The Los Angeles Post

California kicks off State Parks Week as new State Park opens in Central Valley

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What you need to know: Dos Rios, California’s first new State Park in a decade, opens to the public today. The park is one of several projects that support California’s new nature-based solutions targets, which strategically harness the equivalent of more than half of the state’s land to fight the climate crisis.
SACRAMENTO  — As California’s newest State Park, Dos Rios, officially opens to the public today, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation declaring June 12-16, 2024 as California State Parks Week. Located in the San Joaquin Valley outside of Modesto, Dos Rios is the first new State Park since 2014.

“Our state parks are a point of pride and inspiration for Californians and visitors from around the world. Today, we celebrate the opening of Dos Rios – our first new State Park in a decade – which creates new outdoor recreation opportunities for Central Valley communities, provides habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife, and advances the state’s innovative efforts to combat the climate crisis using nature-based solutions.” 

Governor Gavin Newsom
The Governor and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom helped dedicate Dos Rios on Earth Day earlier this year.

“The Central Valley – the beating heart of our state’s agriculture sector – is now home to California’s first new State Park in nearly a decade. Dos Rios is an example of the work we’re doing to heal our environment through land restoration and protection of the endangered species who call it home while bringing to the local community the undeniable benefits of time spent in nature.”

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom 
Governor Newsom at Dos Rios in April
First Partner Siebel Newsom at Dos Rios in April
The opening of Dos Rios today coincides with the third annual State Parks Week, which celebrates the state park system’s 280 destinations and highlights the importance of outdoor access to the health and well-being of our communities.
California State Parks Week Proclamation →
The approximately 1,600-acre Dos Rios property is the largest public-private floodplain restoration project in California to restore habitat for threatened and endangered wildlife at the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers. This is one of several projects across the state that will help California achieve its historic nature-based solutions targets announced earlier this year.
Images from Dos Rios, the newest State Park
More information on visiting Dos Rios can be found here.

A complete list of State Parks Week events and how to participate is available at CAStateParksWeek.org.