Following a recommendation by the Sacramento County Director of Parks and Recreation to close Gibson Ranch, I wrote an article entitled “Is Use of Gibson Ranch Worth an Extra 25 Cents a Month to You?” in March of 2004. The sentiments of the article, along with community political feedback, in-person meetings with county leadership and unforeseen revenue increases to the county parks budget resulted in Gibson Ranch being saved for a time.

Word has come to me that by the time we reach the 2008 Sacramento County budget, which is just around the corner, a familiar recommendation is expected that funding for Gibson Ranch be cut because of decreased revenue expectations.

Again, the community, under the leadership of Keith Weber, President, Antelope-Highlands Chamber of Commerce, and the Friends of the Historical Gibson Ranch and Dry Creek Parkway are attempting to take action to plan for this contingency.

This leadership group has scheduled a Benefit Ice Cream Social (plus a wagon full of fun family activities) on Friday, September 22, from 5:00-8:30 pm on the Ranch Store Lawn at Gibson Ranch. Requested donation is $5.00 per person (includes gate entry). Note that children under three (3) enter free.

The hope is to raise money to be used for targeted improvements in an attempt to mitigate any depreciation caused by County Parks & Recreation not having the ability to properly maintain the facility due to the anticipated revenue shortage.

Gibson Ranch is one of the most important treasurers in north Sacramento County. Let us all pull together once again to help preserve it in fact, and in a condition that those who come to use it will not be dissatisfied.

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