2001 Newsroom Archive

South Natomas Community Center and Library Grand Opening Saturday, October 27, 2001

2921 Truxel Road 10:30 a.m. Parade; 11 a.m. Celebration Begins; 11:30 a.m. Dedication Ceremony

Sacramento, California, October 26, 2001 - History will be made tomorrow when phase one of the new South Natomas Community Center and Library, located at 2921 Truxel Road, is dedicated and opened to the community. The grand opening celebration "Harvest the Past to Build a Better Future," will begin with a fun-filled community parade, followed by an official dedication ceremony, and topped off with musical entertainment and barbecue for the entire family. The City of Sacramento's Department of Parks and Recreation is coordinating the activities.

"This is a major event for Sacramento and the Natomas community," said Mayor Heather Fargo. "These state-of-the-art facilities, which were constructed at a cost of almost $7 million, will enhance the quality of life in this region for years to come and the community is encouraged to share in the celebration. We've waited almost 20 years for this to become a reality."

Festivities begin with the parade (with 39 entrants) at 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Truxel and San Juan Roads down to the community center and library. Dedication ceremonies commence at 11:30 a.m. and the free barbecue will be from Noon - 2 p.m. An entertainment schedule will be available inside the library, the community center and on an outside stage. A children's play area featuring jump inflatables will be set up adjacent to the community center.

The library is approximately 13,615 square feet. It will house 70,000 books, audio books, compact disks, videos, newspapers and magazines and will be in operation 41 hours a week including three nights per week. The 850 square foot community center will be available for library programs and as a meeting place for community organizations.

There are 24 computers for public use, several terminals for high-speed Internet access and two "self-checkout" machines that will allow patrons to conveniently check out library books and materials. There are separate reading areas for children and young adults as well as a study room for students and Library Literacy Services program participants. The interior is tastefully decorated with art including a sculpture that is part of the Sacramento Metropolitan Art Commission's Art in Public Places Program.

The South Natomas Community Center will be the hub of Natomas, and will offer many services to the community including meeting rooms, children activities, fitness programs, facilities for dance rehearsals and services that are coordinated through the area's Neighbor hood Services Department. This is the first time in Sacramento's history when a library and community center have been built on the same site and jointly dedicated.

The South Natomas Community Center and Library grand opening celebration is a much-anticipated event. A Number of dignitaries are expected to attend including Mayor Heather Fargo and members of Sacramento's City Council, U.S. Representative Robert Matsui, Senator Deborah Ortiz, Assembly members Darrel Steinberg and Dave Cox, Roger Dickinson and other county board of supervisors, City Manager Bob Thomas and others.

The celebration is being underwritten, in part, by WINfirst, River City Bank, and Maloof Sports and Entertainment; with additional support from Crystal Cream & Butter Company, Albertson's and Sacramento Salsa.