Sacramento gets $12 million for American River Parkway improvements. Here’s what’s planned
The lower American River Parkway will receive about $12 million in state funding for significant public access improvements.
Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, secured the money in the state budget.
“In total this will be the largest investment ever for the lower Parkway as far as public access improvements,” McCarty said. “This is the jewel of Sacramento.”
The improvements will include a new building for concessions and kayak and paddleboard rentals at Sutter’s Landing; a boat launch and restrooms at Woodlake Gateway; an observation deck and outdoor classroom at Camp Pollock; and planning for the Two Rivers Trail.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg praised McCarty for securing the funds.
“The lower American River Parkway is an environmental and recreational treasure,” Steinberg said in a statement. “The funds secured by McCarty will both preserve it and allow adults and children alike to experience it more fully for play and learning.”
It’s especially important for Sacramento to improve the Parkway because the city has many families who cannot afford to go to places like the Marin Headlands or Yosemite, McCarty said.
“We don’t always have places easy to get to that are open and that are safe along the Parkway,” McCarty said. “We should have a Parkway everyone can cherish.”
The funding will set aside $3.5 million for Camp Pollock improvements for an observation deck, outdoor classroom, boat launch and critical well repairs.
“There’s a lodge there and bare-bones public access,” McCarty said. “This will really increase the availability for the public to access the river from that site.”
The outdoor classroom would be used by the 1,500 to 2,000 students from all the school districts in the area who visit Camp Pollock every year, said Kelly Hopkins, executive director of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy, which manages Camp Pollock.
Artist Maren Conrad will paint three murals, which will be interactive with QR codes, Hopkins said.
“She understands our mission and wanted to be engaged with us,” Hopkins said.
Other improvements include:
▪ $1.49 million for Sutter’s Landing;
▪ $1.2 million for concession building with refreshments and kayak and paddleboard rentals, which McCarty hopes can open by spring;
▪ $40,000 for a public art river scene mural;
▪ $150,000 for wildlife habitat enhancement;
▪ $500,000 to update the Sutter’s Landing Park Master Plan;
▪ $50,000 for parking lot safety improvements and a gate;
▪ $3 million for Woodlake Gateway, east of Highway 160.
Two-million dollars in funding will also finish planning for a Two Rivers Trail connection between Sutter’s Landing Park and the Sacramento Northern Bikeway Trail. The Two Rivers Trail will eventually connect Old Sacramento to Folsom Lake.
Construction could start in a couple of years, McCarty said.
Funding totaling $100,000 will also be set aside for the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps, creating jobs for underserved youth to restore habitat for wildlife and reduce wildfire risk
This story was originally published October 26, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
