Sacramento has more than 200 parks. How will each mayoral candidate support them?

Ahead of Sacramento’s mayoral election, candidates Flojaune Cofer and Assemblyman Kevin McCarty have expressed interest in revitalizing and improving the city’s parks.

The city of Sacramento has 235 parks, which include neighborhood parks, community parks, regional/citywide specialty parks and open space areas. Cofer’s plan includes making parks more accessible, working with the city’s parks commission and using vacant lots to provide a space for homeless residents. McCarty wants to revitalize parks through youth outreach and utilizing business opportunities.

Cofer said her plan will be informed by the city’s Parks Plan 2040 , which evaluates how to improve parks across Sacramento. Cofer’s plans in part also include a Safe Rest Villages project, which would use dormant lots to provide a space for homeless residents to live and receive services to get permanent housing.

“By setting up Safe Rest Villages on vacant lots around the city with input from residents, our unhoused residents will have safe spaces to live and receive services on a path to permanent housing, so they won’t need to sleep in our parks anymore,” Cofer said in a statement.

McCarty is in opposition to that plan, adding that he believes in finding different areas to provide living spaces for the city’s homeless population.

“I am in favor of finding other locations for these encampments and keeping our parks for the purpose they were built,” McCarty said in a statement.

McCarty said his expertise as a former city council member will guide to his plans to revitalize parks. He referenced the creation of the Sacramento Junior Giants program , a no-cost youth baseball initiative, that would serve as an example for youth outreach. McCarty also mentioned his involvement in the passing of Measure U in 2012, which enacted an ordinance that gave a one-cent tax on each dollar of taxable sales in the city. McCarty said his part in Measure U is explanatory restored cuts to the city’s parks.

Both candidates expressed interest in partnering with local businesses to increase economic development. At parks, this could be either in the form of food truck festivals including events with local musicians.

Maintaining park cleanliness

McCarty has said he’d like to see local high school students as volunteers to clean Sacramento’s parks. He said many need service hours so the collaboration may be a “win-win.”

“We need to use every means to keep our parks clean and accessible,” McCarty said. “I know that some parks use volunteers to help keep them clean, and I would look to expand this program.”

McCarty wants to utilize “existing structures” at parks to create cafes and gathering spots. He said he is helping launch this partnership at Albert Winn Park on 1616 28th St. alongside the Latino Center and Arts and Culture and the Midtown Business Association.

The lack of clean and accessible bathrooms can be a barrier for residents enjoying parks. If elected, Cofer said she would install inexpensive digital locks on restrooms across Sacramento’s parks. These locks would allow residents to unlock restroom doors without the assistance of parks staff with keys.

Cofer also plans to partner with members of the Sacramento community, city developers and council to identify ways to make parks more complaint with the Americans with Disabilities Act, she said.

“Our community has spoken out,” Cofer said. “We need to improve our parks so that we have ADA-accessible facilities and paths and we have playgrounds that are inclusive – so that every kid can play freely.”

If elected, Cofer said she would install water misters and water-based play areas across the city’s parks to combat hot Sacramento summers. She added that she would like to enhance Sacramento’s parks with native plants to provide a corridor for bird migration.

Cofer has also mentioned partnering with the city’s Youth Commission to identify how to increase outreach among young people in partnership with the city advisory commission.

“Our city advisory commissions have a wealth of expertise — but as a city we don’t do a great job of listening to our experts and incorporating our feedback,” Cofer said. “As mayor, I want to ensure we are truly utilizing our experts, including our youth commission, to inform our policy.”

The mayoral election is Nov. 5.