Funding will keep Railtown open

The California State Railroad Museum Foundation announced Monday that the organization will donate $30,000 to help fill the final funding gap to keep Railtown 1897 State Historic Park open at least another year.

Foundation Executive Director Kathy Daigle told The Union Democrat the sum is the final donation that was needed to continue operations at the Jamestown park. The donation will be added to $75,000 raised by the local Rotary clubs and another $75,000 matched by the Sonora Area Foundation for Railtown.

“We know the community loves Railtown as much as we do. It is so important economically,” Daigle said. “We have to keep it open.”

Railtown was one of 70 state parks placed on a closure list in anticipation of deep cuts to the state budget. However, local fundraising efforts have led to a donor agreement with the park to keep it running at normal capacity for one more year while parks officials and local leaders find a long-term solution to keep it running.

See full details in Tuesday’s Union Democrat.