The planned Feather River Park would include areas such as Star Bend and Grays Beach, offering river access, trails, and recreational opportunities while also preserving floodplain habitat along the river. Photo courtesy of California State Parks

 

YUBA COUNTY, CA (MPG) - A major Earth Day announcement on April 22 included plans for Yuba County’s first-ever state park, a nearly 2,000-acre site along the Feather River near Olivehurst. Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled the proposal as part of the state’s “State Parks Forward” initiative, described by officials as the largest expansion of California’s park system in decades.

The planned Feather River Park would include areas such as Star Bend and Grays Beach, offering river access, trails, and recreational opportunities while also preserving floodplain habitat along the river.

State officials say the project aims to expand outdoor access in the Central Valley, a region historically underserved by state parks, while supporting conservation and environmental resilience.

Planning and land acquisition are now underway, though a timeline for development has not yet been announced.

Yuba County Supervisor Gary Bradford praised the announcement in a public post, calling the Feather River setback area “an amazing recreational asset” and a significant step toward expanding river access for residents and visitors.