Black Farmers in Gold Rush California ~ Proposed Leidesdorff Ranch Regional Park

The proposed renaming of Goethe Park, Sacramento County Regional Park, back to the original name of Leidesdorff Ranch, is a rare opportunity to preserve, reconstruct, and interpret the Gold Rush Era, (1840- 1865.)

Leidesdorff was President of the First California School Board, donated the land and opened the first public school in California, Portsmouth Square 1847. Leidesdorff Ranch Regional Park would naturally become a favorite inclusive education field trip destination to fulfill many K- 6 levels of the curriculum & instruction content standards of the California Department of Education.

The surviving Leidesdorf family is very excited about inclusive early childhood education possibilities for families to reconnect while visiting Leidesdorff Ranch Regional Park. The international transition period from Republic of Mexico Territory to early California Statehood invites the world to reconnect in positive ways.

Broad-based, local, regional, state, national and international public/private support and collaboration is our proposed way to maximize resources to enhance the enjoyment and inspiration by the general public to reconnecting the past, present and future along our, “crown jewel” the American River Parkway.

Leidesdorff Ranch Regional Park offers a positive naming alternative to “Explore, Experience and Enjoy Sacramento County Parks” and possibly become a world agricultural heritage tourist destination by offering a unique educational experience for the pleasure and enjoyment of our regional community residents.

Historic preservation of the significant regional African American agricultural contributions to the early development of today’s California’s #1 industry is an important missing regional, state and national asset.

Leidesdorff Ranch was recently inducted into the prestigious California Agricultural Heritage Club by the State of California and the entire American River Parkway is a ‘national jewel’ worthy of National Preservation Standards. National standards of excellence demand regional and national stakeholders to come together to balance future growth and development while preserving forever the natural beauty of Northern California.

Today, it is legally possible to even consider preserving the unique cultural and social values demonstrated by 19th century African Americans. Leidesdorff Ranch Regional Park offers an unparalleled opportunity to surpass multicultural education, historical preservation and world class conservation standards.

Leidesdorff Ranch, a 35,000 + acre geographical location, is where so much early California history actually unfolded. We seek a multi-stakeholder collaboration to manifest the preservation, restoration and interpretation of the 1840 – 1865 regional agricultural, transportation and gold mining activities in this historical region.

Leidesdorff Ranch, est. 1844, retains major U.S. significance today and offers increased consideration for local, state and federal bipartisan support for a broader U.S. Heritage Destination Area. January 24, 2008, the County of Sacramento Recreation and Parks Commission will make recommendations to our Sacramento County Board of Supervisors who on January 29, 2008 will have a wonderful opportunity to guide preservation, reconstruction and interpretation of Leidesdorff Ranch Regional Park for future generations.