Friends of Sutter’s Landing Park (FOSL) is excited to announce the City of Sacramento’s recent purchase of two land parcels adjacent to the west of Sutter’s Landing Park (SLP). FOSL looks forward to the opportunity to work with the City to expand SLP in ways which are consistent with the greater nature-centered vision of the American River Parkway.

In January, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the acquisition of two parcels of riverfront land from Blue Diamond, using funds from the Proposition 68 grant that Sacramento had received from the Wildlife Conservation Board’s Lower American River Conservancy. At the same time, the City also came to an agreement with SMUD regarding a parcel it owns immediately to the west of the Blue Diamond property (i.e., to the northeast of the new Substation B electrical transfer station). Considered together, the three properties will add nearly 30 acres to Sutter’s Landing Park but will not be fully connected to the Park until the City is able to acquire the two Dellar Survivor’s Trust and Bell Marine properties located between the Blue Diamond parcel and Sutter’s Landing Park. Hopefully, that will happen before too long. Furthermore, remediation is required for the three other parcels before they can be used (anticipated to take 12-18 months).

Ultimately, this land acquisition should make it possible to add more hiking trails and to extend the Two Rivers Trail westward towards the Northern Sacramento Bikeway. More wildlife habitat protection and restoration also will be provided. The property acquisition was widely supported by local residents and was championed by the Third District’s Council Member, Jeff Harris.

This article is reprinted with permission from Park Beat, newsletter of the Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association.