During a community workshop held on Aug. 13 at the Yuba County Government Center, residents were invited to provide feedback on how they would like to see the property used. Photo courtesy of California State Parks 

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) – Community members are calling for a mix of trails, river recreation, hunting, fishing and wildlife opportunities as California State Parks begins shaping the future of the proposed Feather River Park.

During a community workshop held on Aug. 13 at the Yuba County Government Center, residents were invited to provide feedback on how they would like to see the property used while also raising concerns about traffic, public safety, illegal dumping and the protection of wildlife habitat and levees.

According to California State Parks Information Officer Angelica De La Peña, some of the recreational activities receiving the most interest were walking, hiking and running, along with hunting, biking, fishing, wildlife viewing, off-highway vehicle recreation and boating. The workshop was part of the State Parks Forward initiative and included a presentation on the proposed park, a question-and-answer session and interactive boards allowing residents to identify the activities and programs they would like to see incorporated into the site.

However, participants also raised questions about what increased visitation could mean for the surrounding area. Among the concerns were traffic and circulation on existing roads, impacts to neighboring properties and whether road or infrastructure improvements would be necessary to provide safe access to the park.

Public safety and maintenance were also recurring themes. Residents cited unauthorized vehicle use, vandalism, stolen vehicles and illegal dumping as concerns, while also emphasizing the importance of protecting levees within the area. Participants additionally questioned how recreational development would be balanced with existing wildlife areas and conservation easements and whether current access to the Feather River, including fishing access, would remain available.

The public input will help State Parks identify broader priorities for the property, but a final design for Feather River Park is still years away. Feedback collected through the workshop, an online survey and additional outreach will be incorporated into a Visioning Report scheduled to be developed in 2026 and delivered to the Governor’s Office.

According to De La Peña, that feedback will also help guide later decisions involving the park’s classification, permitted recreational uses, long-term land-use planning and eventual design. Following the visioning process, State Parks will continue working toward acquiring the property. The timeline will depend on negotiations and coordination with current property owners. Once the property is acquired, short-term planning is expected to focus on transitioning the site while maintaining consistent public access.

More extensive long-term planning is expected to begin in 2028, when State Parks will begin addressing park classification, specific activities and infrastructure needs in greater detail. Residents will have another opportunity to weigh in before then. State Parks’ online Feather River Park visioning survey will remain open through Sept. 4.