Now That's What I'm Talkin' About

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During a recent visit to Redbud Park, Natomas Park residents Curtis and Tristan Godt were disappointed to see how it had been "let go."

So the couple took matters into their own hands this past weekend! They weeded, then sprayed, tossed on some weed and feed, and laid the bark.

Pictured here is evidence of their handiwork.

Well, That Just Sucks

What's left of Jenny Hale's ode to nature at Burberry Park.

Don't know what made THE BUZZ more grumpy at Burberry Park this afternoon -- our son throwing a rock at one of his best friends or seeing first hand the work of vandals.

Burberry Park is located at Mabry and Burberry in Natomas Park and is one of several Art in Public Places sites in the city.

Apparently, during a recent weekend gathering at the park, several youth used large rocks to destroy the park's original installment created by artist Jenny Hale of Chico.

What once looked like three shimmering pools has now been reduced to mere rubble.

Trellis Complete At Natomas Community Garden

Thanks to the work of Marni Leger and N Magazine the South Natomas Community Center is now virtually complete with the construction and installation of all trellises.

Over the past two years the City of Sacramento has installed drainage and pathways, and now work has started on the final touches.

This spring roses will be planted. When complete the rose garden will promise to be one of the most romantic and beautiful places in Sacramento.

To see the new trellises, please visit the South Natomas Community Center at 2921 Truxel Road.

New Shade Canopy At Northgate Park

Children of all ages will be able to play just a bit longer this summer and stay just a little cooler under the new shade canopy that was recently installed at Northgate Park in the Gardenland-Northgate Neighborhood.

This multi-color canopy is complete, and everyone is welcome to check it out…and enjoy the park for the afternoon.


Northgate Park is located at 2801 Mendel Way.

What Can Be Done About Kokomo Park?

A North Natomas mom sent the following to area MOMS Club members after a recent visit to Kokomo Park in Creekside.

I just wanted to pass along a warning about Kokomo Park. Last week Nicholas and I had a horrible experience playing there:

1. Some kids stole his sand toys -- it was an obvious theft (they waited until we went to the car and took off with them).
2. I have strong reasons to believe there were drug deals going on while we were there.
3. Of the three times we've been there, there have been unattended/unsupervised young children playing there.

I will never go to that park again and highly recommend that you avoid it as well for your own safety.

Kokomo Park has been subject to vandalism almost since its opening. What do you think the community do to clean it up and make it safer?

Community leaders respond:

"I am very sorry to hear about the negative experience that this family had at Kokomo Park. Kokomo is the neighborhood park in Creekside. We have many families who actively participate in the ongoing effort to help our little community reach its potential.

This park is a beautiful place - no doubt the reason you originally took your little one there to play. We have worked diligently as a neighborhood association to keep the park maintained.

All of our equipment is nice and well kept. The sand box is cleaned regularly and the rolling grass fields are green as can be. We even have some unique artwork to be proud of in Kokomo Park.

However, we have also had our challenges with graffiti and vandalism. What I can tell you is that problems that have been reported to the City and/or the police have been promptly addressed.

I would encourage anyone who sees graffiti to contact code enforcement at 808-5948 and anyone who sees unattended children to report that to the police [the non-emergency number is 264-5471 and if the problem is an imminent danger or risk then please call 911].

Kokomo is a busy -- very busy park. The parks and recreation department has worked with our community to reduce the numbers of permits issued and increase the amount of maintenance because the park is over-used for its size and design.

The consensus of our community is that this little park is a substitute for the large regional park that is to come in North Natomas [just a block or two away].

Kokomo has so much to offer with the wide range of amenities and is very visible from the main streets of Del Paso and I-5, that is why we are challenged with so many visitors.

I want to apologize on behalf of the community for the negative experience you and your son encountered.

I also want to invite you back. I have a three year old son and at least two of our other Board members have children under the age of 4 as well.

We would love to arrange a play date and an opportunity to meet you and hopefully introduce you to the side of Kokomo that we have experienced and will continue to fight for - a family friendly environment open to everyone!"

-Angelique Ashby, President

Creekside Neighborhood Association
ashbyangelique@yahoo.com

"It is very unfortunate that a mom and her son had a bad experience in this park.

I would be very interested in getting more information (especially the drug dealing) about what happened/ happens in this park (ie times of drug dealing, area of the park, age etc.).

I am very concerned since this mother wants to essentially abandon the park, although very understandable in view of what happened to her.

Maybe the community can set up a way for several moms to go to the park at set times to discourage the bad element from being there... the more positive things we have there and the sooner we do it, the less a foot hold the bad element can have in the park.

We cannot let this park be taken over by bad folks. My contact is dhahn (at) pd (dot) cityofscramento (dog) org. "

-Captain Daniel Hahn

Park Amenities Added For Westlake

The Sacramento City Council unanimously voted to add new amenities to the Westlake Community Park.

After a series of community meetings it was determined the park will get two lighted tennis courts, entry area walkways, landscaping, a restroom, a shade canopy over the existing group picnic area, a half-court basketball play area, and an adventure play area.

Construction will begin this year and is scheduled to conclude by the end of fall.

Regency Park Going To The Dogs - In A Good Way

Regency Park residents cheered last week as city officials opened Regency Community Park's two-acre dog park to the public.

The new dog park features a large dog area, and a separate, small dog area.

The dog park also has a one-of-a-kind dog drinking fountain, sturdy turf, plenty of seating for dog owners, and a decomposed granite area.

The new dog park is the fifth City-owned dog park.

In addition to Regency Community Park ’s new dog park, there now is a soccer field. Residents may also bike or walk on a new trail that connects the park’s newer features to the skate park, baseball fields, disc golf course, and fully-accessible playground.

Regency Community Park is located at 5500 Honor Parkway.

Isn't This Sad?

Just a year after the City of Sacramento unveiled Hummingbird Park, its been vandalized.

The 4.4-acre park located on Duckhorn Drive, south of Arena Boulevard, is one of the city's "themed" parks. It is designed to be a rest stop for birds and bees with "plantings of lavender, rosemary, butterfly bush and other shrubs."

Hummingbird Park features include play structures, horseshoe arena, volleyball net and picnic facilities. There are also 17 mosaic sunflower sculptures and originally included six functional birdhouses.

But at some point in recent months, not just one but two of these cute birdhouses have disappeared, leaving behind only the posts on which they were mounted and the remnants of one tiny roof.

Each house is designed to "resemble human houses, with wood-shingled roofs, screen doors, chimneys and miniature flower boxes." The sunflowers and birdhouses were included in the park's $593,000 construction budget.

Hummingbird Park is a favorite play spot for North Natomas residents with smaller children and it's sad to see such blatant disregard for a place enjoyed by so many.

Kokomo Park, in the Creekside neighborhood, has also been subject to repeated vandalism. What do you think can be done to preserve these parks?