Birds and Benches in North Natomas Regional Park

North Natomas Regional Park

Satellite image of a large undeveloped area in the middle of suburban housing. open_in_full

Eight Benches will be installed inspired by the avian life and history of the area.

Birds and Benches Project Launch

The Birds and Benches in Natomas Public Art project is set to begin. Join us starting Thursday, February 5, 2026 as we welcome Alice Aida Ayers as the Opening Speaker in our Mentor Artist Presentation Series.

We have invited experienced artists and fabricators to Mentor the Bench Design Artists as the move through theor creative processes. In this series, these four Mentor Artists will introduce themselves and their work to the community and to our cohort of artists. 

These presentations will be held at the North Natomas Community Center on the first Thursday of each month. There will be time for questions after each presentation. Make sure you have the following dates on your calendar:

Thursday, February 5, 2026, 5:30pm-7:30pm - Presenter Alice Ayers

Thursday, March 5, 2026, 5:30pm-7:30pm - Presenter Larry Meeks

Thursday, April 2, 2026, 5:30pm-7:30pm - Presenter Ronnie Frostad    

Thursday, May 7, 2026, 5:30pm-7:30pm - Presenter Terrence Martin

More details to follow.

       

 

Project Outline

Funded through the City of Sacramento’s 2% for public art ordinance, the Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) Art in Public Places (APP) program has been tasked with management of a new Artist Designed Benches Project in North Natomas Regional Park (NNRP) named Birds and Benches. 

The project will have two phases to support robust community engagement:

Phase 1 - Five (5) Artist Ambassadors to engage with five careholder organizations AND

Phase 2 – up to eight (8) artists for the design and fabrication of up to 8 artist made benches.

The ideal envisioned bench design will enhance the community atmosphere of the site while celebrating the bird life of the Natomas Basin, focusing on areas in the park where visitors can enjoy resting and viewing avian species as well as other areas determined through conversations with project careholder organizations and community participants.

ARTIST CALL CLOSED JULY 28, 2025 

 

Birds and Benches Updated Proposed Timeline

UPDATED PROJECT TIMELINE

October 2025:                  Artists notified

December 2025:              Contract and supplier paperwork completed

January :                           Artists begin meetings with careholders and design development

January - August 2026:    Artist workshops

January 2027                    Phase 1 Artist exhibition and Phase 2 Conceptual design presentation                        

January 2027 :                   Phase 2 Fabrication begins

July 2027                             Installation of Benches in North Natomas Regional Park

September 2027                Artist Talk and final celebration of benches

                   

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