While this is welcome news, what many forget is that the American River Parkway Foundation was originally established to raise funds for land acquisition, but for some reason changed that mission to become a Parkway clean-up organization, which while certainly needed, is much less valuable to the community in the long-term than expanding the size of the Parkway, which expansion has essentially stopped save the small occasional efforts like this one acre.
One of the benefits of having the Parkway managed by a nonprofit organization would be the adoption, once again, of a mission mandate to expand the Parkway’s land through dedicated fund raising from philanthropists to purchase acreage as it comes up.
Nothing will do more to strengthen the Parkway for the long-term than expanding its size and capacity to provide sanctuary and the pleasure of nature for the many more families choosing to live here, partly because of the Parkway.
Board seeks a nature center buffer
By Bill Lindelof - Bee Staff WriterPublished 12:00 am PST Thursday, November 23, 2006
Sacramento County wants to purchase an acre that overlooks the Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Ancil Hoffman Park for $700,000.
The county Board of Supervisors took the first step last week to acquire the property, voting 3-0 to approve a resolution of intention to acquire the land.
The acquisition would provide a visual and sound buffer between residences along Palm Drive and the nature center, according to the county.
"This is a long-held dream of the county," said Susan Peters, the supervisor who represents the area.
The property is part of Oat Hill, owned by the pioneering Deterding family. At one time, part of the hill was farmed for oats.
Last June, the Carmichael Community Planning Advisory Council favored a request to divide most of the land on Oat Hill Bluff into four lots for eventual home-building.
The council recommended approval, by a 4-2 vote, of a tentative parcel map to divide the land into four 1-acre lots.
The land the county is signaling it wants to buy is not part of that subdivision proposal.
The planning department, which is finishing a staff report, is examining the subdivision of the property.
The four lots the Deterding family may develop must still go to the subdivision review committee and back to the community council before a final decision is made.
