Arden Park, just minutes from downtown Sacramento, is family friendly neighborhood of nearly 1,900 homes nestled into a quiet community with highly rated public schools, tree-lined streets and spacious lots. It is located in the Arden-Arcade region of Sacramento, bordered to the south by Fair Oaks Boulevard, to the west by Watt Avenue, north by Arden Way and east by Eastern Avenue.
Recognized by Sacramento Magazine as one of Sacramento’s best neighborhoods, we celebrate our community where families and friends look out for each other, create a sense of community, and come together for events organized and hosted by the Arden Park Recreation and Park District.
Originally established in 1946 as Arden Park Vista (which still appears on some maps) and developed by Wright and Kimbrough, Arden Park has a true sense of community, with its tree-lined streets, two parks, and many activities. Arden Park has its own Neighborhood Preservation Area designation, intended to preserve the atmosphere of the neighborhood. Many homeowners grew up here, then return to raise their own families, often in the same home.
Arden Park enjoys two parks with playgrounds, tennis courts, and activities operated by the Arden Park Recreation and Parks District (APRPD), part of the larger Sacramento County Department of Parks and Recreation. The larger Arden Park is located in the heart of the community on La Sierra Drive, and hosts many of the community events, such as Music in the Park, Movies in the Park, Easter Eggstravaganza, Fourth of July Parade, and Tents In Town, an overnight camp-out. It also offers youth sport camps, swim team, little league, soccer and adult softball, tennis and fitness programs. Cresta Park is at the center of three streets – Las Cruces Drive, Esperanza Drive, and Cresta Way.
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) associated with the initial development of Arden Park are neither binding nor enforced. Subsequent Federal and State laws were enacted to address outdated provisions contained in many CC&Rs Federal (Fair Housing Act) and State law (Fair Employment and Housing Act).
Arden Park History
Early History
The land now called Arden Arcade, which includes Arden Park, has a long history. The original residents were the Nissenan people of the Maidu tribe of Native Americans. Mexico deeded the Rancho del Paso land grant to John Sutter in 1843. Sutter then deeded the Rancho Del Paso to Eliab Grimes, Hiram Grimes, and John Sinclair.
Samuel Norris acquired and held the land from 1852 until 1862 when the property was transferred to Colonel James Ben Ali Haggin in 1870. Haggin was a breeder of champion racehorses, one of which, Ben Ali, won the Kentucky Derby in 1886. Haggin built a railroad spur, roughly from the current Union Pacific tracks to his breeding paddock, for shipping the horses. Today it is the site of the Haggin Oaks golf course. Del Paso Country Club was also developed from a portion of this ranch.
Haggin eventually sold the land in 1910 to Orlando Robertson of Arden Hills MN. Robertson developed tracts of land for sale and laid out many of the streets, choosing street names that reflected the inventors of the period, Watt, Edison, Howe, Marconi, Fulton, Morse, Whitney, and Bell.
Modern History
Steve Williams purchased 1,800 acres in 1945 that included the Arden Park and Arden Manor neighborhoods. Williams, a developer, was looking for land to develop with an appeal to those who loved the open spaces and desired room for horses. Williams then sold most of the land except the 435 acres that is known today as Arden Oaks. In 1946, the firm of Wright and Kimbrough began developing and selling homes in what was then known as Arden Park Vista, with most lots ranging in size from .25 – one acre in size.
1946 Arden Park Brochures
Arden Arcade
The name Arden most likely derives from the Arden Hills, Minnesota, the hometown of Orlando Robertson, an owner, and developer after Haggin. Arcade comes from an “arcade” of native oak trees that lined up like an architectural arcade near the site of the railroad terminal that Haggin used to ship his horses across the country. The name Arden Park surely comes from the park-like character of the area.
Arden Park Map