Why is detachment of the east side of Del Paso Park so important? Well, if you are a fan of parkland and green space staying there- then you should be very cognizant of what’s going on in the city of Sacramento behind closed doors. Parkland and green space is being gobbled up and thrown away. Yes. You heard that right! Let’s play a little game- usually one kids play on the back of the cereal box or in Highlights magazine. However this time it’s a sad little tale for the Ranger Rick readers. Can you spot the differences in these two city park maps?
Look at the natural habitat areas map the city has posted on their Del Paso Park website (pictured above).
Now look at the natural habitat areas map from 2022 Here in the news article at bottom before the city carved up parkland and put the shelter where park amenity Discovery museum parcel should be. (See Outreach and Engagement Center vs Discovery Museum areas in both maps). See the differences?
- Brown space vs green
- Discovery Museum vs Outreach & Engagement Center
- Riparian Corridor along arcade creek is no longer part of protected natural habitat zone.
Notice anything different? Notice how the section of the park that used to be green space is now brown? Including the riparian corridor area along Arcade Creek that was supposedly protected in perpetuity? Yikes. If they are willing to do it in the past in the West end- with the Auto Dealership and the industrial complex parcels being carved out- and green space thrown away- then they are certainly willing to do it on the east end with the shelter. Why? Because it’s Far from them and near to us.
Do you care about green space and parkland being carved up and thrown away? Of course!
This is why Measure O provided for a setback away from sensitive areas such as parks and streams. But does the city care? Nope. They just created a different map in June 2023- and say the shelter is “not in violation of City Code” because “it’s not in a park and it’s not in a natural habitat park use zone”. And CEQA says it won’t have any impact. Yeah right! This should make us all fighting mad. Once green space is gone- it’s gone for good.
Don’t let this happen- the city of Sacramento can’t be trusted. Detach Del Paso Park from the city of Sacramento and make the park what it should be- a park preserved as a park- for kids today and for future generations. We must Save Del Paso Park and ensure it remains. The County can create a community park for the county residents and community surrounding the increasingly disappearing green parkland.
See Save Del Paso Park for updates about the next meeting to attend when the detachment item goes before city hall. Let’s hope we can stop the trashing and throwing away of our precious green spaces.