Sacramento’s Front Porch

ATLAS Lab led national, multi-disciplinary team on the development for a visionary master plan for the Old Sacramento Waterfront District. Currently, the Sacramento Waterfront is poorly attended both by locals and tourists, with lack of visibility to the river and access to family friendly activities. The City of Sacramento solicited proposals to re-imagine the Sacramento Waterfront into a thriving and vibrant district that supports economic activity while addressing safety concerns and large scale programming.  Working with City of Sacramento, City officials, and local stakeholders, ATLAS Lab developed a comprehensive master plan that honors the historic nature of the district while provided a set of programmatic elements that address a broad spectrum of site uses including civic plaza, event lawn, spray plaza, performance area, and public art to name a few. 

Project Description: Historically, the Sacramento Waterfront was the most culturally diverse open space in the City. Front Street to the waterfront was a free, open zone that cultivated incredible social and economic activity.  While preservation efforts saved historic buildings, the highway, rail and levee infrastructure create a physical and psychological “island”. “Sacramento’s Front Porch” proposes to restore the area between Front Street and the Waterfront into a signature park that honors Sacramento’ history and inspires the future for the local and visiting community. The Waterfront is repositioned as Sacramento’s welcome mat, a diverse and social place for all.

 

 

about the project

“Sacramento’s Front Porch” proposes to restore the area between Front Street and the Waterfront into a signature park that honors Sacramento’ history and inspires the future for the local and visiting community. The Waterfront is re-positioned as Sacramento’s welcome mat – a diverse and social place for all.

Planning for the future of the Sacramento Waterfront is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Front Porch represents a vision Sacramento can be proud of – a project that is ambitious yet practical. Authentic to our city, The Front Porch is a welcoming project integral to community and nature, hopeful for people of all walks of life, all races, locals, tourists – everybody young and old.

The design proposes to restore waterfront access between Front Street and the river through creation of a signature park honoring Sacramento’s history, complete with narratives and native riparian vegetation. Creation of a separated pedestrian walkway and dedicated bike path along the embarcadero will also greatly improve access for all. The new dedicated bike path also provides a missing link in the regional trail system along the river. Additions of a performance space for outdoor concerts near the Tower Bridge, water splash pad with beach area for volleyball, and sheltered depot structure will encourage family picnics and community engagement.