House painters in Arden, CA

More than 200 Arden-Arcade residents packed a community meeting Monday night, demanding answers over a planned re-entry home for formerly incarcerated people that is set to open next month.

The home, along Norris Avenue in the northern Arden-Arcade area, has sparked opposition from neighbors and local officials who say its location near multiple schools and in the middle of a residential neighborhood is inappropriate.

The nonprofit operating the home, Inside Circle, purchased the property and plans to house people transitioning back into the community after serving time in prison.

"I want to know how they were first allowed to even purchase a property within that short distance of a school," one resident said.

CBS News Sacramento first reported on the planned re-entry home last month. Some neighbors said they were caught off guard by the project, with some saying they live next door to the property and were unaware of the plans until recently.

The proximity to schools was one of the biggest concerns raised Monday night. Residents pointed to several nearby campuses, including one they said shares a fence line with the property.

"I think that there needs to be change to the legislation here that would prevent this type of program from being put smack in the middle of a family-oriented community next to schools," resident Bryan Hiestand explained.

Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond opened the meeting by saying he supports rehabilitation and successful re-entry for people leaving prison but believes the Norris Avenue property is the wrong location.

"We all have a vested interest in making sure they rehabilitate, they re-enter community, and they are successful," Desmond said. "But this is the wrong location, and I wish they had worked with my office and with the sheriff's department on finding a more suitable location for this program."

Inside Circle CEO Eldra Jackson was there to hear all of it, laying out the groundwork of how the program works and to answer any questions.

"We have established strict, multi-layered screening criteria," Jackson explained. "Individuals with any history of serious offenses against minors, sex offenses, arson, or high-risk sexually violent convictions are operationally banned from our home. Furthermore, every single person in our home remains under active legal supervision by either Sacramento County Probation or State Parole."

That explanation did little to ease concerns for some residents, who called for the property to be sold and the program relocated.

"I think the best solution is that Mr. Jackson considers selling the property, doing it at a reasonable price, and move it somewhere that makes a lot more sense," one resident said.

The dispute also centers on who has authority over the home.

While Sacramento city and county officials have voiced opposition, state law limits the ability of local governments to block certain re-entry programs operated as residential homes for up to six people.

That means the county and city cannot simply prevent the home from opening based on local opposition as long as it meets the requirements established under state law.

Desmond said he plans to continue working with state officials to determine whether there is a way to stop the project or move it to another location.

Meanwhile, residents are organizing a petition opposing the home and are pushing for the operation to be shut down or relocated.

Inside Circle plans to hold additional community meetings as it prepares to open the home next month.

In:

After nearly four years of construction, a new playground and public park in Arden Arcade has opened for children of all mobility levels.

Located at 1124 Bell St. on the corner of Irma Way, Empowerment Park is designed to be as accessible as possible. Play spaces — including the centerpiece play structure with two domed towers — are accessible to wheelchair users via ramp. The park features accessible play equipment like whirl spinners that are flush to the ground so wheelchair users can be spun around. The park also has inclusive swing seats and was built with very few stairs.

The park had its grand opening on Aug. 30 and officials say it has been popular with visitors since opening.

“I’ve never seen a park like this. (It’s) busy at 9:30 a.m. on a school day,” said Daniel Barton, district administrator at the Mission Oaks Recreation & Park District. “It is especially rewarding to see a space where children with different abilities can enjoy the same play environment together and have opportunities to explore, interact and have fun.”

The park was full of young children and their caretakers early Monday afternoon, as the sounds of laughter interspersed with the occasional chime and drum beat from installed outdoor musical equipment.

“It’s wonderful. I think there is something to do for all different levels, kids-wise and for parents,” said Anni Payne, who drove her 2-year-old son Eli from Roseville for a play date. As she watched him play with a toy truck and run around the soft ground, Payne complimented the park’s open sight lines and closed-off nature from the road (the park is fenced off from the surrounding neighborhood, save one entrance near the parking lot).

“It’s easy to keep your eyes on them and get to them,” said Payne. “I can actually stand back a little bit and let him have some freedom, and know that he’s good, he’s safe.”

Aside from the accessible play structures and equipment, Empowerment Park has group picnic and BBQ areas, community garden beds, accessible off-street and disabled parking, shade structures and self-cleaning restrooms. A Bankshot court, where players attempt to shoot balls into hoops off uniquely shaped backboards, is also available.

Rose Moya, who came with her 2-year-old granddaughter, visited after seeing a video on TikTok. She appreciated the park’s cleanliness and lack of bark, which she says gets in her granddaughter’s shoes.

“I babysit her three days a week, so we’ll probably come once or twice a week because she loves the park,” Moya said. “And this was just easy for me to just sit back and let her run around.”

The park sits on a 1.43 acre parcel donated by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. Construction started in 2022 and was funded in part by Proposition 68, which authorized $4 billion in state general obligation bonds for state and local parks, environmental protection projects and water infrastructure.

The “Empowerment” name has a double meaning, representing both the accessibility of the space and as a nod to SMUD and the power lines which run overhead, according to Barton. In a corner of the park designed for 2 to 5-year-olds, colorful faux-houses named after units of electricity (volts, ohms, watts and amps) feature fake solar panels and buttons which activate sound effects and control small lights. Nearby, a control panel has icons representing nuclear, solar, coal and hydroelectric power.

The lessons on energy and power production are likely lost on the youngest of those enjoying the playground. But they seem to be having fun anyway.

“It’s the best park I’ve been to in the Sacramento area,” said Julie Vellucci, who was with her 6-year-old grandson Tony. “He doesn’t want to leave.”