of an outside consultant.
In the meantime, Little League installed a playing field in the northern corner of the lot. The field was considered one of the finest in the region. Almost immediately, the League began negotiations with the city to close the field to non-Little League players, due to ongoing damage.
In 1969 a master plan by Lewin was enthusiastically endorsed by the Parks and Recreation Commission, but with an understanding that lack of funds meant the park would be installed in phases. In typical Petaluma fashion, the underfunded park required creativity and donations by many organizations for what turned out to be a long slog to installation.
Cover page of the 1980 Lucchesi Park Gift Catalog. Courtesy of the Petaluma Public Library.
Hurrah! In 1982, the city celebrated the grand opening of Lucchesi Park, but without a community center building, which was not yet funded. Individuals, organizations and businesses made donations via the Gift Catalog, with most in the $100 to $500 range providing equipment and features the city could not afford. The donations freed city funds for use on overall park development. The most generous single donation came from the Rotary, with $21,000 for a playground.
The community center was opened in 1988 and was immediately put to use, with classes, activities, and event rentals soaring. The construction of the Boys and Girls Club took the place of an indoor recreation center.
The park has continued to evolve, always with continuing involvement of volunteers, supported by city staff working with meager budgets. Petaluma People Services Center, a nonprofit providing social services, pitched in. Petaluma Tree People, an organization founded by Don Waxman, worked on improvements to Lynch Creek in the early 1990s. The creek, defining the western edge of the park, had been overcome by invasive plants. By 1991 the creek habitat had been improved. Handsome cinderblock structures were installed, decorated with handmade tiles, heralding the creek and its ecology. Art and Selma Cader were among the most significant donors, but many people donated time and money to the effort.
Extraordinary volunteer efforts have continued. 2017-2018 marked construction of the Miracle League field, a special needs playground and baseball field, complete with a restroom and concession stand. Again, an unfortunately early death galvanized the community to see the project to fruition. The playground was installed in 2017. Contractors and volunteers were besieged by the aftermath of Sonoma County fires, and the project languished. Glen Ghilotti began organizing volunteers and donors to construct the field, then he unexpectedly died at the age of 59. His engineering peers determined they would complete this project on behalf of Glen. With volunteers and donations, they completed the project in a few months’ time.