Sacramento moves one step closer to completing North Natomas Regional Park with new family meadow

Sacramento, California – Visitors walking through North Natomas Regional Park may notice a visible change taking shape near the Aquatic Center. New fencing is going up around the grassy area immediately to the north, marking the start of another improvement at the long-planned regional park.

Sacramento Councilmember Lisa Kaplan says the fenced area is being transformed into a meadow designed for families and community events, with the project moving forward because of $500,000 in state funding secured by Senator Angelique Ashby.

Kaplan shared the update with District 1 residents while also addressing a question that has followed North Natomas Regional Park for years: why the larger park has still not been completely developed despite plans dating back roughly 25 years.

Read also: Sacramento job seekers can lay bricks, use power tools and meet union professionals at massive career fair on Nov. 6

According to Kaplan, the main obstacle has been funding. She said neither the city nor the original developers identified a dedicated source of money that would fully build out the regional park.

Another complication involves CFD3 funds collected in the area. Kaplan explained that those dollars can be used for neighborhood and community parks, but they cannot be spent on regional parks. That restriction leaves projects at North Natomas Regional Park dependent on other funding sources.

The new meadow offers an example of how outside funding can move individual pieces of the park forward. Kaplan credited Ashby with securing the $500,000 from the Natural Resources Agency for park development, allowing the previously grassy section near the Aquatic Center to be improved.

Read also: California adds nearly $300 billion in one year as its economy climbs past historic $4.5 trillion mark

For larger projects, Kaplan said progress will require cooperation and a continued search for state and federal funding. The challenge is not simply deciding what should be built, but finding money that can legally and practically be used for improvements at a regional park.

Residents interested in what could come next will have an opportunity to hear more later this month. Kaplan is inviting community members to her community conversations on October 15, where she plans to provide an update on her vision for securing additional funding and continuing the buildout of North Natomas Regional Park.

For now, the fencing near the Aquatic Center represents one visible step forward — and a reminder that completing the broader park will likely depend on finding similar funding opportunities for future projects.