Why do we want all city land east of Watt avenue to be transferred to the county? Well, we’re not trying to pick a fight, but a number of us have lived here for decades— and we know that the city is in a terrible spot.  They have a park here but don’t have anyone that is a constituent living here. The nearest city resident is roughly 2 miles away- so there’s no motivation to invest here when they have so much needed in other city parks already. We aren’t criticizing anyone- but it’s been proven historically- the city is going to spend its money where its constituents live. 

Again, we’re not trying to insult anybody, but it is common sense that the other city parks that are closer to city residents are the parks they invest in because city residents utilize them. The Del Paso Regional Park east of Watt has no regional draw…unlike William Land park which has the Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town, “Funderland” Amusement Park, William Land Golf Course…(and yes, we’re only talking about transferring the portion of Del Paso Park east of Watt avenue… where there is no Haggin Oaks Golf course, Sacramento Softball Complex, etc.)

There’s no longer a Discovery Science Museum…Renfree field slowly disintegrated and succumbed to vandalism and fire before being shuttered since 2011. The interpretive nature trail project in Del Paso Park East was never fully completed. The abandoned Discovery Science Museum was given no consideration for an alternate educational purpose and simply became “city surplus property”—while the downtown Powerhouse Science Museum and Riverfront Park continues to be developed. 

In 2016 former city parks director Chris Conlin said,

“Del Paso Park has a beautiful nature area, one of the last large natural areas in the city. We’d love to make that more of a nature area that schoolchildren could go to and study.” (see Sacramento’s plan to tackle its city parks problem)

Empty rhetoric. The City has done nothing. No nature center here. Del Paso Park is not a priority. 

Plus, we know that currently the city doesn’t have the funds to put into needed maintenance beyond our neighborhood. In March of 2023 it was announced that there’s a deferred maintenance backlog for parks of $145 million dollars…The more one looks at this the more one starts to see that it’s actually in the best interest of the City of Sacramento if they let this portion of park go. 

2022 news about City Parks in disrepair

If you look at a parks use analysis you’ll find:

There are roughly 450,000 people in the city all roughly within 500 yards of a different city park. Why would the city focus on this park within unincorporated county neighborhoods?

All this is really not a criticism or insult towards the city parks department- just a statement of facts about this park:

A. The city owns it

B. They’re not taking care of it

C. This needs to change 

So, again, how do we make this park in our neighborhood what it ought to be? 

Here’s the answer:

We think the county ought to try to take this peninsula of city land so we can have active and passive recreation in a park that is clean, safe, well maintained and rules enforced. To be preserved as a park now and for future generations to enjoy.

Join us in our efforts working towards this change by showing up Tuesday March 28 at 10:00 AM at the Board of Supervisors meeting (following the 9:30 closed session scheduled.)

Details for attending this meeting and details for sharing public comments at link below

March 28 BOS meeting agenda and information