History of FOVG

There was consensus that a community-based organization was needed to fund the acquisition and accept the deed. Since it would be an organization for all of VIlla Grande, the restricted entrance idea was rejected, keeping access open for all. Friends of Villa Grande (FoVG) was created to acquire the land and handle the legal details, with the overarching goal of restoring the property to a more natural state.

Ken Wikle and Roberto Esteves wrote the original FoVG articles of incorporation and bylaws, which formally established FoVG (by the IRS) on November 20, 2007. Ken was a retired lawyer and Roberto had been involved in setting up non-profits previously, so the process went smoothly. The original Board of Directors consisted of Kyla Brooke, Roberto Esteves, Rich Holmer, Katie Gibson, Mike McCabe. John Paxton, Leah Norwood, Tom Wackerman and Ken Wikle.

Fortunately for FoVG, Ken’s wife, Victoria Wikle, sat on the Sonoma Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s (SCAPOSD) Citizens’ Advisory Board and she alerted the newly established FoVG to a 2008 matching grant opportunity for acquisition and restoration of riparian land. The owner’s sale price for the land was $170,000. Roberto and Victoria created a proposal to SCAPOSD for that amount. The proposal was approved for the full amount, but unfortunately the appraisal came in at only $100,000, which restricted the amount of the grant that could be applied to the acquisition of the land.

The balance needed to be raised by the new organization that had less than $5,000 in the bank. The seller notified FoVG that the “right of first refusal” clause would be rescinded within two weeks, and FoVG could lose the right to purchase the land. Starting with a lead unsecured loan of $10,000 from a resident, other members  quickly joined in and loaned another $50,000. Fundraising created donations of another $5,000 .  In two weeks, FoVG raised the $70,000 which, when combined with the $100,000 SCAPOSD grant, enabled the fledgling organization to meet the purchase price within the owner's deadline!

SCAPOSD also required a survey of the land and the creation of a Master Plan for the Restoration of the newly named “Patterson Point Preserve”. FoVG needed to adjudicate some boundary disputes, and finally on October 20, 2009, the restoration plan and survey were approved and FoVG received the “Recreational Conservation Easement” and the deed to the land.

The uncommitted $40,000 in the SCAPOSD grant was used to fund seven years of restoration of the Preserve, which primarily consisted of removing tons of ivy and invasive Armenian blackberry bushes. After the grant ended in 2016, restoration efforts have continued, thanks to member donations and grants from Point Blue Conservation Science’s Students and Teachers Restoring a Watershed (STRAW). Details on STRAW’s involvement and information on continuing restoration efforts are on the PPP Restoration Page here.