Parks

Capitol Park

Located at 10th and L streets, the 40-acre Capitol Park includes a rose garden, trees from around the world, a Civil War Memorial Grove, and The California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The park hosts many community events from the annual holiday tree lighting, the California International Marathon, and countless races. To learn more about the park, visit the website.

Cesar Chavez Plaza

This 3.05 acre park hosts over 55 event days each year including many of downtown’s signature events such as the Friday Night Concerts in the Park, Wednesday Farmers’ Markets, and Grape Escape. The park is a full city block located between J Street, I Street, 9th Street and 10th Street – and just steps from Sacramento City Hall and the Citizen Hotel. The park is laid out like a public square with a fountain at its center, circular pathways, and cross-axial walkways. To reserve this park for a special event, contact the City of Sacramento. 

Ali Youssefi Square

Ali Youssefi Square is home Sacramento’s original outdoor holiday ice rink. Located at the corner of 7th and K streets, this park is just across the street from the downtown arena. St. Rose of Lima Park was named after a church that once stood on this spot. The church was built by early Catholic Sacramentans in 1854 and remained until 1889, when Sacramento’s first bishop – Bishop Patrick Minogue – sold the property to the Federal Government to help with the growing construction costs of Sacramento’s new church, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament which was being built further up K Street. The Federal government built a new post office on this site in 1893 and remained there until 1933; the post office then moved to its current location at 801 ‘I’ Street. For a short time during the prohibition era, the post office also served as the office for prohibition agents. After the relocation of the old post office, the building became a public meeting space until about the 1950’s a park was constructed on this site. To reserve this park for a special event, contact the City of Sacramento. 

1849 Scene in Old Sac

The “1849 Scene” is the grassy section of the Old Sacramento State Historic Park that lies between Front Street on the west, I Street on the north, J Street on the south, and the alley between I and J Streets on the east. This state park hosts demonstrations and activities during the City’s annual Gold Rush Days event. A little lesson in history as to why it’s called the 1849 scene (courtesy of the California Railroad Museum):

Sacramento City was part of the New Helvetia land grant, occupied by Captain John Augustus Sutter, Sr. in August 1839. By the summer of 1848, Captain Sutter was in poor financial condition. Sutter’s advisors devised a plan to pacify his creditors. In October 1848, he transferred title of his Sacramento property to his son, John Augustus Sutter, Jr. The younger Sutter recognized the need for an established business community along the waterfront to serve the growing influx of miners. In December 1848 he had a town site surveyed and began selling city lots in Sacramento City.  On December 28, Sutter Sr. granted the partnership of Samuel J. Hensley, Pierson Barton Reading, Jacob R. Snyder and John Augustus Sutter, Jr. (Hensley, Reading & Company) Lots 1, 2, 3, and 8 in the block bounded by Front and Second, I and J Streets, plus property at the Front for $6,500. Two days later he granted Reading alone, Lot 4 in that block, plus two other city lots for $1,000. The four lots granted to Hensley, Reading & Company and Pierson Barton Reading between Front and the alley, I and J Streets, constitute the 1849 Scene in Old Sacramento State Historic Park. Each lot measures 85 feet on Front Street and extends 150 feet to the alley. This property, the structures on it, the businesses and people involved are the elements which make up the 1849 Scene.