FRESNO, Calif.—California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently unveiled an initiative to add three new state parks in California’s Central Valley and expand existing parks by 30,000 acres by the end of the decade, marking the largest expansion of the state parks system in decades.
The State Parks Forward initiative aims to streamline park acquisition and planning while increasing outdoor access in underserved communities. The additions would bring California’s number of state parks to 283—the most of any state in the nation.
The announcement comes two years after the dedication of Dos Rios, California’s first new state park in a decade.
“Today, through the State Parks Forward initiative, we’re expanding our parks system with three new state parks, creating new outdoor recreation opportunities for Central Valley communities, deepening our conservation commitments, and preserving our lands for generations of Californians to come,” Newsom says.
The expansion is tied to Senate Bill 630 and Assembly Bill 679, signed into law last year, which will help preserve an additional 30,000 acres of land by 2030.
According to California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, the expansion reflects the state’s broader conservation efforts. “California’s state parks are nothing short of iconic—with locations like Big Sur, Southern California beaches, and the world’s tallest trees—but our state has even more to offer,” Crowfoot says. “Now through State Parks Forward, we’re bringing more parks to more places—particularly in the Central Valley, a beautiful region that has too often been overlooked for new parks—while at the same time making critical progress to conserve 30% of our lands by 2030.”
Armando Quintero, California State Parks director, adds, “The bold vision laid out today by Gov. Newsom sets California on a path to not just grow the State Park System but also provide more access and instill a greater connection and sense of pride for all Californians in their state parks.”
The announcement builds on several environmental initiatives launched during the Newsom administration, including the state’s 30×30 conservation effort, which seeks to conserve 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. More than 2.5 million acres of land and water have been conserved under the program during the last three years.
The administration also highlighted expanded free-access programs, including the Golden Bear Pass, the California State Park Adventure Pass for fourth graders, and the California State Library Parks Pass. More than 144,000 Californians have received Golden Bear passes since the program began, according to state officials.
California’s state parks system includes more than 340 miles of coastline, 5,200 miles of trails, and 15,000 campsites, along with forests, beaches, rivers, deserts, and historic sites throughout the state.
