Remote Surveillance Trailer in West Sacramento, CA

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

A major transformation has been given the green light for one of West Sacramento’s most historic and heavily used parks.

City leaders voted Wednesday night to approve a construction contract that would move forward with the long-anticipated renovation of Bryte Park, a project city officials say will reshape recreation in the community for generations.

The plan is part of a roughly $63 million investment to modernize the park, bringing new amenities, expanded green space, and long-awaited upgrades to a neighborhood that leaders say has been historically underinvested.

Construction is expected to begin as early as June.

The park would be closed for up to two years while crews complete the transformation, with a goal of reopening in 2028.

The Bryte Park Master Plan includes a wide range of new features designed to serve families and youth in the area, including:

City officials said the upgrades will not only improve recreational access but also create a more climate-resilient and inclusive space for residents.

Mayor Martha Guerrero said the project reflects years of advocacy from residents in the Bryte and Broderick neighborhoods.

“For years, this community has been asking for investment in this park,” Guerrero said. “They deserve a place where families can gather, where children can play, and where they can cool off during the summer.”

She says the addition of a public pool is especially meaningful, after the area went years without one.

“When I became mayor, I heard loud and clear from this community that we needed to have that investment right here in Bryte Park,” Guerrero said. “This is the place they call home, and they deserve a space where their children can enjoy recreational activities and a beautiful pool during our hot summers.”

The project is being funded through a combination of federal, state, and local dollars, including a $15 million federal grant secured in partnership with Congresswoman Doris Matsui.

City leaders say the investment will also create construction jobs in the short term and support long-term employment through park programming, youth sports, and community events.

“This is not just about building a park. It’s about building opportunity,” Guerrero said.

While many residents support the project, the construction timeline will bring short-term challenges.

"I think it's a small price to pay to see something new and cool for the area," said Mike Sanchez, who frequents the park.

Bryte Park is expected to fully close during construction so the project can be completed all at once, rather than in phases.

City leaders say they are working to identify alternative locations for youth sports and recreational programs during that time, including partnerships with other public and private spaces.

West Sacramento residents’ water and sewer utility fees will increase and for some could nearly double under new rates approved unanimously this week by the city council and which will go into effect starting next month.

The city has not raised prices since 2021 after a rate study was conducted nearly 10 years ago, according to city officials. However, the pipes, pumps and other machinery — inherited from Yolo County after the city incorporated in 1987 — require replacement, said Rebecca Scott, the director of public works operations and maintenance director.

Economic downtowns and hardships wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic led city officials to pause raising rates, which typically happen every five years, said City Manager Aaron Laurel.

Now, the network of pipes is reaching a critical point, officials said. Proposed infrastructure projects could cost more than $93 million and $44 million for water and sewer utilities, respectively.

“We understand that probably the hardest city councils anywhere are asked to do are things like this,” Laurel said. “Raising people’s rates, impacting people’s budgets — we get that it’s a very difficult thing.”

A majority of West Sacramento residents pay a $24.61 fixed monthly cost for a 3/4-inch meter size. That fee will rise steadily to reach $48.29 by 2030.

A ratepayer is currently charged $2.43 for every hundred cubic feet of water.

This consumption rate will rise to $3.31 by 2030.

Sewer utility rates will nearly quadruple by 2030. Under the scheduled sewer rate increases, a single-family customer currently paying a $10.88 fixed monthly charge will see that rise to $38.33 by 2030. Ratepayers classified as multifamily will see fixed rate for sewer charges rise from $8.16 this year to $26.13 in 2030.

The George Kristoff Water Treatment Plant processed about 11 million gallons of water per day to about 55,000 West Sacramento residents.

The council acknowledged the burden of higher rates, but said there were few alternatives.

“I know it’s going to be a hardship,” said West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero. “I know it’s going to be challenging.”

The new rates will be effective April 1.

Sacramento’s push for MLB expansion continues to gain traction, with regional leaders publicly outlining a vision to bring a permanent Major League Baseball team to California’s capital.

During a recent interview on Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys, West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero emphasized collaboration, momentum, and opportunity as the city positions itself in the growing expansion conversation.

“We’re working together with a coalition of businesses and interested people that want to see this happen,” Guerrero said. “We don’t have anything set yet, but we want to make it happen here in West Sacramento.”

The Athletics are entering their second season in 2026 at Sutter Health Park, giving Sacramento and West Sacramento a live, multi-year showcase to prove they can support Major League Baseball.

With the team scheduled to depart for Las Vegas after the 2027 season, local leaders are focused on ensuring the region remains in the league’s long-term plans.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty recently announced that the city is developing a plan to keep baseball in the capital city beyond the Athletics’ temporary stay, reinforcing the urgency of the MLB expansion effort.

Guerrero pointed to infrastructure, corporate backing, and fan engagement as critical factors in positioning the region for MLB expansion.

“What we need to do is make sure that we have a strong venue here to have a major league baseball team presence,” she said. “We’re working to establish corporate sponsorships… and we’re also working really hard to increase attendance.”

Those priorities align closely with what Major League Baseball looks for in expansion markets. Guerrero also highlighted Sacramento’s media landscape as a key advantage.

“We have an excellent media presence, which is a huge element in Major League Baseball,” she said, pointing to the region’s ability to generate visibility and sustained interest.

The Athletics’ presence has already begun to strengthen ties within the community. “We are growing closer together,” Guerrero said. “The community is really excited about it… and we’re looking forward to building that momentum here in Sutter Health Park.”

Sacramento faces competition from more established MLB expansion hopefuls like Nashville, Portland, and Salt Lake City, but the region’s ability to showcase real-time demand could be a difference-maker.

“That opportunity for us… to demonstrate that there is an increased demand here for a major league baseball team is huge,” Guerrero explained. “We are a baseball region… and we’re going to show that.”

Beyond baseball, the broader growth of Sacramento and West Sacramento is strengthening the bid. Guerrero pointed to an influx of businesses, new entertainment options, and future housing developments along the riverfront as indicators of a rising market.

“We have seen more businesses come and settle in… more amenities grow out here,” she said. “They see the ability to draw more people in.”

A formal update on Sacramento’s MLB expansion pursuit is expected in May, when regional leaders plan to present a unified vision.

“We are going to come in as a major region, bringing in all the cities and counties in partnership for this process,” Guerrero said.

Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

The Abridged version:

Educators in two Sacramento area districts are gearing up to go on strike as soon as next week, disrupting the families of tens of thousands of students.

Union leaders at Twin Rivers Unified announced Thursday they are headed to the picket lines March 5, after a last meeting with the district failed to produce an agreement.

Nearby in Natomas Unified, the union and district are also wrapping up final negotiations. The Natomas Teachers’ Association has not set an official strike date, but the earliest they could legally stop working is Wednesday, March 4.

Washington Unified educators are just a step behind their neighbors. The West Sacramento district will hold its last bargaining round March 17. A strike would be possible in early April.

The three localities are part of a statewide campaign organized by the California Teachers Association. More than 30 school districts across California have coalesced under the “We Can’t Wait” banner.

Two districts — San Francisco Unified and West Contra Costa Unified in the Bay Area — have already gone on strike this school year. A handful of others are on the brink, similar to Twin Rivers, Natomas and West Sacramento.

David Goldberg, president of the statewide union, said the mass effort is a call for change at all levels — from individual school boards to state officials.

“It’s all connected,” Goldberg said. “Locals are never going to get what they deserve — really deserve — until we really have more state funding.”

The Abridged morning newsletter lands in your inbox every weekday morning with the latest news from the Sacramento region.

Unions in the three districts are pushing for many of the same demands, including:

Natomas Superintendent Robyn Castillo, in an early February note to parents, said the district recognizes the difficulty of increasing health care costs. She said the district explored “creative options” to medical plans, including a proposal that would save an individual teacher up to $3,700.

District and union leaders have each emphasized they are trying to avert a strike.

The event of a work stoppage, especially one lasting multiple days, would unsettle thousands of students’ classroom experience. In some cases — like in San Francisco earlier this month or at Sacramento City Unified in 2022 — schools temporarily close.

But district leaders in Twin Rivers, Natomas and West Sacramento are pushing to keep the doors open, even if the regular teachers walk out.

Twin Rivers trustees last week passed a set of protocols to follow in the event of a teacher strike. They include paying substitutes up to $600 a day and possibly reimbursing those who commute more than 15 miles.

The Natomas Unified school board is considering a similar measure during a special meeting scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Thursday. Washington Unified trustees are weighing their own version Thursday evening.

On a webpage of negotiation updates, Natomas Unified notes that an average teacher with 10 years of experience will forfeit about $493 a day during a strike based on 183.5 instructional days each year. A veteran teacher at the top of the pay scale will forgo about $661 each day.

Hundreds of educators poured into the Twin Rivers administration building Tuesday to demonstrate ahead of the school board’s meeting. They were joined by many parents.

“Our teachers are not being heard,” said Erika Flores, a mother of two students in the district. “I wish they would be heard.”

Also that evening, members of the Natomas Teachers’ Association hosted a virtual town hall for parents, explaining the current bargaining situation.

Of the dozens of parents on the Zoom call, several declared support for the educators. Some questioned, though, if sending their students to class during a strike would be seen as crossing the picket line.

Union leaders have urged parents to keep their kids out of class to put pressure on districts, since attendance is tied directly to state funding.

This may be a difficult task for families with working parents, limited access to child care or whose children rely on free or reduced-price school meals.

“Of course we’re understanding,” said Brittoni Ward, president of the Twin Rivers teacher union.

“We understand that … the benefits of schools being open goes beyond the learning,” she continued. “We will do everything that we can to get communication out and try to problem-solve how we can support our students without anyone having to cross the picket line.”

Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged team and contribute to a crucial local news source.