Summary and Current Status
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Forest Home Farms (19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd.) was gifted to the City of San Ramon in 1998 by Ruth Quayle Boone, with the condition that the historic property be preserved in perpetuity for public education and enjoyment.
In 1999, the City adopted the Forest Home Farms Master Plan, which included an inventory of the site’s 21 buildings and rehabilitation plans; and led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
A 2021 Boone House Future Use Survey found that 75% of respondents considered expanded educational and interpretive spaces to be important or extremely important.
In August 2024, City staff engaged with TreanorHL, who specializes in historic preservation, to review existing studies, conduct site visits, evaluate structural needs, and develop a pathway that supports educational programming while preserving the Boone House’s historic integrity.
The proposed Boone House renovation will focus on preserving the historic structure while improving functionality and accessibility.
Work includes selective demolition to address structural issues on the first and second floors, followed by reconstruction and improvements to exhibit, interpretive, storage, staffing, and meeting spaces.
Additional upgrades include replacing the roof and reconfiguring the internal staircase to improve connectivity between the lower levels of the home. The renovations will also enhance public access through the addition of museum-grade lighting, updated heating and cooling systems, and a newly interpreted exhibit area featuring
Travis Boone’s office.
Throughout construction, public and staff access to the building will be impacted, and the historic archives will require temporary relocation to accommodate the work. The popular educational tours for local school district students will continue during construction, with only minor modifications to programming and site access.
During FY27, funding has been allocated to complete the project’s design phase, with full renovation funding anticipated to be requested in FY28.
Once approved, the Boone House Renovation is expected to take approximately 12–18 months and will have a minimal impact on the rest of the park. The project will be funded through the Park Development Fund, the City Beautification Fund, and in collaboration with the San Ramon Historic Foundation.
Project History and Related Documents
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Parks and Community Services Commission Meeting
March 9, 2022
The Parks and Community Services Commission received, provided feedback, and approved the staff report on Boone House Historic Program Recommendations.
Parks and Community Services Commission Workshop with San Ramon Historic Foundation
March 24, 2025
In a workshop with the San Ramon Historic Foundation, the Parks Commission discussed priorities and recommendations for consideration in order to develop design layouts. The discussion provided the consultant, TreanorHL, with information on how to proceed with proposed design while also incorporating information included in the 2021 Community Survey and the approved Boone Housee Historic Program Recommendations.
Parks and Community Services Commission Meeting
October 8, 2025
The Parks Commission received a presentation on the Boone House Restoration Project, approved the Boone House Design Study Recommendations, and approved Option 1, the unphased approach, to be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.
City Council – FY27 Budget Workshop #2: Expenses
During the Fiscal Year 2026/2727 Budget Workshop on Expenses, the City Council reviewed the Capital Improvement Program budget, which included the proposed allocation of $674,295 for the design of Boone House Restoration Project (the item was not specifically discussed).