About Us
The Vision for Napa’s RiverLine
Sculpture “Grateful Harvest” by artist Denis Kleine.
The vision for the RiverLine Trail is to create a community-driven, forward-looking narrative of what it could be for Napa’s long-term future.
The vision focuses on exploring opportunities that will help to preserve and enhance the Napa River while leveraging the River’s potential as an environmental, recreational, social, historic and economic asset for the community and the region.
Our Guiding Principles
Improve Environmental Quality
Preservation and restoration of the valuable resources and landscapes of the Napa River enhances long-term sustainability.
Create Connections
Increase visibility and access to the Napa River and stitch together connections to the River Trail, Vine Trail, Oxbow Commons, and Downtown.
Enhance Community
Create opportunities for community involvement in education, art & stewardship programs centered on the RiverLine.
Leverage Economic Growth:
Invest in one of Napa’s greatest assets to in turn create economic benefits for the region.
Thoughtfully Activate the Riverfront
Feature the riverfront as a key spine for active and passive recreation and opportunities to gather and engage and access the River.
Enhance the Built Environment
Employ high quality architectural materials and innovative engineering practices to engage, appreciate and experience the “life” of the River.
We envision that the Napa RiverLine will connect locals and visitors to the Napa River in a way never available before.
– Steve Carlin, Board Chair
The Board
Executive Committee
Steve Carlin | Board Chair | The Carlin Company, Oxbow Public Market
Chuck Shinnamon, PE | Board Vice Chair | President, Friends of the Napa River, a non profit corporation
Bob Muh | Treasurer | CIA, Chairman Emeritus
Kate Miller | Secretary | Past Executive Director Napa Valley Transportation Authority
Charlie Dunn | Interim Executive Director | Sr. Managing Director Sutter Securities, Inc.
Engineering & Design
Ryan Gregory | Commitee Chair
Gordon Huether | Artist – Gordon Huether Studio
Alonso Corona | Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Chuck McMinn | President – Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition
Bruce Barge | President, Napa County RCD
Robert Reber | VP & Board – Napa County Bicycle Coalition
Community Engagement and Marketing
Katie Shaffer | Former Committee Chair | Co-Founder Feast it Forward
Bill LaLiberte | Executive Director Downtown Napa Association
Francie Winnen | Former President, Friends of the Napa River
Tempe Reichardt (Advisor)
Capital & Economic Development
Kate Miller | Committee Chair
Rob Anglin | Attorney, Holman Teague Roche Anglin, LLP
Dorothy Salmon | Community Organizer
Ellen Udoff | Board of the Vine Trail (Advisor)
Public Agency
Advisors
Joelle Gallagher | Napa County Board of Supervisors, District 1
Beth Painter | City of Napa Council Member, District 2
Neal Harrison | Economic Development Manager, City of Napa
Richard Thomasser (Rick) | Deputy Director Public Works
Phill Blake | Friends of the Napa River
Brendan Hurley | Economic Development Coordination, City of Napa
Diana Meehan | Planning & Programming Manager Napa Valley Transportation Authority
Our Partners
PROJECT TIMELINE
From Baseline to Bright Future.
- 2022–2024: City of Napa 2040 General Plan adopted, formalizing the river as a central focal point for development.
- January 2026: Napa RiverLine non-profit established to oversee fundraising and community engagement.
- 2027: Anticipated completion of the North Floodwall trail segment.
- 2030: Completion of the “Base Trail” by the Flood Control Project.
- Future Vision: Ongoing implementation of enhanced amenities (lighting, art, docks) through private philanthropy and community support.