Sacramento Riverfront

A person rides a three-wheel bike down a wide sidewalk near the Sacramento river. open_in_full

The Sacramento River urban waterfront is three and a half miles in length stretching from Tiscornia Park, at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers, to Miller Park. This is where the City of Sacramento began following the discovery of gold on the American River in 1848. The historic waterfront area is where fortune seekers from around the world came to stock up on supplies before heading to the gold fields. Incorporated as a city in 1850 this area became the hub of commerce, communication and transportation in the region.

The City has had significant public and private investments along the waterfront and within the surrounding specific plan areas. However, there is still tremendous potential for future development opportunities.

Recognizing the waterfront’s potential, the City’s riverfront has been included in numerous specific plans including the River District Specific Plan, Railyards Specific Plan, Central City Specific Plan, Docks Area Draft Specific Plan, and the West Broadway Specific.

City Community Plans

Riverfront Master Plan

Historic Old Sacramento Waterfront

A concept image of the Old Sacramento Waterfront open_in_full

Destination Sacramento

On June 27, 2017, The City of Sacramento City Council set goals for redevelopment of the Old Sacramento Waterfront to (1) create a regional destination attracting millions of people a year to the waterfront, and to (2) create a marketable asset that would assist civic efforts to increase Convention Center sales, aid efforts to attract outside businesses to the region, and help attract and retain a next-economy workforce.

To realize these goals, staff proposed the Destination Sacramento Program which consists of several initiatives:

Destination Sacramento Program City Council Hearing 4/29/19

Destination Sacramento Program City Council Hearing 12/10/19

American Rescue Plan Act Old Sacramento Waterfront Improvements

Old Sacramento has long been a priority for the City and requires additional investment to ensure a safe and quality visitor experience. Utilizing $5 million of American Rescue Plan Act Funds (ARPA), City staff have been working with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and local merchants on a list of improvements to enhance the Old Sacramento environment. Lighting improvements to the existing streetlights, private buildings, and at the pedestrian level will utilize Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) approaches to address and eliminate pockets of darkness and create a welcoming area. Additionally, security cameras will be installed at key locations throughout the district.

City Council Hearing 10/22/21

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