Pocket-Greenhaven, Sacramento, California

Pocket-Greenhaven is a community within the city of Sacramento, California. It is bordered by Interstate 5 on the east and a bend in the Sacramento River on the south, west, and north. [http://www.cityofsacramento.org/ns/area2/neighborhoods/pocket/ Neighborhood Services: Area 2 : Pocket/Greenhaven ] ] The three exits into the Pocket-Greenhaven community off Interstate 5 are 43rd Avenue (southbound only), Florin Road, and Pocket/Meadowview Road. Entering the area from the south on Interstate 5, travelers pass a large water tower with the words "Sacramento, City Of Trees" painted on it, marking the southern boundary of the city of Sacramento as well as the Pocket-Greenhaven area.

The community borders Land Park, Meadowview, and other suburbs, and is adjacent to the border with Yolo County. The main roads are Pocket Road, Florin Road, Greenhaven Drive, and Riverside Boulevard. The main high school is John F. Kennedy High School, established in 1967. The School of Engineering and Sciences, a smaller secondary school, was recently opened in the area. [ [http://www.scusd.edu/high_schools/ses/index.htm Sacramento City Unified School District: School of Engineering and Sciences] ]

Located approximately 10 minutes from downtown, Greenhaven is populated by a mix of upper middle class, middle class, and lower middle class families from a diverse array of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Traditionally, it is one of the most racially and economically diverse parts of Sacramento and has been an enclave for non-immigrant Chinese and Japanese American families. The upper echelon of Greenhaven or the Pocket area is Riverlake, a series of gated communities bordered by Rush River Drive, Lakefront Drive, and Pocket Road. Hollywood Actor Eddie Murphy used to keep a home in Riverlake and, before expansion of Sacramento into newer, outlying areas closer to Arco Arena, many former members of the Sacramento Kings basketball team kept homes there. Greenhaven is a low crime community with excellent schools and a number of thriving local businesses and restaurants. There are 18 public parks in the Greenhaven-Pocket neighborhood, many of which are connected by the Pocket Canal Parkway.

Greenhaven was first developed as a planned community in 1962. A sales office was established at Greenhaven Drive and Riverside Blvd to outline the community and to sell semi-custom built homes. Dronberger, Harris and Parker were some of the first builders to the area. Greenhaven Drive was the major drive which ended at Moonlit Circle. In 1969, Greenhaven II was built along Riverside Blvd to the north. The Greenhaven area now has completely filled the entire area surrounded by the Sacramento River known as "The Pocket".

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