The City of Folsom is home to more than six miles of frontage on the American River and Lake Natoma—some of the city's greatest natural resources. Folsom grew around the river, and in many cases, pushed the river into backyard areas of the community. The city's beloved Historic District looks inward instead of looking out to the natural beauty of the river and lake. Our waterfront areas are underutilized, and access is limited and poorly identified. But this can change.

The Folsom 2035 General Plan process identified this shortcoming and recommended the city complete a River District Master Plan now referred to as the River District Vision Plan. The plan will serve as a vision of future opportunities and improvements that can be implemented over time.

Please click the button below to explore the River District on our interactive community comment mapping platform. While the comment period is over, you can scan the River District to read and understand the nature of community interests, concerns, and suggestions. The results of this social mapping and comment exercise, along with an online survey were key components of a broad outreach effort that utilized several communication/input tools to connect and inform residents.

River District Master Plan Key Objectives

• Increase public access to the river and lake.
• Increase recreation opportunities.
• Increase economic development opportunities.
• Commit to high-quality design.
• Enhance Folsom's heritage.
• Celebrate and protect our environmental, cultural, and historical resources.
• Recognize city gateway opportunities.
• Integrate old and new areas of the city.

Advisory Committee

• On January 24, 2023, the City Council appointed a 24-member citizens advisory committee (CAC). The committee was comprised of stakeholder organizations and businesses within the district, residents, land managers, and resource representatives.
• The committee held 14 meetings from August 2023 to September 2024.

The committee provided a sounding board for the planning consultant to test ideas, challenge assumptions and ultimately make recommendations to the City Council. At its final meeting on September 18, 2024, the CAC unanimously approved a motion to the City Council recommending approval of the River District Vision Plan.

Funding

On April 12, 2022, the City Council approved using federal American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds to create a River District plan. The planning process addressed substantial community interest in the following:

• Improving access to Lake Natoma (American River) and elevating its place in the community related to tourism, recreation, business and commerce.
• Protecting and celebrating historically and culturally significant sites.
• Preserving significant habitat and environmental resource areas.

Property Within the River District

• Federal and state properties comprise more than 75% of the land within the River District. The city must work closely with California State Parks while following the framework of their planning documents.
• The remaining riverfront areas owned by the city and private property owners present unique and exciting opportunities.

Project Summary

The planning process revealed substantial community interest in protection and enhancement of River District cultural and environmental resources. Native American tribes consider virtually all lands within the district as an ecological and cultural landscape. It is a place of tremendous importance to the tribal members that still live within the Folsom area and community. In response to this interest and understanding, conservation, protection, education and interpretation became important long-term program objectives to be woven into district improvements. The process also revealed tremendous opportunities to enhance recreation activities, trail connections, park improvements, partnership opportunities with State Parks and the local tribes, including several sites with economic development potential. 

Because of the sheer scale of the River District, it was important to establish consistent planning principles applicable to both the featured site concepts, and the secondary opportunities and program ideas. The Vision Plan incorporates five primary planning principles which apply districtwide and are fundamental to realization of the goals for the River District.

• Principle 1 - Engage in early consultation and partnerships with State Parks and Native American tribes where appropriate.
• Principle 2 - Promote a “walkable city” including place-making, increasing safety, and ease of access for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles.
• Principle 3 - Create connections for increased recreational or economic opportunities.
• Principle 4 - Celebrate, educate, and conserve the City’s historical, cultural, and environmental resources where appropriate.
• Principle 5 - Commit to “best in class” efforts to inspire residents and visitors as projects and programs are implemented.

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) worked with the project team to identify a prioritized list of key sites within the River District to focus on conceptual and illustrative designs in more detail and demonstrate execution of the planning principles. The final key sites were chosen because they met one or more of the City’s goals for this plan (improving access to the water, enhancing recreational opportunities, and/or stimulating economic growth). Additionally, the sites were considered to fit into one or more of the following set of criteria:

• Feasibility – Sites that had a more realistic chance of being improved were prioritized along with sites owned by the city.
• Environmental constraints – Areas that a preliminary environmental assessment determined to be the least sensitive were prioritized. It is acknowledged that there are many sensitive environmental and cultural factors along the river corridor and that any specific project will require further analysis pursuant to CEQA.
• Community interest – Each key site selected received strong interest during the community engagement process and was supported by the CAC.

The Key Sites and features of the plan include:

1. Canal Trail and Bridge
2. Rodeo Park
3. River Promenade
4. Trader’s Lane
5. City Corporation Yard

• Habitat Restoration
• State Parks Partnerships
  • Improve Willow Creek access
  • Improve Black Miners Bar access
  • District-wide Interpretive Plan
• Wayfinding Plan
  • District-wide branding/identity
  • Enhanced gateways
  • Directional signage
  • Banner program
• Trail signage
• Streetscape Improvements
• Trail Improvements

Project Schedule

The schedule is tentative and subject to change.

• February 2023: Distribution of consultant Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
• March 2023: Consultant responses are due.
• April 2023: Consultant shortlist established and scope of work proposals due.
• May 2023: Consultant interviews, selection, and contract award.
• June 2023: Project planning begins.
• Fall 2024: Vision (formerly Master) Plan complete.

Contact Information

Additional information will be posted on this webpage as it becomes available. If you have questions, need additional information, or would like to be added to the project mailing list, contact Robert Goss, the city's project manager at rgoss@folsom.ca.us.