Sacramentans' favorite day to come together to support each other and their communities is on the horizon: 916 Day is on Sept. 16.
In 2022, in partnership with the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission, Sacramento City Council proclaimed 916 Day on Sept. 16.Each year on this day, the city hosts volunteer park cleanup events with the goal of creating thriving, healthy, strong and cohesive neighborhoods.
“Sacramento residents love their city, and 916 Day is a great way to show that by gathering with each other at city parks to volunteer,” Mayor Darrell Steinberg said when the holiday was created in 2022.
Volunteers help restore Johnston Park for the annual 916 Day on Saturday, Sept 7. Volunteers helped reassemble bleachers and re-sod the area where there was a pre-existing concrete square to be torn out by Park Maintenance.Courtesy of Youth, Parks, & Community EnrichmentYPCE Director Jackie Beecham said 916 Day gives Sacramentans an opportunity to celebrate city parks as a cornerstone of the community.
“What started out more related to tree plantings has really evolved into a series of beautification and service events all across the city,” Beecham said. “It's a way for us to promote volunteerism and partnerships at our parks and our green spaces.”
Beecham said YPCE and the parks commission recognize how critical parks are to a healthy community.
“Our mission as a department is to empower our youth, strengthen our neighborhoods and provide life enriching programs for beautiful, livable communities,” Beecham said.
Beecham said this year's 916 Day celebration is different than in years past because events take place all weekend long. Previously, the events were held only on Sept. 16.
In District 6, volunteers will be working to restore Bill Bean Jr. Memorial Park, cleaning artwork and a memorial statue in addition to other beautification projects.
“What we're going to do is to honor Bill Bean Jr. who was a fallen officer,” said Victoria Vasquez, chair of the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission. “We're going to plant a lot of rosemary and shrubs to kind of revive the planter beds. We're going to install new volleyball nets, which is really exciting, and we're going to just do some mulching and weed pulling to make it look really nice for the community.”
In District 5, volunteers will be beautifying McClatchy Park in Oak Park.
“What we're really doing is helping to maintain that beautiful park,” said Lindsey King, parks commissioner for District 5. “We're repairing the granite pathway throughout the park and just ensure that there's no holes, there's no damage, so that people can continue to utilize those pathways for exercise [and] recreation.”
As we move into winter, King added that the parks commission is hosting winter garden workshops. Volunteers who help in District 5 will receive their own free plant from the community garden.
“You come to learn about how to winterize your garden or your yard, and you get to take something home with you,” King said. “So [it’s] a really great opportunity for learning.”
Volunteers can sign up online for 916 Day events:
District 1 916 Day at North Natomas Community Park
Sept. 13, 4-7 p.m.
Volunteers will be planting around 500 shrubs west and south of the tennis courts, cleaning up trash along the park and path that runs behind it, pulling weeds and greasing the swings at the playground.
District 3 916 Day at Bannon Creek Parkway
Sept. 14, 1-4 p.m.
Volunteers will paint picnic tables and stain the host table underneath the barn structure, paint the bridge near the farm equipment, and clean up trash down the parkway and walking/biking path.
District 4 916 Day at Matsui Park/ Intake Plaza for Hanami Line
Sept. 14, 9 a.m. to noon
Volunteers will plant rosemary on the hill of the Intake Plaza Parking Lot, prep tree planters for fall plantings and clean up trash along the bike path.
District 5 916 Day at McClatchy Park
Sept. 15, 1-4 p.m.
Volunteers will fill in the decomposed granite along the perimeter walking path and clean up trash in the park. Volunteers will also receive free plants from the Community Garden Team.
District 6 916 Day at Bill Bean Jr. Park
Sept. 15, 8 a.m. to noon
Volunteers will pull weeds and plant rosemary near the art sculpture, clean up trash throughout the park, install a new volleyball net and help fix exercise equipment.
District 8 916 Day at North Laguna Park
Sept. 16, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Volunteers will paint backstops and bleachers near the baseball diamond, pick up trash near the wildlife area, install new site furniture with the guidance of Park Maintenance staff, plant shrubs near the pond, set up the volleyball net and spread sand at the volleyball court.
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