Many cities boast many things that set them apart from other cities around the country and for Sacramento, one such thing is the American River Parkway, the river-lined nature and recreation area that extends from Discovery Park in Sacramento to the state-owned property by the Nimbus Dam, just outside the city of Folsom.

Certainly, few cities can claim themselves as a river city and for Sacramento, its claim as a river city is at the highest level with its location resting at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers.

At this confluence, which is located at the northwest corner of the city, lies Discovery Park, the starting point of the American River Parkway, which is home to 14 parks and more than a dozen access points. In addition to Discovery Park, these areas include: Ancil Hoffman Park, the William B. Pond Recreation Area and the recently renamed River Bend Park, which was known as C.M. Goethe Park for the past 43 years.

Dianna Aguilar, executive director of the American River Parkway Foundation, is well aware of the unique benefits that the parkway brings to the Sacramento region.

“The American River Parkway is a great asset for the people of the greater Sacramento area,” Aguilar said. “What other urban area has 23 miles of river and biking and walking trails that the community can use for free?”

Sacramento’s Great Park
The parkway certainly has much to offer, as is evident by the current mid-summer activities that are bringing people to the area for fishing, boating, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, swimming, skating, horseback riding, hiking, leisure strolls along the trails, bird watching, commuting without sharing space with motorized vehicles and a variety of other activities.

The parkway’s multi-use, paved trail, which is officially known as the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail and unofficially as the American River Bike Trail, alone is one the region’s most popular recreational features.

The trail, which actually extends beyond the parkway to Beal’s Point at Folsom Lake, is considered one of the longest bicycle trails in the nation.

And considering the current price of fuel, the importance of the trail, which includes a segment near the Guy West Bridge near California State University, Sacramento, will likely continue to increase.

Although the modern version of the 32.8-mile-long, paved trail is only a little more than 30 years old, its history as a bicycle trail dates back to 1896, when a recreational group, known as The Capital City Wheelmen, built a non-motorized vehicle, cinder pathway from Sacramento to Folsom, along nearly the exact route of today’s trail.

And stepping even further back in time, the approximate site of the trail was used as the final stretch of the western segment of the Pony Express.

So, for the occasional cyclist, jogger, walker or rollerblader who does not care for the presence of horses along the trail, it can be a losing argument when considering who was on the trail first.

Long in Distance, Beauty
As Sacramento’s playground, the parkway presents a unique environment that delivers recreation for its visitors, while at the same time preserving an important natural area that is a habitat for many trees, plants and animals that thrive along the river’s edge.

Among the wildlife residing along the parkway are: coyotes, deer, squirrels, fish, reptiles, hawks, owls, quail, wild turkeys, ducks, geese and a variety of other bird species.

Aguilar, who grew up in San Francisco, said that she enjoys the natural environment of the parkway, noting that just last week she encountered a coyote, while walking her dog along a trail.

As visitors continue to take pleasure in the many benefits that the parkway provides, it is important to pay tribute to the history of the parkway, as it appears today.

The parkway was established through a March 1962 Sacramento County general plan, which stated that a “need for additional open space becomes more apparent as the former rural areas are fast becoming urbanized.”

Since this time, improvements have continued to be made along this 5,000-acre greenbelt, including one of its earliest additions, the creation of Discovery Park.

Other improvements to the parkway have been the construction of picnic recreation areas, gazebos, bathrooms, an increase in the number of rangers and security and an ongoing invasive plant removal project.

In regard to the future of the parkway, Aguilar firmly believes in the importance of protecting, preserving and enhancing the parkway.

She adds that it is also very important for more people to gain an appreciation for the parkway’s natural resources.

“I think for anything to sustain, it’s going to have to be appreciated, so it’s important for people to care about the parkway and not abuse it,” Aguilar said.

A Helping Hand
It is for this reason that Aguilar feels that the 501(c)3 not-for-profit American River Parkway Foundation is such an essentially valuable organization for the preservation and enhancement of the parkway.

The foundation, however, does not work alone, as thousands of hours of labor are contributed by hundreds of volunteers, who dedicate their time to the foundation’s efforts, which include maintaining and improving the parkway’s native habitat and vegetation.

The volunteers also help to reduce the threat of fires, improve public safety and expand public stewardship of the parkway.

In addition to seeking new volunteers, the foundation offers several events and other opportunities to assist the foundation, including its largest fundraising event, the annual Down River Day. This year’s edition of the event, which features corporate-sponsored rafting, a catered meal and live entertainment, will be held Aug. 2.

A program, known as “Adopt a Grove,” presents another opportunity for those interested in assisting the foundation. Through this program, parkway supporters care for about 85 to 150 trees through such activities as weekly watering, weed removal and reporting and replacing dead trees.

In pondering the benefits of the American River Parkway, Liz Bellas, administrative services officer for Sacramento County Parks, said that Sacramento County residents are continuously commenting to her about their love for the parkway.

“The American River Parkway is often referred to as the jewel of Sacramento County and residents are very fortunate to have such a natural resource amenity right outside their back door,” Bellas said.

And with summer in full swing, there is likely no better time than now to pay a visit to one of the premier jewels of the capital region, the American River Parkway.