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Last year was one of change for the American River Parkway Foundation. At the request of our supporters, we took a more proactive approach regarding addressing illegal camping on the American River Parkway. Since submission of our Demand Letter in January 2022, we have pushed forward, bringing greater attention to the issue. This has led to media coverage locally and nationally, increased effort by local elected officials and municipal staff to address the issue, and funding locally and from the state focused on mitigating the impact of illegal camping. See the Full Timeline of Our Actions We are proud of what we have achieved, but none of this would have been possible without the support of the community. This includes members of the Voice of the Parkway Coalition – comprised of concerned Parkway users, businesses, corporations and organizations – advocating for the conservation of the Parkway. But our work was not limited to just our public affairs efforts. We have also made great strides in addressing the fire danger on the Parkway. Our Parkway Fire Safe Council has worked together to begin developing plans for mitigation. This includes the creation of a community wildfire protection plan – funded in entirety by the Parkway Foundation – that will identify areas for fire breaks, restoration and mitigation. This will allow all Parkway stakeholders to seek more funding to address fire issues on the Parkway. Our volunteer programs also continued to have a growing impact. Over 4,400 volunteers spent more than 13,600 hours on direct conservation of the Parkway, including clean-ups, invasive plant removal, trail maintenance and more. This is done through work with individuals, groups, families, businesses and others interested in conservation, project ownership, team building, family bonding and community service. (See list of accomplishments below.) With your help, the new year will bring more accomplishments. In 2023, look for the Parkway Foundation to: Replace the mile marker signs on the Parkway with new, more informative directional signage. Continued conservation of the Parkway through our volunteer programs, especially addressing impacts from flooding during this stormy period. Continue development of the community wildfire protection plan. Continue to educate the community about the Parkway. Continue to work with local elected officials and County and City leaders to secure land for shelter spaces and push for wrap-around services. Continue to invest in the Parkway through the TEICHERT-Parkway Fund, which is contributing $100,000 in 2023 to projects that will revitalize the Parkway from Cal Expo to Discovery Park. Thank you for being a part of this vital mission through volunteering, financial support and helping to spread the word about the beauty of the Parkway. Together we can continue in our mission to lead and inspire the community to conserve and nurture the Parkway as a unique, accessible resource for everyone to enjoy. Dianna Poggetto Executive Director, American River Parkway Continue Reading

Thank you to everyone who participated in Run the Parkway.   See the recap video!More than 1,100 runners attended, helping to raise $30,000 for conservation of the Parkway. Run the Parkway is the official training run for the California International Marathon with 3 course options: marathon, half-marathon and scenic nature walk. It was an exciting morning watching and cheering for the race participants and being there at the finish line as they received their medals. Putting on the event would not have been possible with the 120+ volunteers who arrived early and stayed late to help with every part of the event. Thank you for taking your Sunday morning to help. We also want to thank the sponsors and vendors for their support: Sponsors Elite Spinal & Sport Care Fleet Feet Sacramento GU Nuun Raley’s Vendors Black Sails Coffee Sacramento River Cats & Dinger SMUD Visit Rancho Cordova We’ll see you next year, November 5, 2023, for Run the Parkway! Continue Reading

Thank you to everyone who participated in Ride the Parkway! We had a great time at the 19th Annual Ride the Parkway event. Here’s a recap of the event: Thank you to everyone who made it possible, including our volunteers, riders, families, vendors and our sponsors: Lid SponsorsPacosSKK DevelopmentsFender SponsorsBoutin JonesCAL LightingDokken EngineeringEye Site SacramentoHarris & SloanLaser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern CaliforniaMogavero ArchitectsPacific NeonSacramento Bike HikersRest Stop SponsorsLighting SystemsOak Park Massage ClinicPeak AdventuresPerfect UnionSacramento WheelmenVisit Rancho CordovaIn-Kind SponsorsNew Belgium BrewingREIRiver City BrewingTwo Rivers Cider Company   Stay tuned for Ride the Parkway 2023!It will be the 20th Anniversary, so you know we’re going big. Details to come. Continue Reading

When will enough be enough?That is the question we’ve been asking officials and Supervisors with the County of Sacramento since submitting our Demand Letter in January. Over the past three years, the illegal camping situation has worsened with more than 2,000 campers now living on the Parkway. That has led to a deterioration in environmental, public health and humanitarian conditions, which has a devastating effect on the Parkway and the people living on it. We need your help pressing our leaders for answers and solutions! County Supervisors hold regular public meetings and we encourage you to attend and ask: What is the timeline for establishing more shelter space, especially for those living on the Parkway? How will the $25 million that is coming from the state be allocated to benefit the Parkway? What is the plan for using the federal funding from the America Rescue Plan? We now have ordinances in the County that prevent illegal camping on the Parkway. When will they be enforced? Millions of dollars are being allocated to address homelessness in the County. Where are the results? Where are the shelters? What is the latest on the partnership with the City of Sacramento, including the signing of the MOU? The next opportunity is Sup. Rich Desmond’s community meeting tomorrow night (Oct. 6) at 6 p.m. It’s taking place at the Gibbons Park, Mission Oaks Community Center located at:                4701 Gibbons Drive               Carmichael, CA 95608 Please attend and make your voice heard! Continue Reading

  Thank you to everyone who helped make the Great American River Clean-Up a success this year!   1,308 Participants 41,245 Pounds of Trash Over 30 Pounds Per Person   Removing trash from the American River Parkway has tremendous environmental benefits. It reduces the amount of pollutants – like battery acid, microplastics and Styrofoam – that enter the environment, decreases the amount of trash in our waterways, protects water quality and removes hazards that are a danger to wildlife. This year’s event was held at more than 20 locations along the Parkway. Some of the more interesting things found during the clean-up include dentures, a pellet rifle, a car door and a hand forklift. The Great American River Clean-Up is held during the California Coastal Cleanup, a larger statewide effort to clean our waterways. The event takes place every September.   Thank you to our sponsors. Carmichael Water District Gold River Community Association Sacramento Suburban Water District SMUD   Thank you to our volunteer groups representing: American Heritage Girls Troop CA1271 Butterfield Riviera East Community Association California Conservation Corps Capital Tech Solutions El Parkis Youth Group Five Star Bank Fort Sutter Professional Engineers in California Government (PECG) Girl Scout Troop 4028 Jackson Labs Pepperdine Sacramento Waves Rotary Club of Arden-Arcade Rotary Club of Sacramento Rhombus Sac State Softball Team Sac State Student Environmental Organization Sacramento Picks It Up Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps Scout Troop 8 Scout Troop 447 Target Tzu Chi USA Sacramento Service Center UC Davis Law Students Association Union Sacramento FC United Way California Capital Region Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento And thank you to all of the individuals, families and other groups that gave up part of their weekend to help our Parkway. Without your support, we would not have been able to accomplish what we did. See the full press release for more details and photos. Continue Reading

Over 1,300 members of the Sacramento community joined in the largest annual clean-up of the American River Parkway.   SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Dentures, golf clubs and a hand forklift were just some of the items removed from the American River Parkway (Parkway) during the American River Parkway Foundation’s (Parkway Foundation) 19th Annual Great American River Clean-Up on Saturday, September 17. In all, 1,308 volunteers removed 39,645 pounds of trash. That’s more than 30 pounds per volunteer.   The Great American River Clean-Up is the largest annual clean-up of the Parkway. This year, there were over 20 locations stretching from Discovery Park to Black Miners Bar in Lake Natoma. Families, groups and individuals of all ages and sizes attended the clean-up, removing clothing, batteries, plastic, styrofoam and other trash and debris.   “The American River Parkway is a true urban jewel. The American River Parkway Foundation is able to accomplish what we do on the Parkway because of our volunteers,” said Dianna Poggetto, Parkway Foundation Executive Director. “Thank you to the businesses, groups, families and individuals that dedicated part of their Saturday to make the Great American River Clean-Up a success.”   Some of the most interesting items found during the clean-up this year: Dentures A car door Nice pair of dress shoes Hand forklift Pellet Rifle Golf clubs Pickaxe   The Great American River Clean-Up takes place every year in conjunction with the California Coastal Cleanup, normally held the third Saturday of each September. It is part of the Parkway Foundation’s overall Parkway Clean-Ups program.   More details about Parkway Foundation programs can be found at www.ARPF.org/Programs   About the American River Parkway Foundation The American River Parkway Foundation (Parkway Foundation) is the only nonprofit organization focused on active conservation of all 23 miles of the American River Parkway (Parkway). Through managing programs like volunteer clean-ups, infrastructure improvements, trail maintenance, fire mitigation and education, the Parkway Foundation leads and inspires the community to conserve and nurture the Parkway as a unique, accessible resource for everyone to enjoy. Learn more at www.ARPF.org.   — ### —   Continue Reading

  SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The American River Parkway Foundation released the below statement regarding the passage of a Sacramento County ordinance focused on illegal camping on the American River Parkway. The ordinance was passed 5-0 by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors at the August 23rd meeting:   “While we applaud the passage of the ordinance toughening restrictions on illegal camping on the American River Parkway, we urge Sacramento County leaders to continue to make the development of shelter and wrap-around services for the unhoused a priority. Enforcement, while important, doesn’t address the root cause and won’t be effective without these other two key elements.   “There are 2,000-3,000 illegal campers on the Parkway. We’re experiencing environmental and humanitarian crises we’ve never seen before. But focusing only on enforcement will lead to whack-a-mole and never truly address the issue.   “More shelter space and services will help the unhoused get off the streets. The American River Parkway Foundation remains committed to helping the County with this undertaking.”   Dianna Poggetto Executive Director American River Parkway Foundation   About the American River Parkway Foundation The American River Parkway Foundation (Parkway Foundation) is the only nonprofit organization focused on active conservation of all 23 miles of the American River Parkway (Parkway). Through managing programs like volunteer clean-ups, infrastructure improvements, trail maintenance, fire mitigation and education, the Parkway Foundation leads and inspires the community to conserve and nurture the Parkway as a unique, accessible resource for everyone to enjoy. Learn more at www.ARPF.org.   — ### — Continue Reading

  The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will vote on a Parkway Ordinance on August 10 at 2 p.m.   If passed, the ordinance will toughen restrictions and consequences of actions on the Parkway, including illegal camping, open flames, use of generators and combustible liquids, construction and maintenance of structures, and modifications to the land.   Read more about the ordinance.   The Parkway Foundation supports this measure as one part of the solution to addressing the humanitarian and environmental crises on the Parkway. However, this ordinance won’t be effective without the other essential element: ensuring there is shelter and wrap-around services for the unhoused in the County, especially those living on the Parkway.   We urge you to also show your support in at least one of the below ways: Attend the Board meeting at 700 H Street in Downtown Sacramento and participate in public comment. Call into the meeting at (916) 875-2500 and make a public comment. Send an email to and/or call your Supervisor. Templates can be found here.   Even if the ordinance is approved, the Parkway Foundation will continue to work with the County on addressing homelessness.   Thank you for learning more about getting involved. Let us know if you have any questions.   CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SACRAMENTO COUNTY SUPERVISORS Supervisor Don Notolli, Sacramento County District 5 – Chair Supervisor Richard Desmond, Sacramento County District 3 – Vice Chair Supervisor Phil Serna, Sacramento County District 1 Supervisor Patrick Kennedy, Sacramento County District 2 Supervisor Sue Frost, Sacramento County District 4   CC on the email: BoardClerk@saccounty.net   Continue Reading

Thank you to the many businesses, individuals and volunteers that came together for the Parkway Foundation’s 2022 Summer Solstice Dinner & Auction!Together, you helped raise over $110,000 to support the American River Parkway Foundation’s efforts to return the Parkway to the full community. During Summer Solstice, we debuted our new video that highlights the plight of the Parkway, details next steps, promotes the Voice of the Parkway Coalition and calls for all concerned community members to join.We can and should do more for the Parkway and ALL residents of Sacramento County.See the video and sign-up for the Coalition —–Very special thank you to our sponsors: Bobcat Sponsor (Presenting)River Otter SponsorDeer SponsorsDelfino Madden O’Malley Coyle & Koewler LLPFive Star BankJackson PropertiesJP Morgan Chase & Co.Taylor & WileyJack Rabbit SponsorsCapital Nephrology Medical GroupCunnigham EngineeringEason & TamboriniThe Law Offices of Deon R. SteinPG&EPacific Midwest Mortgage & AdvisoryPlatinum AdvisorsPropp Christensen Caniglia LLPScott Wolcott & Carmah HatchSimas Floor & Design CompanySMUDTeichertBeer/Wine SponsorDeeringer Wealth ManagementMedia Sponsors                       Continue Reading

Locations chosen for counting do not reveal the whole crisis on the American River Parkway    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The latest data from the Point in Time Count (PIT Count) does not show the true picture of the homelessness crisis on the American River Parkway (Parkway), according to the American River Parkway Foundation (Parkway Foundation). Seven sites on the Parkway were surveyed, resulting in only 594 illegal campers being included in the PIT Count. All of those were along the portion of the Parkway that runs through the City of Sacramento.    “The American River Parkway is ground zero for the homelessness crisis in Sacramento County. Even such a small sample size shows the large percentage of unhoused individuals that are illegally camping in the Parkway,” said Dustin Luton, president of the Parkway Foundation Board of Directors. “Imagine what the count would have showed if the whole Parkway had been included.”    The Parkway stretches 23 miles from the confluence with the Sacramento River up to the Nimbus Dam. Less than 10 miles of the Parkway runs through the City of Sacramento.    Impacts of illegal camping on the Parkway are evident by the number of fires that have occurred near encampments this year, including the 22-acre fire near Campus Commons, the 5-acre fire that threatened homes in Carmichael, another 5-acre fire that threatened homes near Guy West Bridge and, just yesterday, a 16-acre fire in River Bend Park. Other environmental impacts include soil compaction, environmental pollution and disturbance of wildlife habitat.    “Thanks to the efforts of volunteers that are on the Parkway on a regular basis, including our Mile Stewards, we have been able to track the illegal camp sites on the Parkway and determine the areas of high concentration,” said Dianna Poggetto, executive director of the Parkway Foundation. “We recognize the difficulty that can be present with gathering enough volunteers for an effort like the Point in Time Count. We want to bring awareness to the fact that this issue is much greater than these numbers show, which is why it’s important our leaders take action now.”    The Parkway Foundation formed the Voice of the Parkway Coalition to help Sacramento County address the homelessness crisis. This includes working with business leaders – like Five Star Bank – to help find land for shelters. The Voice of the Parkway Coalition also mobilizes concerned community members to urge local leaders and municipal employees to develop an overall homeless plan that includes social services and clear goals and timelines.     More details about the Voice of the Parkway Coalition can be found at www.ARPF.org/VoiceOfTheParkway.    About the American River Parkway Foundation  The American River Parkway Foundation (Parkway Foundation) is the only nonprofit organization focused on active conservation of all 23 miles of the American River Parkway (Parkway). Through managing programs like volunteer clean-ups, infrastructure improvements, trail maintenance, fire mitigation and education, the Parkway Foundation leads and inspires the community to conserve and nurture the Parkway as a unique, accessible Continue Reading