Representatives from the Sunrise Recreation and Park District (SRPD), KB Home and the city of Citrus Heights celebrated the official opening of Mitchell Village Park, the city’s newest park with a ribbon cutting ceremony last Friday. 

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Representatives from the Sunrise Recreation and Park District (SRPD), KB Home and the city of Citrus Heights including Citrus Heights Mayor Mari Jane Lopez-Taff (center) celebrated the official opening of Mitchell Village Park, the city’s newest park with a ribbon cutting ceremony last Friday.

The 23-acre nature area with nearly a mile-long meandering trail, five individual foot bridges and two new playgrounds, was named in honor of the Mitchell family, one of the city’s early pioneers which founded a 160-acre farm at the northeast corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard in 1866.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was held in front of one of the foot bridges leading to one of the new play structures in the park.

A recent documentary produced by the Citrus Heights Historical Society featured Ted Mitchell, who is now in his 90s, tracing the 160-year history of his family farm, and a glimpse into how the Mitchell family helped shape the original historical area, now reimagined as Mitchell Village Park.

Plans for the new park and paved nature trail were incorporated into the plans for the now-completed 260-home residential home project built by KB Home of Sacramento near Sunrise Boulevard and Arcadia Drive.

The green space stretches from Sunrise Boulevard, north of PetSmart, diagonally through the development toward Fair Oaks Boulevard, just before Greenback Lane.

Pictured is Sunrise Recreation and Park District’s Parks and Facilities Superintendent Wayne Edmundson at the ribbon-cutting for Mitchell Village Park.

New Citrus Heights Mayor Mari Jane Lopez-Taff presented a certificate of recognition to the Sunrise Recreation and Parks District (SRPD) describing new Mitchell Village Park as a special place for families and the community to gather “which will be cherished and enjoyed by generations to come.”

Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney also praised the multi-year cooperation between Sunrise Recreation and Park District, KB Homes and the city which guided the project through the complex permit approval process to its completion and dedication.

Both Sunrise Recreation and Park District parks and facilities superintendent Wayne Edmundson and Kevin Huntzinger, district administrator, recognized the teamwork and tireless work of District staff and team members who were involved in the project and special partnership shared with KB Homes of Sacramento which has since completed their newest master-planned residential community in the center of Citrus Heights.

The Arcade Creek Trail and open green space winds through the Mitchell Farms housing community. The trail is accessible via multiple courts and streets within the housing development.

Residential homes in Mitchell Village are accessible through a roundabout off Arcadia Drive and also from Fair Oaks Boulevard, just south of the Heather Downs apartment complex.

Andy Saunders, speaking on behalf of fellow Sunrise Recreation and Park District advisory board members, recognized the lasting importance of the new Mitchell Village Park to the greater Citrus Heights community and all those who will enjoy its beauty and its landscape.

Soon after the ribbon cutting ceremony ended, several children scurried off to enjoy a turn climbing the new play structure and gleefully taking a turn on an aerial swing.

Children enjoyed a turn playing on the new play structure at new Mitchell Village Park.

For more information about Mitchell Village Park visit: https://www.sunriseparks.com/mitchell-village-park.