Davis splash pad honors fallen officer Natalie Corona
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- Davis unveiled a new splash pad named Natalie’s Corner to honor fallen officer.
- The project raised over $550,000 and commemorates Natalie Corona’s legacy.
- Murals and plaques highlight Corona’s life, values and community impact.
Lupe Corona’s smile grew Saturday morning as she watched dozens of children race through water fountains at Natalie’s Corner, a place built to honor her daughter’s legacy.
“Just watching these kids have such a great time running around, and their little screams, does my mama heart some good,” Corona said.
Corona and her family had gathered alongside more than 100 community members for the grand opening of a splash pad at Davis’ Central Park. The newly renovated space is named in memory of Natalie Corona, a police officer who was fatally shot in 2019 during a routine response to a traffic accident near Fifth and D streets.
She was 22.
Her death was the first line-of-duty slaying for the department in nearly 60 years, according to previous reporting from The Sacramento Bee. The killing led to an outpour of support from the Davis community who remembered Natalie’s positive attitude and commitment to law enforcement.
The unveiling of the splash pad comes five years after a committee was formed to recommend a place of remembrance. To date, the committee has raised more $550,000.
“She chose Davis, and this project is evidence that we chose her back in a big way,” said Davis Parks and Community Services Director Deanne Machado.
Much of the splash pad and its surrounding features serve to commemorate Natalie, who had graduated from the Sacramento Police Academy months before her death.
“Natalie will be remembered for a long time to come, way past when we’re all no longer here there will be children out there running and enjoying this,” said her father Merced Corona.
At the entrance, a plaque provides a brief summary of Natalie’s life and says her dream “was to be a police officer just like my dad.” Her favorite flower was a sunflower which personified her happy, strong and loyal qualities, the plaque adds.
The murals on the outer edges of the splash pad offer further insight into the fallen officer. Each one includes references from her life, from her favorite superhero Wonderwoman and love of 80s music to the time she went skydiving.
“She loved it,” said Natalie’s sister Jackie Bravo. “She loved thrill rides and anything that had to do with suspense.”
One mural also includes the last note Natalie ever wrote to her parents.
“Wake me up for church @10 am!- Nat,” the note said.
Lupe said such notes were typical for Natalie, who often worked nights but was adamant to not miss Sunday morning mass. That morning, days before she was killed, Lupe chose to let her daughter sleep.
“She was so peacefully snoozing that I just didn’t have the heart to wake her up,” Lupe said.
The splash pad is the latest remembrance for Natalie. In the month following the fatal shooting, Yolo County renamed a bus in her honor and the Sacramento Police Department dedicated its new helicopter to her.
That same year, a stretch of Interstate 5 was renamed for Natalie. The young officer was also awarded a posthumous Purple Heart.
The splash pad is free and will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily during the summer.
This story was originally published August 16, 2025 at 2:23 PM.
