SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento's Marysville and Del Paso Boulevard commercial corridor was bustling with thriving businesses when long-time resident Stephen Walton's parents were growing up.
"My family has been here over 80 years and I heard stories growing up of the boulevard, the thoroughfare that was once thriving. Eateries, theaters, roller rinks and retail services — it represented a thriving corridor," he said. "I'm 43 and I've never seen anything my parents ever lived."
Walton was one of about dozen residents and business owners recruited by city officials and nonprofit Mutual Assistance Network to come up with a plan to improve the area along Del Paso Boulevard.
The years-long effort dubbed 'Forward Together' has $500,000 in investments attached and the plan goes in front of city council Tuesday for approval.
Walton says $500,000 is a good start and the next step would be to continue investing more into revitalization.
"This area needs some real support, infrastructure upgrades that haven't been made in decades," he said. "There has been major neglect in this area going to take more than a drop in the bucket to help get these projects to fruition."
Forward Together Marysville & Del Paso Boulevard
Sacramento city officials, hired consultants and community members worked more than two years to draft the Forward Together action plan.
According to the plan, the Marysville and Del Paso Boulevard commercial corridor began declining in the 1950s and 60s for the following reasons:
- Construction of Highway 160 and Highway 80
- Closure of McClellan Air Force Base, a major jobs provider
- Historical lack of investment
Like Walton, Sacramento Youth Center co-founder Adam Shipp says he was asked by the Mutual Assistance Network to give input on the action plan.
"It was so rewarding to be involved because so often as a resident in District 2 we feel like we have no voice," he said. "I would love to see more housing, shopping, restaurants. Being an advocate for youth, more safe spaces and resources for youth would be great."
Shipp also says the area has no regular grocery stores nearby, a concern shared by Neighborhood Wellness Foundation representative Sherri Kirk.
She says it's a new day in the neighborhood and the area deserves millions in investment on top of the $500,000 investment pledged in the city's Forward Together action plan.
The plan proposes to award individual grants to proposals — short-term or long-term — benefitting residents or businesses within most of north Sacramento.
"We want to see jobs, bus lines in the right directions, buildings restored, banks, healthy grocery stores, flower shops, coffee shops and services other communities have," Kirk said. "Everyone deserves the best for their community, love and heart. We're like a family here."
City officials and community leaders praised Golden 1 Credit Union and its recent $10 million investment in Del Paso Heights that included a financial resource center as an example of a successful business-community partnership.
The multi-million dollar investment will be spread over five years, according to Golden 1 Credit Union, with more than $1 million already granted to four organizations in Del Paso Heights:
- Greater Sacramento Urban League (GSUL)
- Mutual Assistance Network
- Neighborhood Wellness Foundation
- Roberts Family Development Center
Interim District 2 Councilmember Shoun Thao says $500,000 is a good seed fund to attract projects and potential long-term partners.
"Residents want to see more housing, more commercial corridors. We're a food desert and people want to see healthy foods and access to recreational areas," he said. "We will definitely see what additional funding will be available down the road."
