The following is a letter sent to Rich Desmond, County Supervisor, on April 16 by Friends of Sailor Bar in response to Supervisor Desmond’s email about reopening the interior roads at Sailor Bar to motor vehicle traffic. Supervisor Desmond’s original email follows our response.
Dear Supervisor Desmond,
Thank you for replying to the emails received by your office regarding the County’s plan to reopen the interior Sailor Bar gravel roads to public motor vehicle traffic. The purpose of this communication is to clarify the community’s concerns are about preventing threats to public safety and the environment by keeping public motor vehicles traffic out of the interior of Sailor Bar. In addition to keeping Sailor Bar safe, maintaining closure of the access points for motor vehicles is imperative to protecting the aesthetic beauty and naturalistic experience of being at Sailor Bar for everyone to enjoy.
People visit Sailor Bar because it is one of the few, if not the only place along the American River Parkway, virtually free of trash, cars, and homeless encampments. When the interior gravel roads were open, eyewitness accounts of the area being trashed with garbage, dumped appliances, and broken bottles were numerous. Park visitors and area residents reported shattered car windows, drunk and reckless driving, huge parties (during one there were over 500 people and 7 stolen vehicles), drug dealing, fireworks, abandoned animals, and a few assaults. These incidents happened when the park was fully staffed with ranger and maintenance positions.
We have been assured that the increase in staff will provide the necessary fire prevention. Just last night (April 15, 2024) at approximately 8:15 p.m., a neighbor noticed that people were in the parkway after dark with a campfire blazing along the water’s edge east of the Sailor Bar boat launch. (See pictures attached). Contrary to assurances that the traffic gate would be closed during non-park hours, it was opened last night. Thankfully, the Sheriff’s office responded to the neighbor’s call, and the fire was extinguished.
Clearly, it is not sensible to expect that the Ranger staff will be constantly available to handle the increase of incidents that will likely arise with the opening of the gravel roads to public motor vehicles. The 2009 decision to close these gravel roads was instrumental in stopping criminal activity. Upon closure of these maintenance roads to public motor vehicle traffic, the community assumed responsibility for keeping the area clean. Today Sailor Bar is pristine and nearly trash-free. Wildlife is flourishing. Recently, a visitor took a picture of an active heron rookery near one of the gravel roads. Since the closure of the access points, significant investment was made in the Salmon Habitat Restoration Project. The gravel roads are close in proximity to the rookery, the salmon spawning area, and the Historical Indian Grinding Rock.
The Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle found at Sailor Bar has been officially designated protected. The Western Pond Turtle and Bald Eagle are commonly seen in the area. Deer, coyotes, raccoons, rabbits, beavers, otters, snakes, lizards, and butterflies are just a few of the many animals thriving in the Sailor Bar habitat. According to e-Bird, Sailor Bar has 218 species of wild birds, and is rated #5 out of 100 Sacramento County bird watching hot spots.
During these past 15 years, use of the gravel roads has substantially changed. These roads are heavily used now as pedestrian walkways. People rely upon these wide walkways for walking dogs, jogging, walking together with children in strollers, and bicycle riding. The narrow trails along the riverbank are suited for walking single file. During rattlesnake season, many depend upon the wider gravel roads to avoid disturbing rattlesnakes along the trails. The pedestrian walkways (on the actual gravel maintenance road branching off Illinois Ave. to the river) are the only pathways to walk “the loop.” The change in use of the gravel roads (people walking dogs, riding horses, avoiding rattlesnakes, parents pushing strollers, and cyclists) combined with motor vehicles traffic is not practical nor safe.
While public concern drives our effort to keep motor vehicle traffic out of the interiors of Sailor Bar, we contend that reopening these gravel roads contradicts the stated goals of the American River Parkway Plan. Consider:
• Chapter 1: “It [Parkway Plan] contains policy statements of a general and flexible nature.” And,”While the importance of recreational opportunities is recognized, preserving the natural qualities of the Parkway resource is essential.”
• Chapter 8: “Vehicular access points should be perpendicular to the river rather than parallel to it and roads shall not cut through natural areas or dissect corridors important to wildlife species.” And, “All unnecessary roads shall be eliminated and planted with native vegetation, consistent with the land use designation.” (The gravel roads go through Protected Areas.)
There is no disagreement with you that everyone should be able to “experience and appreciate nature.” In fact, that is exactly why we are campaigning to keep the public motor vehicles out of Sailor Bar. People go to Sailor Bar because it is free of motor vehicle traffic. Allowing motor vehicles into the interior denies many this experience, most specifically children, the elderly, and those with limited ability who otherwise will have to take great care to avoid the traffic moving through the area. We urge you to keep motor vehicle traffic out of Sailor Bar out so that everyone can enjoy nature in this special inspirational and healing place within the urban environment.
With gratitude for the many contributions Sacramento County Parks have made to improving the quality of life for the residents and visitors of Sacramento.
Jodi Sato-King, Chairperson
FRIENDS OF SAILOR BAR
916.837.4159
LESS CARS! MORE NATURE!
Original Letter from Supervisor Desmond
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to me and my office regarding maintenance work and access at Sailor Bar on the American River Parkway.
I have received a variety of concerns and questions regarding the work being completed, and I assure you that no new infrastructure is being added to this location. The only work that is being completed is maintenance on unmaintained (gravel roads) and emergency access roads – work that was deferred for several years due to budget cuts. The goal at Sailor Bar is to open two access points that are identified on the attached map. I am also including a Q&A on the overall project that was developed by Regional Parks at the bottom of this email. I and my fellow Board members support this work because it will allow us to re-open areas that have historically been accessible to the public, areas that were only closed due to past budget cuts.
As a result of budget shortfalls during the great recession, Sacramento County reduced its Regional Parks Department workforce by 25%, cut staffing hours, and closed numerous facilities. Access to some gravel roads at Sailor Bar was closed during that time. Over the past several years, the Sacramento Board of Supervisors has intentionally budgeted additional funds for our parks so we could re-open closed facilities and improve maintenance and law enforcement throughout the Sacramento County Regional Parks system. I am pleased to share that, since 2011, we have added 23 permanent maintenance staff and 29 permanent Park Rangers peace officer positions. In 2011 there were only 14 permanent Ranger and Ranger Assistant Staff, and now there are 43. Additionally, we have worked closely with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office on protocols for law enforcement in our County parks when necessary.
I have spent my entire life in Sacramento County and have had the privilege to enjoy all the areas our American River Parkway has to offer, including the areas being re-opened at Sailor Bar. I support and encourage all Sacramento County residents to do the same. Our Parkway is a regional amenity, and one of the primary objectives of the Parkway Plan is to make it available to people to experience and appreciate nature. Re-opening the two unpaved roads at Sailor Bar is consistent with the Parkway Plan because it restores access that was lost.
I appreciate the concerns that have been raised and am confident our expanded maintenance staff and Park Rangers will ensure that the increased access at Sailor Bar has a positive impact on the community. I have been in close contact with our Regional Parks Director and Executive County Management about this matter, and I will make sure they address any issues that may arise.
Please feel free to contact my office for more information at (916) 874-5471 or richdesmond@saccounty.gov.
Sincerely,
RICH DESMOND
Sacramento County
Supervisor, District 3
Featured photo of Heron in nest courtesy of Sandie Avlakeotes
Protect Sailor Bar 
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