Rep. Doris Matsui announces over $3 million in federal funds for Sacramento’s Interstate 5 park project, aiming to reconnect downtown with the historic waterfront.
SACRAMENTO, Calif — A proposed 4-acre park over a downtown stretch of Interstate 5 in Sacramento is getting a new federal funding boost.
Rep. Doris Matsui joined city and downtown leaders Wednesday morning to announce more than $3 million for the Stitch Park Riverfront Reconnection Project.
The project helps reconnect two of Sacramento’s most iconic areas: downtown and Crocker Park on one side of Interstate 5, and the historic waterfront on the other.
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The proposal calls for building a park over part of Interstate 5. Supporters said it would create a safer and more inviting connection for pedestrians, expand access to the Sacramento River, add green space and support future infill development in the heart of the city.
The idea has been compared to Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas, an elevated park built over three blocks of freeway.
While supporters called the new funding a major step forward, they also acknowledged there is still a long way to go, especially when it comes to securing the remaining money needed for the project.
“When you look at Old Sacramento, you look at I-5, it was a decision that was made that has real impacts on our ability to be as cohesive in downtown, as we want the Riverfront Reconnection Project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to overcome that divide and transform underutilized infrastructure into a vibrant shared space,” said Michael Ault, Downtown Sacramento Partnership executive director. I
The current funding will go toward planning, engineering and feasibility work.
An exact timeline has not been set. Officials said it is still very early, and the project could take many years, but they are hopeful the federal funding will help move it forward.
Sacramento I-5 Stitch Park funding
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