What if we told you only about 10% of Sacramento County residents recognize the Parkway as a connected 23-mile resource?
In this episode of The NonProfit Podcast Network, host Jeff Holden sits down with Dianna Poggetto, Executive Director of the American River Parkway Foundation, to talk about what it really takes to protect 4,800 acres of open space that sit just minutes from our homes.
The two cover:
- The 15,000+ volunteer hours that keep the Parkway clean and accessible
- What happens when 88,000 cubic feet per second of water roars through the river
- Why the Parkway is first and foremost a flood conveyance zone
- How Title I students are experiencing the river for the first time
- The Afghan families, cyclists, runners, artists, and seniors who all share this space
- Two major community events: Summer Solstice and the American River Burger Battle
- Why growing awareness beyond that 10% is critical for the Parkway’s future
What struck host Jeff Holden the most is Diana’s phrase: “The Parkway isn’t just a ‘sense of place.’ It’s a sense of space.”
It’s free.
It’s accessible.
And it unites Sacramento across cities, cultures, and generations.
If you care about open space, equity in access to nature, volunteerism, or simply protecting what makes Sacramento special — this conversation is for you.
Listen to the full podcast here.
