New 23-acre nature park, trail in Citrus Heights nearing completion

By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights’ newest park, a 23-acre nature area with nearly a mile-long meandering trail, five bridges, and two new playgrounds, is nearing completion.

The new park and paved nature trail includes lighting throughout and was incorporated into the plans for the Mitchell Village housing development, located near Sunrise Boulevard and Arcadia Drive. The development is a 260-home project by KB Home, consisting of three communities.

A creek and open green space winds through the housing communities, where a 100-year flood plain associated with Arcade Creek prohibited development along the creek, which is in the middle of the project area.

District Administrator for Sunrise Recreation and Parks District, Dave Mitchell, said in an email to The Sentinel on Monday that as part of the development agreement, KB Home is building the “natural setting park” within the housing development. He said the green space is still under the control of KB Home and that 95 percent of the multi-use trail has been installed, tree canopy work has been completed, and many new plants have been added.

The trail is approximately three-quarters of a mile in length and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to KB Home Regional Vice President of Public Relations and Communications Craig LeMessurier. Remaining areas of the park are expected to be finished in “early 2023, weather permitting,” he said on Tuesday.

According to a previous report from The Sentinel, once fully complete, control of the park and nature area will be handed over to the Sunrise Recreation and Parks District, and the grounds will be maintained using funds from a property tax assessment fee paid annually by each homeowner in the Mitchell Village communities. A date of transfer hasn’t yet been established, Mitchell said.

Homes in Mitchell Village are accessible through a roundabout off Arcadia Drive and also from Fair Oaks Boulevard, just south of the Heather Downs apartment complex.

The 23 acres of green space stretches from Sunrise Boulevard, north of PetSmart, diagonally through the development toward Fair Oaks Boulevard, just before Greenback Lane. The wooded space will include a park with two playgrounds, picnic areas and walking trails, Mitchell confirmed.

The trail is accessible via multiple courts and streets within the housing development. Mitchell confirmed the nature trail will connect to the future Arcade-Cripple Creek trail.

Construction on the Arcade-Cripple Creek trail project, formerly known as the Electric Greenway trail project, is set to begin this fall, and continue through August 2023, according to the latest updated on the city’s website.

The trail will also run through parts of unincorporated Orangevale, and connect several neighborhoods to eight parks, several schools and the Sunrise MarketPlace. The trail will be 2.9 miles long and will be completed in phases.