Having the San Joaquin out of sight and mind is one of Fresno’s tragic realities. … But hopefully that will change soon. … The San Joaquin River Conservancy is a state agency whose mission is to create a 22-mile-long parkway in the floodplain, from Friant Dam northeast of Fresno to Highway 99. The river is to be kept in a natural state, but a trail would be constructed and access points would be made along the river. Work on creating the parkway is ongoing, but slow. … It is time, however, for the San Joaquin River to be a more recognized fact of life in Fresno. City leaders, if you want new energy in Fresno, prioritize the river and its opportunities.
–Written by Tad Weber, opinion writer for The Fresno Bee.