River Park Master Planned Village: Community Design : Parks

River Park: Parks, Open Space and Trails Diagram

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A	Neighborhood Commercial
B	Water-Related Commercial
C	Elementary School
D	Community Center
	Central Parkway
	Neighborhood Parkway
	Pocket Park
	Yolo "Rails-to-Trails" Corridor
	Landscaped Utility Easement (Lower Northwest Interceptor)
	Open Space Buffer along Existing Rural Residential
	Open Space Buffer along Levee
	Bike Lane (Caltrans Class II Bikeway)
	Bike Route (Caltrans Class III Bikeway)
	Bike/Pedestrian/Equestrian Trail
	Bike/Pedestrian Trail
	Equestrian Trail

The Parks and Open Space Framework Plan for the River Park master planned village is a refinement of the original plan for the Southeast Village. The River Park plan provides 76 acres of parks and open spaces proposed in the Southport Framework Plan; furthermore, it protects the site’s existing natural resources, providing additional 30 acres of community open space above that proposed in the Southport Framework Plan.

The River Park plan includes the following parks and open space amenities:

A 40-acre Community Park in the eastern portion of the Village, including both active and passive recreation uses;
A 6.6-acre Neighborhood Park site adjacent to the central open space corridor and Elementary School site;
Two 1-acre Pocket Parks located amid residential uses;
A 30-acre Central Parkway extending from the Community Park westward to the Yolo “Rails-to-Trails” corridor at the western boundary of River Park, that will preserve the site’s natural resources, such as an existing irrigation canal and oak woodland, and will provide a central bicycle/pedestrian trail system;
Public open space along the Yolo “Rails-to-Trails” corridor, connecting to the regional equestrian/bicycle/pedestrian trail network;
Public open space buffer along the Sacramento River levee, featuring bicycle/pedestrian trails that will connect to the regional levee trail system; and
Public open space buffer along the existing rural properties at the north end of the River Park site, featuring an equestrian trail that will connect the Yolo “Rails-to-Trails” corridor to the regional levee trail system.

Central Parkway: An Illustrative Plan

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A	Community Park
B	Urban Park
C	Oak Preserve
D	Residential Park
E	Neighborhood Park
F	Yolo "Rails-to-Trails" Corridor
G	Landscaped Utility Easement (Lower Northwest Interceptor)
H	Community Center (with outdoor aquatic facility)
I	Elementary School
J	Neighborhood Commercial Center
K	Water-Related Commercial (Marina)

The Central Parkway will consist of four distinct sections that are defined from east to west: the Community Park, Urban Park, Oak Preserve Park, and Residential Park. Each section of the Central Parkway will receive a slightly different design treatment that complements the existing site features and the proposed surrounding developments. A variety of amenities and activities will be provided in each park. The Central Parkway will:

Utilize the existing irrigation canal, which will be redesigned and enhanced as a permanent open-water feature;
Collect River Park’s stormwater and surface water drainage in the open-water feature, which will act as a detention basin for runoff;
Provide a seamless connection across the length of River Park;
Be easily accessible from multiple points via local neighborhood streets, as well as the Village Parkway and South River Road;
Provide easy access to transit and for alternative means of transportation, by way of pedestrian and bicycle trails;
Encourage development of wildlife habitat;
Include at least one activity area every 500 feet, such as a series of exercise stations, native-plant demonstration gardens, seating areas, and scenic overlooks; and
Include additional amenities at suitable points such as interpretive exhibits, picnic/barbecue areas, bicycle racks, drinking fountains, trash receptacles, and landscape and trail lighting.