With spring officially here, the San Joaquin River Conservancy will cut the ribbon Saturday on its newest day park in Madera County.

The 22-acre Wildwood Native Park has been open since January, but the organization will now make it official with conservancy board members and Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno).

Easy River Access for Fishing, Kayaking, or Picnicking

Drivers heading north on Highway 41 can take the Rio Mesa exit to loop back around and find Wildwood just north of Jensen River Ranch and the former Cobb Ranch.

While the park’s paved trail may be short — a loop of only a couple hundred yards — the park does allow for easy access to the river. Visitors can back in a vehicle and with only a short walk, drop their kayak or canoe into the water.

Related Story: Don’t Listen to Critics. SJ River Conservancy Is Doing Its Job

Those wanting to stay shoreside can hike along the river to cast a fishing line or simply have a picnic and wait quietly in the hopes of spotting native or migratory birds.

The trailhead for the Van Buren Trail also begins at Wildwood.

The conservancy’s governing board had wanted to make easier access to the bathroom and clear up trail boundary markers before officially opening the park, according to the website.