California Expands State Park System for First Time in Decades

April 24, 2026

On April 22, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a major expansion of the state park system, adding three new parks and enlarging several others. As the public land policy on the federal level moves toward extraction and commercialization, California is the latest state to reinvest in conservation at the local level.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Newsom announced his new State Parks Forward plan. The project is part of his broader 30×30 initiative, which aims to conserve 30% of the state’s land and waters by 2030.

The plan adds three new state parks in the state’s Central Valley, an area close to Fresno. The first, Feather River Park, covers about 2,000 acres and would provide ample recreation and boating opportunities on its namesake river.

The next park, San Joaquin River Parkway, would turn multiple local and state properties into an 874-acre park along the major waterway. It would provide hiking, water recreation, and a citrus farm. GEARJUNKIE