There are several places where you can get a closer view of the water: the water intake structure at Matsui Park, where you can walk right out onto the river itself, the pedestrian walkways on the Tower Bridge, and there are several pedestrian "outcroppings" on the riverwalk south of the Tower that stick out over the river. When the river level is high they are out in the water. The new Old Sacramento general plan includes several proposed ways to get people closer to the water, including improving the walkway near the foot of I Street, currently in pretty rough condition, that brings you down to the water's edge, and replacing the wooden-tie walkway along the river itself with a synthetic material that will be more durable and less of a trip hazard.
I notice that Stockton's waterfront park is just a little jetty next to their "downtown arena" (one that fell off the radar of local arena discussions after Stockton declared bankruptcy) and I assume that it was part of that project...in retrospect, maybe not the best idea.
The old-school Corps of Engineers approach called for keeping levees free of trees, but the latest studies demonstrate that vegetation on a levee can help make it stronger--the root systems help stabilize the soil of the levee. They also provide shade in the afternoons, an important consideration for a smooth concrete walkway. In cooler climates like Portland, or humid climates where shade is less useful for cooling (low humidity makes shade far more efficient as a means of cooling) tree cover is less critical. But watch Sacramentans in public spaces sometimes--in summer, they dart from shadow to shadow to stay out of the sun. And people tend to avoid large, exposed open areas in general--they prefer walking along places that feel somewhat enclosed, like an outdoor room.
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"Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. New ideas must use old buildings."--Jane Jacobs
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