New Pioneers: Your ideas

In conjunction with our series on “New Pioneers” in Sacramento, we asked readers to give us their ideas on how to make the region more exciting, more engaging and more of a community. Here are some of their responses:

Mark Rossow – Municipal broadband: It would be a job creator and make the Sacramento region an even better place, and a sector of innovation and competition in California. By making this great investment, Sacramento can place itself on the map beyond the current farm-to-fork capital and as a place for startups and businesses.

Chattanooga, Tenn., is being referred to as “Gig City” due to its cheaper and more reliable Internet service being offered at 50 times the speed of the average home. Not only have consumers and residents benefited from a cost savings, but so have businesses. As the New York Times mentioned, “The city has welcomed a new population of computer programmers, entrepreneurs and investors.”

Seattle announced last fall that it would invest in a municipal broadband pilot program, and Sacramento can do the same on the downtown and midtown grid.

Rita Tyk – Make our riverfront more like Portland and/or San Antonio. We have the river; let’s make it user-friendly.

Adam Donaton – Make parts of the downtown grid a sanctuary for people who are not in automobiles. Focus on the experiences of pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as people exercising, having coffee, making art, having conversations and playing music. Envision a city designed for people, not cars. Create more pedestrian plazas; create more bike lanes and create bicycle connectivity to East Sacramento, Land Park and Elmhurst. Envision a bicycle transit network where children can ride safely through the city. Keep building out the alleys and keep them pedestrian friendly.

Elizabeth Ledesma – I’d like to see Sacramento police do foot patrols downtown and midtown. Foot patrols have the ability to create a better atmosphere in the community.

Diana Diaz – Why not build a gymnastics center?

Jody Wright – Sacramento is defined by its rivers and graced by the bounties of surrounding farmland. It needs to embrace both much more effectively. It is time to complete the Sacramento River Parkway trail from downtown to Freeport in order to link up with the American River Parkway and the Delta Parkway.

If we think we’re bringing in money with the arena, just wait until the cyclists from throughout the region and Bay Area start flooding the downtown, to say nothing of the potential for mitigating pollution through commuting by bicycle. It is also way past time for the city to create a truly attractive and inviting river walk along the Sacramento River downtown.

And, we need a permanent, vibrant and more aesthetic farmers’ market downtown. The current year-round Sunday market under the freeway may be convenient, but I have no desire to spend any time under a freeway. It’s dark. It’s dank. It’s depressing. If we are truly the farm-to-fork capital, then we deserve an inviting, permanent market. Maybe that’s what we should put in the old depot. If San Francisco can transform its Ferry Building into a fabulous market, we can do the same with our historic depot.

Tom Orrock – Build a gondola ride near the river and light it up like Seattle or London’s Ferris wheel. It would highlight our connection to the Sierra ski resorts. Run it from the railyard to downtown.

Alicia Herrera – Add some downtown public transportation charm with vintage streetcars. Create bicycle and pedestrian lanes that cut through, and over, downtown. Like the highline in New York City. Add some historical pride with inset bronze sidewalk plaques that give details from our city’s past. Add additional light-rail conductors to check tickets and for safety.

Amanda Kludt – Build up the river area with restaurants and get another professional sports team.

Heidi Lynn Grether Corcoran – A better mass transit system would be a good place to start.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 4:00 PM with the headline "New Pioneers: Your ideas."