What's at stake?
Ball Ranch, a conservation area in the San Joaquin River Parkway, opened on Friday, offering trails, fishing ponds and 358 acres of nature for the public.
Ball Ranch, a new conservation area and trail, held its official opening to the public on Friday following closures and delays in opening.
Located next to Sumner Peck Ranch by Old Friant Road, the 358-acre area will be open seven days a week with the following seasonal hours of operation:
- 6 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. during January, February, March, October, November, and December
- 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. during April and September
- 6 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. during May-August
U.S. Rep. Jim Costa and Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula joined the opening ceremony. Both elected leaders had a hand in helping the San Joaquin River Parkway, with Costa helping author the original 1992 bill establishing the conservancy and Arambula securing funding for the parkway in 2021.
“This is a real milestone that we are recognizing here,” Costa said, adding “the San Joaquin River is a system that is irreplaceable; it’s the crown jewel of our Valley.”
Admission into the area is free and visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle and explore the trails. Parking is available inside the trailhead and a visitor center offers snacks and tackle for fishing in the nearby pond.
“We are building upon a legacy of leadership,” Arambula said, adding “I’m grateful that the people of the State of California have supported Prop 4, which has a line item for the San Joaquin River, which will allow us to increase access.”
Gloria Sandoval, the deputy secretary for access for the California Natural Resources Agency, said the opening on Ball Ranch will provide visitors a natural space while conserving the area for generations to come.
“Spending time in the outdoors is good for our mental, physical and social well-being; these trees that you find in this park and across all of our parks across our [state] help lessen the impacts of climate change,” Sandoval said.
Ledger Island, a property of the parkway near the bend of the river, sits adjacent to Ball Ranch, but is currently not accessible because a bridge that connects the two areas has raised safety concerns. This bridge is the next area of focus for the parkway.
“If you’d like to help us in that effort, I think we’re going to start having meetings soon,” said Sharon Weaver, executive director of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust.
“I invite you to help us move that project forward; hopefully, in a few years, maybe our next press conference will be the ribbon cutting for that bridge.”
