Washoe County and Reno advance regional parks-district service plan; commissioners pledge funding

The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners voted on June 10 to proceed with a service plan to study formation of a regional parks district for the Truckee Meadows area, advancing a multi-jurisdictional effort that the city of Reno approved unanimously last week.

Commissioner Alexis Garcia, a long-time sponsor of the initiative, outlined contributions that will fund the planning work. She told the board the city of Reno will contribute $63,550 and that Washoe County will put up an initial allocation that includes $20,000 from Commissioner Garcia’s discretionary funds; the Reno Redevelopment Agency also committed funding. The board approved the item on the consent agenda as part of a package of items and later took a block vote that included the service-plan item.

Speakers from regional conservation and parks groups urged the board to back the study. Truckee Meadows Trails, Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation and One Truckee River told commissioners the plan could provide coordinated funding and staffing for parks, trails, open space and river stewardship. "This service plan will inform the electeds and stakeholders about how best to work together to manage and take care of our public parks and open spaces," Danielle Henderson of the Truckee River Flood Management Authority said.

Commissioners said the study is meant to provide a structure and financial analysis so local governments can assess whether a formal district is feasible and how governance and revenue would work. The board did not adopt a final governance plan at the meeting; the service plan will return to elected bodies for later decisions.

No formal objections were raised at the July 10 meeting; the motion to include the service-plan work in the county process passed as part of the consent and block votes later in the day.