Quality of Life Indicators

miles of connected multi-use trails -- updated 6/3/11

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Think trails don’t have an economic impact in the Truckee Meadows? Read how property values rose in southwestern Ohio for every foot closer to scenic trails.

As the region continues to grow, connected multi-use trails will become more of a need. The Truckee Meadows area currently has access to 428.8 miles of multi-use trails, with 158 miles in Washoe County (638.3 miles in the wider area including portions of Lake Tahoe), although most of these trails are not yet networked.

More information on these trails and others is available at Truckee Meadows Trails Association. Nevada trail maps for hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoor trails can also be found at the Great Basin Institute and GreenTrailsMaps. The Great Basin Institute maintains the NevadaTrailMaps.com site with detailed information on the trails below, and many more across the state of Nevada and more.

Washoe County regional parks & open space -- updated 6/3/11

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Regional parklands add beauty to the area if properly maintained, then encouraging new economic development and tourism. Open space also absorbs air pollutants and runoff. In 1997, Washoe County had one maintenance person for every 20 acres of park, but those numbers have more than doubled. National standards at that time called for no more than 12 acres of developed park per maintenance staff person.

Adopt-a-park programs, and partnerships with parks and trails organizations and volunteers have helped to maintain our highly rated regional parks. The Washoe County regional parks and open space objectives below were reported in the Washoe County, fiscal year 2007-08 budget. The open space plan is being updated, including a more meaningful way to report on open space.

Possible new measures include the following, although these metrics are not necessarily actionable for improvement, nor do they provide an early warning system for our quality of life values, or consistent/reliable data.

• Acres of parks/greenspace & connectivity (excluding golf courses)
• Maintenance expenditures per acre of public lands
• Wildlife habitat
• Fish populations
• Acres restored
• Miles of connected multi-use trails
• Public funding dedicated for open spaces & trails

open space

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According to Washoe County's June 2007, Open Space and Natural Resource Plan Parks Inventory and Assessment, the County has adopted the following level of service standards for parks facilities:

• Neighborhood/community park (5 - 50 acres typical) 7 acres/1,000 persons
• Regional park (100 acre minimum size) 20 acres/1,000 persons

Counting parkland only (not open space, greenways, or special use facilities), the County’s plan reported over 2,800 acres of parkland, and the holdings of Reno and Sparks provide another 1,300 acres.

With the County’s 2004 population estimate, they concluded that the County and cities are together providing just under 11 acres of parkland per 1,000 persons--comparable to the level of service provided by other lower-density cities, including Denver, Phoenix (excluding two very large preserves from this city’s total), Houston, Tampa, and Atlanta as measured by the Urban Land Institute, 2000. When each jurisdiction’s open space and special use facilities are added, as well as the acres of Federal and state holdings, the County would far exceed most low-density cities in per capita open lands provided.

In summer 2006, the Washoe County Department of Regional Parks and Open Space conducted a survey of residents living within their service areas, as continued input to the updates of the district Master Plans that are presently in progress. A total of 494 completed questionnaires were received, with representation from all of the 13 districts. Results were tabulated in September 2006, with key open space findings summarized below:

• A high percentage of respondents (88%) reported participating in at least two hours or more of physical recreational activities per week--about twice the national average.
• 65% reported using a park or recreation facility at least one a week--again, a very high level of utilization.
• 66% reported being satisfied with the number and variety of recreational facilities in their area, and three-quarters were satisfied with the quality and maintenance of County facilities.
• Preservation of open areas to protect natural resources and wildlife habitat, was rated as the top priority for future funding and projects, by 75% of respondents. Providing a high level of maintenance for existing facilities was rated second (72% of respondents), followed by acquisition of parkland for passive recreation and trails (71%), an interconnected trails and bikeway system (68%), and riparian restoration projects to improve flood control and protect water quality (64%).
• 48% indicated that acquisition of parkland for active recreation, including playgrounds and ball fields, should be a high priority for future funding.

The top ten items that respondents expressed additional needs for included:

• Paved bike trails connecting neighborhoods (60%)
• Paved paths or sidewalks along streets (51%)
• Hiking trails over varied terrain, natural areas for wildlife viewing (49%)
• Nature study with signage (46%)
• Activities that promote neighborhood interaction (45%)
• Cultural events (41%)
• Access to rivers, lakes and ponds for fishing (40%)
• Activities for teens/teen center (37%)
• Historic/interpretive facilities and programs (36%)

Results from Washoe County’s survey thus suggest potential acquisition and development of selected sites that could fulfill open space resource protection values as well as provide for compatible recreation. The 14-year-old open space plan is currently in the process of a year-long update, including a more meaningful way to report on open space.

Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space Park District Master Plan Survey Results, September 2006