Sycamore Island, a 600-acre property on the banks of the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley, is a little pocket of nature in the middle of a metropolis. … Last week, Sycamore Island became part of California’s largest expansion to its state park system in decades. On Earth Day, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled plans for three new California state parks and announced the expansion of several more. The state parks expansion touches the redwoods, the Sierra Nevada, the Pacific Coast and the Central Valley. … The San Joaquin River Parkway, including Sycamore Island, is a proposed state park that would consist of 874 acres of riverfront property and will provide river access and recreation opportunities for communities in Fresno and Madera. 

Other river recreation news:

• The Modesto Bee (Calif.): RecFest returns to Tuolumne River in Modesto. Free paddling, bicycling and more