RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The City of Rancho Cordova took its community outreach to the next level on Sept. 25, hosting the annual Good Neighbor Day at Cordova Garden Elementary Academy of Art & Sciences. The free, family-friendly event invited residents to meet city officials and partner organizations and learn about resources available to help build thriving neighborhoods.

This year’s event from 5 to 7 p.m. featured a wide range of family-friendly activities. Kids enjoyed face painting, balloon artists and bike repairs provided by Bike Lab. In celebration of National Comic Book Day, several superheroes were there for photos and high-fives. Attendees were treated to free burgers, hot dogs, chips and cupcakes.

A highlight of the evening was the Mayor in Motion session, giving residents the opportunity to speak directly with city leaders. While Mayor Siri Pulipati was unable to attend, Vice Mayor Garrett Gatewood and Councilmember David M. Sander, Ph.D., were present and engaging with the community.

From left are Councilmember David M. Sander, Ph.D., Spider Man, Vice Mayor Garrett Gatewood and Wonder Woman, at the Good Neighbor Day festivities. Photo by Rick Sloan

“It is really important for local governments to connect with their local residents in a way that is easy for them and makes sense to them,” said Sanders. “We take government and put it on the playground and let people in the neighborhood walk up and ask their questions. This version of how we do community outreach is around two years old and we have done about 10 locations.”

Vice Mayor Gatewood also spoke with attendees and shared what he has been hearing from the community.

“People are super excited about the arena that we just announced at our last special City Council meeting. They are really excited about the jobs and creations ready to happen,” Gatewood said. “A lot have questions about the school district and how we can improve it as well as neighborhood and road safety.”

For many, meeting city officials in person was a highlight.

“We did a community service survey and two things residents mentioned were how great it was that the city came out to them, which isn’t common in many cities, and that they had the chance to meet council members,” said Lorrianne Carl, senior community engagement analyst with the City of Rancho Cordova.

Bike repairs provided by Bike Lab were available at Good Neighbor Day on a first come, first served basis. Photo by Rick Sloan

In addition to meeting city officials, residents connected with local organizations including Rancho Cordova Police Department, Cordova Recreation & Park District, Rancho Cordova Animal Services, Folsom Cordova Community Partnership, Folsom Cordova Unified School District and nonprofit organizations such as Whisker Warriors and Rancho Cordova PAL.

Lisa Gerber, crime prevention specialist with the Rancho Cordova Police Department, emphasized the importance of events such as Good Neighbor Day and highlighted how they try to involve the community, especially the youth, in police activities.

“These are the perfect opportunities for kids to see the police department when it’s not in a stressful situation,” Gerber said. “We try to go down to their level and just be like, ‘Hey, we are the good guys, come and talk to us when you have a problem.’ We have had really good response from this community; they are very supportive of us.”

School leaders also emphasized the importance of the event.

“Partnering with the city is key for us,” said Erik Swanson, superintendent of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. “This partnership helps families learn about available city services while also understanding the services we offer to students. We’re building connections between the school and the community.”

Kristi Zampieri, a kindergarten teacher at Cordova Gardens, echoed that sentiment.

“I think this is a great opportunity to bring the families and the community resources together,” said Zampieri. “By bringing it to the schools, you allow families to utilize the things that our city does so well.”

Dressed to impress, two girls strike a pose and soak up the fun at Good Neighbor Day. Photo by Rick Sloan

Alexa Trotter, a Community Schools facilitator at Cordova Gardens, described the partnership between the school district and the city.

 “When families are doing well, students are doing well,” Trotter said. “This collaboration helps us build stronger connections and supports the growth of our community schools.”

Residents who missed the event will have another opportunity to attend the next Good Neighbor Day from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 at Labyrinth Community Park, 12770 Glass Beach. The event will feature a Halloween costume contest, barbecue, face painting and balloon artists.

“It is really important for local government to be in touch with their residents because we have more influence over their quality of life than any other level of government,” said Sanders. “We learn a lot from residents because they are coming to us with questions that we haven’t heard before or haven’t thought of.”

To request a Good Neighbor Day in your neighborhood, contact the city’s community engagement team at [email protected].