Washoe County commission recommends agreement to allow nonmotorized public access from ArrowCreek to county open space

The Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission voted Sept. 28 to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners approve an agreement allowing the Arrow Creek Homeowners Association (HOA) to construct and maintain designated nonmotorized access points from the Arrow Creek subdivision onto adjacent county open space.

The agreement would permit five identified access locations — at the ends of Kachina Court, Copper Cloud Drive, Crescent Moon Court, High Vista Drive and Kesta Court — and makes the HOA responsible for design, construction and ongoing maintenance of amenities at those access points. Joanne Loudon, natural resource planning coordinator, told commissioners that “the Arrow Creek HOA would have several responsibilities. The first and most important is that they will be consulting with county staff and obtaining written approval for all the open access point locations and also for all the proposed amenities.”

The nut graf: the proposal is intended to formalize informal user paths between Arrow Creek and surrounding public lands, provide signage and basic infrastructure, and set a framework for future trail connections while keeping the county’s open-space protections in place.

Under the draft agreement the HOA would also control signage and messaging installed on HOA property and would agree to discourage motorized access and street parking through CC&Rs and physical barriers such as boulders or fencing. Loudon said the county will monitor impacts on social trails, unauthorized motorized use, parking and trash and may recommend additional mitigations if impacts arise. Eric Crump, director of Washoe County Community Services, confirmed the county’s existing park code permitting Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on multiuse paths (Class 3 are not allowed) will govern what classes of e-bikes are permitted on county open space.

Commissioner Sean Hill moved the recommendation and Commissioner Miles Gertler proposed an amendment during debate to clarify the motion covers both Arrow Creek residents and nonresidents. Commissioner Kevin Joel announced he would abstain. Chair Jared Jones called the amended motion and commissioners signaled their approval; the motion carried.

Commissioners and county staff noted several practical points: county staff time for monitoring will be “as available,” initial improvements will likely be signage, bike racks and dog-waste stations, and trail staff will evaluate converting nearby informal social trails to official system trails with minor reroutes and sustainability improvements. Julie Conway, an Arrow Creek resident and chair of the subdivision’s volunteer landscape and trails committee, said residents already allow pedestrian and bicycle access through the gate after visitors check in, and she urged the commission to move forward to formalize connections.

The commission’s recommendation directs the Community Services Department director to execute the agreement and any temporary construction easements necessary for improvements. The recommendation will go to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.

The commission did not set construction timelines in the meeting; the HOA must obtain county approval of locations and sign messaging before work begins.