7.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter describes existing park and recreation opportunities within Sutter County, proposed facilities and an inventory of historic sites.

Recreation can be an active or passive use of unimproved open space land or improved recreational facilities. Wildlife areas, areas of scenic, historic and cultural value, lake shores, beaches, and rivers and streams are all examples of open space as a passive use which may have few or no improvements. Parks, golf courses, and sports clubs are all examples of recreation areas that provide for more active uses and have more facility improvements.

7.2 REGIONAL OVERVIEW

Sutter County encompasses approximately 607 square miles (388,358 acres) and is divided into two topographic regions: the very flat Sacramento Valley, which comprises 87 percent of the county and has elevations generally ranging from 20 feet to 80 feet; and the Sutter Buttes, comprising 13 percent of the county (78.54 square miles) with elevations from approximately 80 feet to 2,117 feet. Sutter County does not have a large variety of diverse landforms; however, its primary feature, the Sutter Buttes, is a significant landform visible from most every corner of the county and as well as surrounding jurisdictions.

County-wide, there are a number of areas under public ownership, providing recreational opportunities for those who choose to use them. Private recreational lands and facilities are also found in the County. Highways 99 and 20 provide access to recreation spots for visitors and County residents.

Between 1980 and 1995, total Sutter County population grew from 52,246 to 74,932, a gain of 43.42 percent. Of this growth 4,871 persons or 21.47 percent of the total growth, resided in unincorporated Sutter County. From all indications, unincorporated Sutter County will continue to grow at a relatively slow but steady rate. This growth has the potential to impact the quality of life of Sutter County residents unless steps are taken to balance the demands of a growing population with the need to retain and protect the natural, cultural, and intangible aesthetic resources and environmental qualities which contribute to the quality of life. The County currently has a program which calls for the development of a parks and recreation master plan. It is anticipated that this plan will evaluate current recreational opportunities in Sutter County, and identify methods of improving and/or expanding these opportunities.

7.3 REGIONAL, COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICE AREAS

Sutter County does not have a park and recreation department and does not provide recreational facilities or opportunities through County programs under such a public agency. A variety of parks and recreation opportunities are located in the unincorporated area; however, there are no county park and recreation districts which serve the unincorporated area. Though not established to function as park districts, five "quadrants" have been established in the unincorporated urban area. Money for parks is collected through developer impact fees as new development occurs and is then used within the quadrant it was collected to develop new parks after forming a park assessment district. Currently, the County has two park assessment boundaries.

The Board of Supervisor's established a Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission to: 1) advise the Board as to those policies and practices which offer opportunities for a full range of recreational activities; 2) encourage development of natural resource areas for recreational activities; 3) make recommendations for coordinated regional processes for park and recreational planning, acquisition, funding, and development; 4) encourage the planned development of parkways, bike paths, off-road vehicle travel areas, wildlife preserves, picnic and camping facilities, and special facilities accommodating such leisure-time activities as golf, zoological attractions, historical areas, arboretums, and similar facilities; 5) make recommendations on the development of future park and recreation capital improvement programs and the assignment of priority ratings thereto with the classifications: urgent projects, necessary projects, desirable projects, and deferrable projects; 6) recommend policy positions to the Board of Supervisors on pending legislation affecting county park and recreation systems and its policies and procedures; and 7) continually review, evaluate, and recommend updates of the County's Park and Recreation Element of its General Plan. Each of the five Supervisors appoints one member of the Commission to serve at the pleasure of their respective Supervisor.

The Public Works Department provides staff assistance to the Parks and Recreation Commission in coordination with other departments and prepares a monthly Commission agenda. County Park maintenance is managed by the Public Works Department. Maintenance is limited to mowing grass and repairing damaged facilities. In a quadrant with a park assessment boundary, park maintenance may be expanded to include replacement and/or purchase of new park equipment and the replacement and/or purchase of new vegetation when necessary.

The City of Yuba City has a Parks and Recreation Department. The City of Live Oak does not have a formally established Parks and Recreation Department but the City has attempted to establish several recreational opportunities within its jurisdiction. The existing neighborhood parks, school parks, community parks, regional parks and specialized recreation areas are described below for each city and unincorporated Sutter County.

Yuba City Parks and Recreation Department

The Yuba City Park and Recreation Department includes all of the incorporated Yuba City area. The Department's area encompasses approximately 8.84 square miles and is characterized by the greatest population concentration with 45.8 percent of Sutter County's total population within its boundaries. The City's Park Department represents the most predominant Department in the County in terms of parklands and facilities. The Department operates and maintains a full complement of park and recreation area settings. It also operates an extensive program that includes a variety of athletic, education, crafts, and senior programs. The Department can be expanded to accommodate future population growth. Part of future expansion plans include a community center in the Town Center Specific Plan which could be utilized by the Parks and Recreation Department as a recreation facility. The Department operates under a Comprehensive Park and Recreation Plan adopted in October 1989. Table 7.3-1 lists existing facilities in the area and their locations and sizes. Facilities are grouped in the following general categories: regional parks, community parks, neighborhood parks, and other facilities such as school-parks.

TABLE 7.3-1
YUBA CITY PARKS AND RECREATION DISTRICT FACILITIES

REGIONAL PARKS

No regional parks are located in the Yuba City Parks and Recreation District.

COMMUNITY PARKS

Blackburn-Talley Park

Location: East side of Garden Highway, at Burns Drive
Size: 14.45 acres
Facilities: Two softball diamonds, night lighting, bleachers, two full basketball courts, restrooms, concession stand, playground equipment and picnic areas.

Gauche Park

Location: "C" Street at Emerson Way, adjacent to Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds
Size: 6 acres
Facilities: Softball field, bleachers, restrooms, picnic areas, horseshoe pits, playground equipment.
Sam Brannan Park

Location: Adjacent to Gray Avenue Intermediate School
Size: 8 acres
Facilities: Swimming and diving pool, wading pool, dressing room facilities and paved parking lot, four lighted tennis courts, one large group picnic area and three small group or individual family picnic areas, children's playground, horse shoe pits, restrooms.

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

Bogue Park (tentative name)

Location: Bogue Road
Size: 4.4 acres
Facilities: Passive recreation area with proposed playground equipment

Clark-Ainsley Mini Park

Location: Clark and Ainsley
Size: .07 acres
Facilities: Passive recreation area.

Greenwood Park

Location: Greenwood Way and Coats Drive
Size: 5.5 acres
Facilities: Playground equipment, night lighting, open play area, picnic areas.

Hillcrest Park

Location: Between Railroad Avenue and Bunce Road
Size: 5 acres
Facilities: Playground equipment, passive area.

Kingwood Park

Location: Gray Avenue south of Charlotte Avenue
Size: 4.5 acres
Facilities: Playground equipment, open play area.

Lloyd Park

Location: North of Bridge Street on Fippins Avenue, Jones Street, and Hughes Avenue
Size: 1.6 acres
Facilities: Passive area, playground equipment.
Maple Park

Location: South of Ainsley Avenue, on Maple and Orange Streets.
Size: 1.1 acres
Facilities: Playground equipment, passive area.

Moore Park

Location: Bridge Street and Cooper Avenue
Size: .5 acres
Facilities: Playground equipment.

Nason Park

Location: At King Avenue Elementary School, King Avenue
Size: 6 acres
Facilities: Two unlighted softball fields, picnic area, playground equipment.

North Ridge Park (tentative name)

Location: East side of Clark Avenue at North Ridge Drive
Size: 4.4 acres
Facilities: Proposed playground equipment, passive recreation area.

Orchard Manor Park

Location: Queens Avenue and Upland Drive
Size: .3 acres
Facilities: Playground equipment area.

Plumas Street Mini Plaza

Location: Plumas Street between Reeves Avenue and Fremont Way
Size: .16 acre
Facilities: Passive recreation area.

Southside Park

Location: Wilbur Avenue between Moore and Wilson Avenues
Size: .65 acres
Facilities: Playground equipment.

Veteran's Park

Location: Bridge and Second Streets
Size: .1 acre
Facilities: Passive recreation area.

OTHER RECREATION FACILITIES

April Lane Elementary School

Location: April Lane and Winslow Drive
Facilities: Multi-purpose room with stage, basketball hoops, physical fitness equipment, playground equipment, paved game area, passive area.

Bridge Street Elementary School

Location: 500 Bridge Street, corner of Bridge and Plumas Streets
Facilities: Media Center for meetings and books, basketball hoops, paved game area, physical fitness equipment, playground equipment.

Gray Avenue Intermediate School

Location: 808 Gray Avenue
Facilities: Medium sized multi-purpose room with stage and basketball standards, paved game area, athletic field, playfield area.

King Avenue School

Location: 600 King Avenue
Facilities: Medium sized multi-purpose room, paved game area, basketball hoops, playground equipment.

Yuba City High School

Location: Clark Avenue between B Street and Franklin Avenue
Facilities: Men's Gym, Women's Gym, field house, multi-purpose room with stage, paved game area, multi-purpose athletic field, three baseball diamonds, eight tennis courts, lighted stadium with football field and track.

Live Oak Parks and Recreation

The City of Live Oak does not have a Parks and Recreation Department and provides limited recreational facilities and programs. The City has established some recreation programs for swimming, softball and volleyball activities. The school sites provide play areas in addition to the neighborhood parks. Table 7.3-2 lists the Live Oak area parks and neighborhood parks.

TABLE 7.3-2
LIVE OAK PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES

Live Oak City Park

Location: Park and D Streets
Size: 20.5 acres
Facilities: Community Center, City Pool, 4 Little League Fields, playground equipment, picnic facilities, barbeque area

Date Street Park

Location: Date and P Streets
Size: .65 acres

Larkin & Pennington Park

Location: Southwest corner Larkin and Pennington Roads
Size: .34 acres

Unincorporated Sutter County

A special park and recreation district does not exist to serve the unincorporated areas of Sutter County. 62.9 percent of all unincorporated county residents reside in the Yuba City Urban Area (this figure excludes the City of Yuba City) and utilize the Yuba City Parks and Recreation Department services. As stated earlier in this chapter, the County has established two park assessment boundaries in the urban area, one of which is used to maintain West Walton Park and the second formed to fund the construction and maintenance of Happy Park. Table 7.3-3 lists the unincorporated Sutter County parks and other public recreational facilities, their locations and sizes. Figure 7.3-1 shows the location of unincorporated County park facilities.

TABLE 7.3-3
UNINCORPORATED SUTTER COUNTY PARK FACILITIES

NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

Happy Park

Location: Pebble Beach Drive west of Walton Avenue
Size: 6.8 acres
Facilities: Proposed playground area with equipment for tots and older youths to be constructed in 1996; passive recreation.

Harter Park

Location: Butte House Road behind the County Museum
Size: 4 acres
Facilities: Grass only, no facilities.

Holly Tree Park

Location: Parkview off of Manzanita Way
Size: 3.6 acres
Facilities: Grass only, no facilities.

West Walton Park

Location: Pelican Place, west of Andros Karperos School
Size: 5.7 acres
Facilities: Playground equipment, picnic areas, passive recreation, basketball hoops.

RIVER PARKS

Boyd's Pump

Location: On the Feather River, off of Garden Highway at boat ramp sign, closest cross street is Oswald Avenue.
Facilities: Boat ramp, paved parking.

Donahue Road Park

Location: Donahue Road and Cranmore Road (levee) on the Sacramento River
Facilities: None, except for shoulder parking and trash can; primitive camping for up to 72 hours.

Live Oak Park and Recreation Area

Location: East Pennington Road on the Feather River
Facilities: Picnic areas, overnight parking, boat ramp, restrooms, campsites.

Tisdale Boat Ramp

Location: Garmire Road at levee on the Sacramento River
Facilities: Boat ramp, paved parking, restrooms.

Shanghai Bend

Location: East end of Shanghai Bend Road on the Feather River
Facilities: Restrooms, river access, paved parking.

Yuba City Boat Ramp and Mosquito Beach

Location: Over levee at 2nd Street (near airport) on the Feather River
Facilities: Picnic area, boat ramp, parking area.

OTHER RECREATION FACILITIES

Marinas

Joe's Place

Location: South of Cross Canal at Sankey Road, along the Sacramento River
Size: 5 acres
Facilities: Boat launch ramp, river docks, small RV campground, restaurant.

Lovey's Landing

Location: 2.7 miles north of Meridian on the Levee Road along the Sacramento River
Size: 1.89 acres
Facilities: Boat launch ramp, small RV campground, store, river docks, restaurant.

Rio Ramaza

Location: Garden Highway north of Riego Road along the Sacramento River
Facilities: Boat launch ramp and river docks.

Verona Marina

Location: Garden Highway at Vernon Road, along the Sacramento River
Size: 6.6 acres
Facilities: Boat launch ramp, picnic area, and RV campground.

Private Camping and Recreational Vehicle Facilities

Lake Minden

Location: Marcum Road at Powerline Road south of Nicolaus
Size: 157 acres
Facilities: Private RV facility with 263 sites, man made lake.

Golf Courses

Mallard Lake Golf Course

Location: Highway 99, south of Oswald Road
Size: 41 acres
Facilities: Privately owned 9-hole public golf course, driving range, miniature golf course.

South Ridge Golf Course

Location: South Butte Road, west of Wyncoop Road
Size: 200+/- acres
Facilities: Privately owned 18-hole golf course and country club.

The Oaks Golf Course (under construction)

Location: Approximately 1_ miles southwest of the rural community of Nicolaus, south of Lee Road and east of Garden Highway
Size: 135+/- acres
Facilities: Proposed facilities include a privately owned 18-hole golf course, driving range, club house, swimming pool and tennis courts.

Other Facilities

Sutter Community Center

Location: Corner of Butte House Road and Acacia Street
Facilities: Community center, Little League Field with bleachers.

East Nicolaus Little League Field

Location: East Nicolaus
Facilities: Little League Field

Peach Bowl Little League Field

Location: Second Street in Yuba City
Facilities: Little League Field

Sutter County Rifle Range

Location: Second Street in Yuba City
Facilities: Outdoor shooting range

Yuba/Sutter Fairgrounds

Location: Franklin Avenue at Garden Highway
Facilities: Exhibit halls, livestock pens, restrooms

FIGURE 7.3-1
COUNTY PARK FACILITIES