Public Comments

Why is it that the city council is so determined to ‘update’ the area? What is wrong with the natural beauty of the area as is? Currently, Turtle Bay, the Civic, Rodeo Grounds, and boat/river access are great. We don’t need a TGI Friday’s, another Starbucks, & 2 more hotel chains on the riverfront. That property is ‘public’ property, held in trust for the people of Redding., and I for one want it kept as-is, serving the general populace and not wealthy corporations or private citizens, nor land developers.

My comment on this important subject that I want to express above all others is that I favor keeping the rodeo at its present location and extending the lease to 99 years so that they can get financing to make the improvements we’d all like to see for a.large gathering outdoor event center that’s the pride of Reddingand suitable for multiple events every year instead of just two. Extend the lease.

1. We desperately need a safe public swimming beach on the river. Current options are limited to boat launches. The old gravel bar areas would provide areas that slow down the water and could provide such a nice public swimming area. It’s too hot in Redding to not give locals the opportunity to use our river to cool down and would take pressure off Brandy Creek and Oak Bottom which both require we drive out of town for.
2. Plan for a driving EXIT from the Turtle Bay, Sundial Bridge area! Traffic during events is a nightmare and puts high demand on police to provide extra services. Plus it’s irresponsible and a fire hazard to not have another way to leave that area. Having only one way in and out of that “island” has gone on for way too long. I don’t care where you put it, but there has to be a solution!!

I’ve lived in Redding near Turtlebay since 1994. I really get upset when I keep seeing the push to build a community in the Turtlebay, rodeo grounds area. The Sundial Bridge was an amazing upgrade but changing what is there would be wrong. Don’t let the rich buy off what is our community and our nature retreat. There was a young man on action news now that mentioned all the empty buildings in Redding and to do something with them, he’s spot on. My husband and I can’t get to the workshops but hopefully this message counts. Please leave the Riverfront alone.

I really hope we will see wording that reflects a committment to honor values of water, air, trees and wildlife and birds for future
generations. Not just dollar driven plans for business.

The very most important thing to me is that the open space riparian area be preserved. Preserved means leave it alone. No more improved trails, no tree removal, etc.
It is imperative to remember what our area has that is so valuable. What we have is access to nature. Every city has coffee shops, restaurants, etc. None of that has any place in this area. Educated city planners in other areas, such as Denver for example, regret the sprawl and rampant development that was previously allowed. ANY DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN SPACE needs to be very carefully considered. You can't go back.

Hi, I don't know what the River Project is about really. I have mentioned before to the city that a River Walk kinda like in Texas would be awesome. People want excitement, restaurants, bars, comedy club a place to walk around with plants and water features. I went to Walnut Grove and the shops have so many plants around them, it's beautiful. I like the feel of open air places where part of the front s of restaurants are open or bars with outdoor tables. Walk ways along the river too. Is this is not what the Project is about then maybe they could do something like this elsewhere.

You people can't wait to get that rodeo ground plot.  Shame.

I see today 6/12/24 they starting putting up fencing on the lot next to Aqua Golf. Looked at the maps and housing locations from the framework and it looks like the whole first row of housing on Park Marina Drive is going to go away. So when is the city planning on taking this land from people?

I'm hearing impaired so will not attend. I've voiced my thought.  My guess is that it's a done deal and this extra business is a tool for what your plan is already.  If not then it should go to vote in the election.  Suggest more exits from general Sun Dial park and convention center re fire hazard.2. Find more uses for Rodeo vs getting rid of it.  City should not be in the entertainment business with our tax dollars. General parks help keep kids out of crime. Not sure that history is still relevant. Business should be by the people for the people. Grow Redding will lead to SMOG.

Hi, I recently heard of the Riverfront Project. I live near Park Marina and like to bike down to the Bead man and feed the ducks with my kids. I often wondered about the space and why something so beautiful had such limited access, with the old vacant buildings, and unused office spaces. I often wondered what ever happened to the restaurant off the lake (not that I could go, as it cost to much when I first moved here), but why there wasn’t something, anything more to do in that area (besides aqua golf). I moved here from Monterey area. My grandmother used to take me to Dennis the Menis Park. There was structured and natural playgrounds with a very large body of water in the middle where people would rent/ride pedal boats that looked like geese and swans. It was always a place full of energy and life and I know the nearby businesses benefited from the activity and location.
It would be really nice. :)

I agree with the comment that the river edge should focus on a healthy aquatic habitat for fish, honoring the first nations people.

I was the artist who through extensive community input including guidance by some of the Shasta Dam workers on how to honor the history of the Aggregate Plant and its vital role in the construction of Shasta Dam. The video presentation does an adeqate joy of relating that history but overlooks mentioning the Monolith as a history museum artwork. You do mention other cultural resources at Turtle Bay but not the Monolith. Please make an effort to mention its presence.

The Hard Hat water fountain needs a a power source to reactivate the fountain with a small solar array in the shape of Shasta Dam, after all the monolith if the pedestal that made the Shasta Dam. Please work with Turtle Bay to provide funding if possible.

Hello all,

I was born and raised in Redding and used to teach Indian Education at Gateway Unified School District. I am writing to urge you to end the Redding Riverfront Development Project and instead rematriate the land to the local Wintu Tribe, who have stewarded the land that is now known as the city of Redding for time immemorial.

If you follow through with the development project, you will be contributing to the continued genocide of local Native tribes.

Furthermore, the environmental impact of the project will harm local tribes' salmon restoration projects. Chief Caleen Sisk of the Winnemem Wintu has been painstakingly working to save winter-run Chinook salmon from extinction, which are a keystone species to the ecosystem of our region. The health of the native salmon of the Sacramento river reflects the health of the Native peoples of the Redding area. If the salmon die, the people die. This development project would be devastating for Indigenous life and survival.

I hope that you will be able to find in your own hearts the humanity to not sacrifice the health of the Sacramento river and the Wintu tribe for money. I beg you to stop the riverfront development project and save what we have left of the earth for all future generations. Please give the land that is the development site back to its indigenous caretakers, where it will remain in safe and loving hands for years to come.

Additionally, please watch this short film to learn more about the Winnemem Wintu tribe and their incredible work to save the McCloud and Sacramento Rivers.

Please do reach out to me if you have any follow up questions or comments!

Thank you,

Hello,

I am opposed to the guiding framework that was recently approved by the Redding Council for riverfront planning. It will be devastating for local tribes and their Salmon restoration projects. I want the control of the land to return to indigenous stewardship of any federally and non federally recognized tribes.


With love for my community,

Dear City of Redding,
As a resident in my 30s, I strongly support redeveloping the Riverfront. The Park Marina drive has great potential as a venue for restaurants, shops, corporate headquarters, museums on the River/City/Native American history and additional access points for launching kayaks or foot access to fish the shoreline. The natural resource of the Sacramento River needs to be more than vacant lots, run down buildings and homeless encampments. Moving the rodeo grounds to near the air port can also allow for the space to be used for more than 7 days a year.
Young people and families need opportunities to see the city grow and prosper.

This town has always been the hub of Redding Rodeo. It is a life long tradition and should be looked at with great respect. The revenue generated from Redding Rodeo has been a blessing to our community. For decades the people in city hall have tried to sweep it under the rug. They should be ashamed at their behavior and neglect. We are a town of many vices and adventures. We also trust our people to be honest and keep a little bit of the old west feel and family values the Rodeo brings this to our families and friends. Please take with good responsibility when making this decision. Keep us alive. Thank you

Timeless family/community traditions are being rapidly erased in the name of progress. Redding Rodeo Association has been a positive for many children, teens, and adults. It has given innumerable families common activities to enjoy together. Redding Rodeo itself brings many people and a significant amount of money to this community.
My family and I would like to see this family/community tradition carry on! Please do not erase another piece of our history!!

The Redding Rodeo is a top notch event brought to the city each year that brings in a great deal of money as well as fans from all over the country. It is my thought that we could add some new features to the grounds such as more sponsors tents and raised box seating. A new barn for the rodeo grounds would also be a great addition. It should be kept a part of the plan, as the Redding Rodeo is a part of not only Redding Rodeo history, but Shasta County and the PRCA. The RRA brings so much positivity to the community, there is no reason to terminate the lease to such a historic venue in the greater Redding area. Thank you

Please please please do not get rid of the rodeo grounds. We’ve been going there since I was a kid and my parents went there when they were kids and now my son has been going there since he was toddler. It’s such a great fun family event and the motocross event helps so many local sports teams. And the pow wow is awesome there too. Taking this away would be a disgrace to our city.

What can never be replaced is the majesty of what Redding’s natural open space offers. Imagine a wild portion of the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan.
Leave Turtle Bay and Turtle Bay East alone, please!

Keep the rodeo grounds in the same spot they are now. If you wish to make it part of your riverfront project then how about some upgrades to those grounds like more seating, shelter stables for the animals and more parking.

Here’s what I’d like to see. North of highway 44 I would like to see stay pretty much as is with regards to the Sheraton and all of Turtle Bay museum grounds and that trail that roughly follows the river from the Sundial bridge around to the monolith which should be for art and a seasonal haunted house. The civic should stay the same outside and renovated / modernized as needed inside. There should be a parking garage attached to the back of the civic. The rodeo grounds remaining where it is and its lease extended long enough so they can improve the space to host more events is my single biggest preference for this whole riverfront plan. I’d like to see a multi level parking garage on butte st where the field we park in anyway is and a pedestrian bridge over 44 to access all venues to the north. I’ll cover South of 44 in another e-mail. Thank you for reading my opinion.

Redding rodeo has been my second home since I was a toddler I am now 21 years, I have always loved being apart of the wonderful association! Redding rodeo is one of the most fun events we do every year, a lot of people look forward to it.

Please keep the redding rodeo, it is one of the best things out town has to offer and it’s one of the best events of the year. i work the rodeo every year, it needs to stay

I would like to see the east side of Park Marina developed into tourist destenation sport of like Old Town Sacramento along the Sacramento River. Obviously a raise board walk right on the river bank with waterfront restaurants. Perhaps keeping with Old Town Sacramento with a old town rustic theme of the old west with architecture.