East Sacramento is located east of Downtown and Midtown Sacramento. East Sacramento is bounded by U.S. Route 50 to the South, Alhambra Boulevard to the West, Elvas Avenue to the North and North East, and California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) and the American River to the South East. East Sacramento is further broken down into “neighborhoods”.
One such neighborhood is the East Sacramento McKinley Park neighborhood. The McKinley Park neighborhood is largely composed of tree-lined streets and older, but well maintained smaller sized homes built in the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s. The homes are of varying architectural styles (California bungalows, brick tutors, European revivals, ranch style, etc.). The homes and lots are as a rule generally smaller than those in the Fab 40’s, another nearby East Sac neighborhood.
In the McKinley Park neighborhood many existing residents build up or out to meet their changing needs so they do not have to leave the neighborhood.
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Increasingly these older homes are being replaced by new homes with greatly increased square footage – but the new homes are mostly designed to fit into the neighborhood – despite their size – to reduce neighbor’s angst.
The McKinley Park neighborhood is also very walkable – with restaurants and many local businesses nearby.
It is not unusual in the summer to have residential streets blocked off to traffic for the duration of the neighborhood’s annual “block party”. Some streets host annual “parades” and others have outdoor movie nights during the summer.
On my end of the block, in addition to an annual potluck block party, neighbors get together on July 4th for homemade ice cream and desserts and – of course – fireworks. Come dusk everyone gathers on either side of the street to enjoy the fireworks – which are contributed by those attending. Pooling together the fireworks makes for a specular and often lengthy show.
The crown jewel of the McKinley Park neighborhood is – naturally – McKinley Park. McKinley Park is a 32-acre park that is bordered to the North by McKinley Boulevard, to the South by H Street, by Alhambra Boulevard to the West, and 33rd Street to the East.
McKinley Park is more than a neighborhood park – it is visited and enjoyed by many of Sacramento’s citizens from adjoining neighborhoods. Amenities include a custom designed playground, a basketball court, the Clunie Community Center (that hosts a branch of the Sacramento Public Library), group picnic areas with tables and BBQs, horseshoe pits, a jogging trail, restrooms, a soccer field, a softball field, tennis courts (lighted), a swimming and wading pool, a volleyball court, a pond/lake, and a rose garden (Fredrick N. Evans Memorial Rose Garden).
McKinley Park hosts a variety of events year round including Pops in the Park in June and Food Truck Mania on the second Friday of the month during the summer. The adjacent small park is located across 33rd Street and is home to the Shepard Garden and Arts Center – which hosts a variety of garden clubs. There are exhibits and plant sales taking place virtually every weekend.
This description of the McKinley Park neighborhood does not do it justice – but one has to stop somewhere.
Comments on this description of the McKinley Park neighborhood?
If you live in the McKinley Park neighborhood – what would you add if you were describing the neighborhood to someone new to the area?
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