By Sara Beth Williams–
Rusch Community Park has been a staple among Citrus Heights locals, and wouldn’t be part of the parks district were it not for the Rusch siblings.
In 1950, Fred and Julia Rusch donated 15 acres of land to the public. This generous donation led to the formation of the Sunrise Recreation and Park District, according to the district’s website. Fred and Julia were brother and sister.
In honor of the Sunrise Recreation and Park District’s 75th anniversary, here are 15 fun facts all about Rusch Park, gathered from both the park district’s website, Sentinel archives, and the Citrus Heights Historical Society.
Largest park: Rusch Park is the largest park in the Sunrise Recreation and Park District at just over 48 acres.
Oldest house: The Historic Rusch Home located within Rusch Park is one of the oldest homes in Citrus Heights.
Ranchland: The Historic Home and Gardens were once part of a 480-acre ranch.
Point of historical interest: The Historic Rusch Home was designated as a California Point of Historical Interest in 1991.
Homeowners: Residents, including two former Parks Directors, occupied the Historic Rusch Home during the 1990’s.
Botanical garden: The garden around the Historic Rusch Home used to be a botanical garden. Many unusual trees remain including a rare Jujube tree.
House fire: Tragedy struck in 1914 when the original Rusch home succumbed to fire, leading to the construction of the present-day Craftsman-style residence that now graces Rusch Park.
Duck pond: A duck pond was once located within Rusch Park.
Julia Rusch: In the 1950s and 1960s, Julia Rusch would give cookies from her back porch to children who came to Rusch Park to play.
Covered Bridge: The covered bridge in Rusch Park was built from an old train boxcar frame from the Southern Pacific Railroad.
City Council meetings: The Sunrise Patio Room at Rusch Park’s community center was the initial location of the City of Citrus Heights Counsel meetings.
World War II memorial: Rusch Park has several memorials, including a World War II memorial that was originally built in 1948 at Sylvan Corners, and later moved to its current location at the park. The stone memorial has a bronze plaque bearing the names of 272 Citrus Heights residents who served in World War II. A re-dedication of the memorial was held at Rusch Park in 1976, records show.
The Wall that Heals: In 2023, Rusch Park in Citrus Heights was selected to host The Wall That Heals, a traveling three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center. The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War and it bears the names of the 58,281 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
Playground memorial: In 1967, two pieces of playground equipment were purchased with funds raised from the Citrus Heights Children’s Memorial Fund, which honored the deaths of two local children who died. One child was murdered, and another was accidentally hit by a truck.
Children’s memorial: In 1977, an article in The Sacramento Bee announced the dedication of a permanent children’s memorial stone monument which still stands in the park today. The monument was dedicated during the 14th annual Citrus Heights Children Memorial observance.
