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 Funding Assistance
American River Parkway Financial Needs Assessment Update
Sacramento County, California
The American River Parkway is a unique, 23-mile wildlife and recreation area that encompasses historic Gold Rush and Maidu Indian sites to riparian forests and oak woodlands as well as the river itself. The Parkway attracts more than 5 million visitors each year who come to picnic in adjacent parks, hike, cycle and horseback along the trail, and kayak and raft in the river.
As with many public agencies, acquiring adequate funding to maintain this heavily used and highly valued resource is a challenge. The Sacramento County Regional Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Department retained The Dangermond Group (TDG) to update the original American River Parkway Financial Needs Assessment Study that TDG completed in 2000. The goal of the study was to assist the District to gain a better understanding the Parkway’s budget and funding to maintain the natural areas, scenic parkways, restrooms, bikeway and trails, and ensure a safe environment for all the users.
The first objective of the update was to review, analyze, and compare the 2005-06 budget level of funding, maintenance needs, operations, repairs, capital improvements, new improvements and key acquisition property with the funding augmentation recommendations made in the previous study. Similar to the previous study, this study determined a magnitude of the funding gap that existed in the budget in maintenance, operations and the Effie Yeaw Nature Center using benchmark comparisons of other agencies with similar programs. The 2005-06 budget figures were also compared with an updated benchmark comparison of other comparable facilities. This allowed for a comprehensive review of the departments total efforts in each program area.
The second objective of the study determined what sources of funds were available to meet these needs. The Parkway lacks a consistent long term funding mechanism, and TDG worked with County staff to identify funding options and steps needed to implement these efforts.
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