This wildlife habitat area is located within the boundaries of Northstar Park at the corner of F Street and Anderson Road.

Who was Julie Partansky?

The Julie Partansky Pond honors the late Julie Partansky, who was an artist, musician, handywoman and former Mayor of the City of Davis. Julie passed away from lung cancer in 2009 at the age of 61.

Julie ran for and was elected to the Davis City Council in 1992, and quickly became known throughout Davis for her diligence, her interesting ideas and her ability to stretch the City Council in new directions. The construction of a toad tunnel under Pole Line Road and the passage of the City's "dark sky" Ordinance brought her - and Davis - international fame. She was re-elected to the City Council in 1996 and served as the City's Mayor from 1998 to 2000.

Julie was an avid environmentalist, always exploring new things and coming up with new ideas, pushing the City Council and the community to try new things.  According to former Mayor Ken Wagstaff, "No one I ever knew had such a deep sense of the magic, the happy unpredictability of life, yet was very organized and focused."

She loved to spend time enjoying the outdoors, particularly at the Northstar Wildlife Pond, where she spent time gazing out at the birds and the dark night sky. After her death in 2009, the City Council dedicated the pond in her honor.