The Landscape That Defines Rollingwood and Fair Oaks
Sacramento Valley oak woodland is a unique natural ecological habitat that supports mature species of oak trees, like the valley oak, heritage oak, blue oak, and live oak. These woodlands, interwoven with native valley grasslands, perform a critical habitat and watershed function for the American River Parkway.
The American River Parkway Plan establishes the governing framework for stewardship of this landscape. It reflects a longstanding public commitment to conservation, ecological integrity, and responsible land management within one of Sacramento County’s most valued natural corridors.
Rollingwood Planning History and Open Space Dedication
Rollingwood was conceived and developed in the early 1970s as a master-planned community intentionally designed to integrate residential development into the existing oak woodland landscape. Curvilinear private lanes were aligned with natural terrain, minimizing grading and preserving mature trees and habitat connectivity.
As part of the County development approval, more than 50 acres of permanent open space were dedicated to the County of Sacramento. Today, this land is kept in its natural state and maintained by the County of Sacramento Regional Parks Department, which performs fuel management (i.e., grazing) and enforcement.
In addition, over 100 residential parcels within the Rollingwood community are encumbered by recorded open space easements that were created under the California Open Space Easement Act of 1974. These easements are clearly documented on individual property deeds and run in perpetuity.
Owners are required to sign their Deed of Title (witnessed by a Notary), acknowledging the encumbrance, which restricts grading, walls, and development. For more than 50 years, these easements have functioned exactly as intended, and they will continue to do so for generations to come.
Ecological Value and Community Benefit
Taken together, the county-owned open space and the deed-restricted private easements form a continuous and ecologically healthy oak woodland system. This landscape supports a diverse range of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, foxes, turkeys, peacocks, skunks, and numerous native bird and plant species. Beyond wildlife habitat, the open space provides:
Protection of the American River Parkway watershed
Preservation of community character, heritage, and visual integrity
Stabilization and enhancement of long-term property values
Fulfillment of regional and county conservation objectives
This open space is not incidental. It is foundational to Rollingwood’s identity, livability, and value.
Stakeholder Responsibility and Long-Term Stewardship
This matter transcends any single property or individual. Each homeowner is a stakeholder in the preservation of Rollingwood’s open space and in the broader environmental health of the American River Parkway corridor. Protection of these easements and county-owned open space is inseparable from protection of property values, community integrity, and environmental legacy.
