Commission adopts revised Rancho San Rafael master plan after balloon-race concerns; plan adds 400 flex parking spaces and tree-consultation language

The Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission adopted a revised Rancho San Rafael Regional Park master plan on Jan. 22, 2025, adding 400 non-paved flex parking stalls in the park's north parking zone and new language requiring consultation with the Great Reno Balloon Race about tree locations and species in pasture and disc-golf areas.

Famerie Picar, the county's park planner, told the commission the revisions were minor and prompted by concerns the Great Reno Balloon Race raised after the plan was initially adopted in November 2024. The county said stakeholder and public outreach for the master plan had been robust and extended across two phases, including group and one-on-one meetings with affected stakeholders.

"One of the key drivers ... is our stakeholder and public outreach," Picar said, describing the park's heavy use and frequent large events. He said the revisions were intended to preserve event safety, public access and the park's ability to host regional events.

Why it matters: Rancho San Rafael is one of the county's largest and most heavily used parks. The master plan guides decades of potential development, including parking, amphitheater and recreation-area changes that affect large annual events such as the Great Reno Balloon Race.

The Balloon Race raised specific concerns about loss of the northeast parking area historically used for handicap and near-field access during early-morning launches, and about tree plantings that could create hazards for balloon pilots. Nancy Gilbert, a board member for the Great Reno Balloon Race, said the group believed it had secured certain parking in stakeholder meetings and was surprised to see that area removed in a later public version.

"When we went to a public meeting ... that area was then removed," Gilbert said, adding the group photographed what it had been told and later saw a different public map. Pete Copeland, executive director of the Great Reno Balloon Race, said the organization's goal was compromise and safe operations: "We wanted to compromise on this plan and we knew that if we dug our heels in, we would never win," he said.

Commissioners and staff discussed the plan's parking diagrams in detail and reviewed the public survey results Picar summarized: 61 percent of respondents viewed most of the park as accessible but 35 percent requested improvements such as signage, restrooms, lighting and pedestrian crossings. The revised event-parking diagram preserves paved parking areas, adds the 400 flex spaces in a designated north zone and, according to staff, produces a net increase of 103 parking stalls over the park's current capacity once the full plan is implemented.

Commissioner Timothy Dake moved to adopt the revisions; the motion was seconded and passed on an affirmative vote of commissioners in attendance. Several commissioners criticized how the Balloon Race and the commission reached the post-adoption dispute, noting miscommunications between stakeholders and staff in the timeline that led to the additional revisions and later public controversy.

Public comment included support from Arboretum stakeholders and statements from the Great Reno Balloon Race describing their safety and parking concerns. Rod Dimmitt of the May Arboretum Society told commissioners the society endorsed the revised plan and highlighted a proposed two-and-a-half acre cactus and succulent garden included in the master plan.

Ending: Commissioners adopted the revised master plan with the two specific changes: 400 added flex parking spaces in the north parking zone and added implementation-matrix language requiring the county to consult with the Great Reno Balloon Race about tree placement and species in the pasture and disc-golf areas. Staff and stakeholders said they will continue to coordinate on detailed implementation designs and future permits.