Parks Plan 2040

The Draft Parks Plan 2040

Available for public comment March 8 - April 8.

The City of Sacramento Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment is updating its Parks Plan to guide us in identifying and carrying out the community’s vision and priorities for services over the next 20 years!

Using a combination of professional expertise and public input, the Parks Plan will help Sacramento:

  • Provide equitable and accessible parks and recreation opportunities
  • Evaluate and improve park conditions and maintenance
  • Expand recreation and community enrichment programs to better serve all residents
  • Support and empower youth in our communities

News and alerts

View the full report here (PDF)

View image and flyer

YPCE recently won a California Parks and Recreation Society Award of Excellence for Marketing and Communication for the Parks Plan 2040 youth outreach program. This award recognizes excellence in print, audio visual or electronic communications. The Award of Excellence showcased YPCE’s youth outreach plan to improve community engagement through an art contest, so that the youngest residents of Sacramento have a voice in how parks and recreation develop over the next 20 years. The results of the Youth Art Contest and Expo are featured below. Special thanks to YPCE’s Youth Division, all speaker series participants, and all art contest participants!

“Youth Art Expo and Contest: Your Parks, Your Future!” Winners

Throughout summer 2021, Sacramento youth ages 14 to 24 shared with the City of Sacramento how they would shape the future of parks and recreation through photos, drawings, videos and poetry for the “Youth Art Expo and Contest: Your Parks, Your Future!”

Their recommendations will be included in the Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment Department’s Parks Plan 2040.

Three lucky winners in age categories of 14 to 15, 16 to 18, and 19 to 24 won $300 each. Another $600 was awarded to 12 honorable mention winners. YPCE’s art contest allowed youth to highlight some of the reasons why open space is important to them, whether it be for socialization, relaxation, physical or mental health.

Age 14-15 winner: Muhammad Riaz

Muhammad was inspired by all Sacramento parks, rather than a specific park. He included diversity, maintenance workers and various park activities.

“I think parks and recreation activities are crucial because they allow an escape from daily stressors,” Riaz said. “For example, you can go to parks just to take walks and have some self-reflection, like a sort of meditation. You could also have picnics or hang out with friends and family, which is very beneficial to mental health and allows you to have fun with little worry!”

Age 16-18 winner: Samantha Ward

Samantha was inspired by North Natomas Community Park which is near her home, and Miller Park where she used to visit with her grandmother.

“Sacramento parks being open and free to everyone means the world to me. It means that everyone can get the same enjoyment out of our parks as I do,” said Ward. “Sacramento's parks provide opportunities for locals to engage and meet one another. They serve as gathering places for family and community groups of all ages, regardless of background.”

Age 19-24: Alexandra Cooke

Alexandra’s work is inspired by McKinley park, where she used to visit with her grandmother as a child and visits now with her younger siblings.

“The best part of visiting Sacramento parks is the sense of camaraderie that you get, the significance of these parks, and the countless visits and memories that were created there. Parks in Sacramento are locations that may help us be better, feel good, and feel more satisfied,” Cooke said.

To get a closer look and browse all of the art submissions, visit the YPCE’s Facebook pages below:

Sign up to stay informed

BE A SACRAMENTO PARKS SUPERHERO!

Use your superpowers to help us identify what needs improving, what programs and activities are needed, and what is SUPER about City parks, activities, and programs!

How do you get these superpowers? Sign up for our mailing list to be the first to know about project updates and our mission-essential tasks.

Current ways to be involved

Please spend 10 minutes on an interactive survey that lets you identify and map where new and improved parks, recreation facilities, trails, and programs should be located. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, and Hmong.

Park plan highlights

The YPCE Parks Plan builds on the City’s 2040 General Plan Update. It will include in-depth public engagement in each phase of the process so that the Final Plan will reflect community commitments and priorities. 

Parks

The residents of Sacramento enjoy access to an extensive parks and recreation system that includes more than 4,265 acres of regional, community-wide, and neighborhood facilities. These facilities offer opportunities for exercise and enjoyment that are available to all. The benefits they provide for social interaction, personal growth, a connection to the natural environment, and wellness are invaluable. The Parks Plan 2040 provides an important opportunity for residents to provide input on prioritization of improvements and identify where new parks and facilities are needed. Based on the priorities and vision of residents, the Parks Plan 2040 will recommend policies to guide in the equitable acquisition, development, and maintenance of parks for the next 20 years.

Did you know?

  • The City has over 4,265 acres of park land, including a mix of regional parks, community parks, neighborhood parks and parkways
  • The largest park is Del Paso Regional Park, which is nearly 625 acres in size!
  • The smallest sites are the Dixieanne Tot Lot and Sparrow Community Garden, which are only 0.1 acres in size.
  • The Department manages four public golf courses as well as four disc golf courses.
  • There are 127 soccer fields, 138 group picnic areas, 213 play structures and 19 community centers in parks throughout the City.

For more information, visit our Parks page

Youth

The City of Sacramento understands and prioritizes the development and enrichment of children, youth, and young adults. The City offers play equipment, sports fields and courts, and other facilities in parks to encourage and support youth health, fitness, and fun. The City also offers a variety of programs ranging from licensed childcare to sports to workforce development and civic engagement, ensuring that youth of all ages and interests are supported into the future. The Parks Plan will evaluate program delivery to identify what programs and services are needed and should be expanded, enhanced, or added by the City or in partnership with other organizations.

Did you know?

  • Programs like Sacramento Youth Commission and Summer at City Hall allows teens and young adults to develop leadership skills.
  • Prime Time Teen, Young Leaders of Tomorrow and Landscape & Learning offers hands-on experience and skills training to get teens ready for employment.
  • There are 17 swimming and wading pools providing essential learn-to-swim and water safety programs, and even activities such as the underwater Easter Egg Hunt!
  • A Friday night afterschool program, Hot Spot, offers a safe place for teens ages 13-19 to hang out with friends, play indoor basketball, and enjoy movies, music, dance, foosball, air hockey and occasional field trips.

For more information, visit our Youth Division page

Community Enrichment

A healthy and livable community provides recreation, lifelong learning, leisure, engagement, and volunteer opportunities for residents of all ages. Collectively called community enrichment opportunities, these events, programs, activities, and information enrich the lives of diverse residents across Sacramento. The YPCE Department supports accessible leisure programs, arts and cultural activities, specialized classes such as dog obedience training, and critically important community services, such as Meals on Wheels. Not only do these activities provide an opportunity to meet, engage and culturally connect with other members of the community, but they also provide an opportunity for recreation, community support, and civic engagement. The Parks Plan will identify needs for enrichment programs and services to see what types of programs should be offered in the future.

Did you know?

  • Camp Sacramento is an overnight full-service summer camp with cabin rentals for the entire family in the El Dorado National Forest.
  • In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the City’s recreation programs are now being offered virtually.
  • Pools, skate parks, shelters, sports fields, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and community center rooms can be rented for meetings, weddings, or birthdays.
  • YPCE and City Council Districts offer a variety of fall and winter festivals, family nights, and community celebrations for City residents. Seniors and older adults
  • Seniors and older adults have access to support services and can participate in a variety of activities, including sewing, ceramics, socials and even Sports for Life Soccer programs.

For more information, visit our Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment website

Other thoughts and questions?

Email us at YPCEParksPlan@cityofsacramento.org to share any other ideas and comments.

ON THIS PAGE