Matsui Park is getting some new features. Here's what is coming and when
Sacramento, CA (June 29, 2023) - A new walkway lined with blooming cherry trees will soon rise on the Sacramento waterfront as part of a renovation to the Robert T. Masui park.
From left to right: Consul General of Japan in San Francisco Yasushi Noguchi, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, Councilmember Katie Valenzuela, Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Mayor Darrell Steinberg, CEO of SacTree Foundation Jessica Sanders, and Amarjeet S. Benipal, District 3 Director for CalTrans.
Mayor Steinberg joined Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco Yasushi Noguchi, and many state, local and community leaders Thursday to put shovels in the ground on what will affectionately be called “The Hanami Line.” The Hanami Line will consist of more than 100 cherry trees that will stretch along the river just south of the new SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity.
Other additions and improvements to the park include updated landscaping and new public art, additional seating and lighting, and an area meant to host live music and events right on the waterfront.
An important piece of funding for the project was solidified earlier this week when the Sacramento City Council approved a $3.5 million contribution. Another $3.2 million is coming from the State of California through the Clean California program, a multiyear clean-up effort to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and engage communities to transform public spaces. Additional funding came from UC Davis Health and private donations. To date, $7.6 million has been put towards the park improvements in a capital campaign led by the Sacramento Tree Foundation.
“The Hanami line combines three things that set Sacramento apart: our love of trees, our beautiful waterfront and how we invest in our public spaces to bring people together,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg.
“This cherry tree park will welcome visitors from throughout our entire region while serving as the local park for the new developments in the Railyards and River District. I can not wait to sit under the cherry blossoms and enjoy the awe and beauty of our amazing city,” said Jessica Sanders, Executive Director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation.
Hanami is often translated from Japanese as “flower viewing” but is often expressed through the Japanese cultural tradition of enjoying the bright pink cherry blossom trees or sakura when they are in bloom with picnics, parties, and social gatherings. Most varieties of cherry trees bloom in early to mid-spring.
The Hanami Line is expected to open to the public in 2024.
Watercolor rendering of the Hanami Line courtesy of the Sacramento Tree Foundation
