Latest Park News
Temporary Closure of Link Piazzo Dog Park, May 1-26
The Link Piazzo Dog Park, located at Hidden Valley Regional Park, will be closed for annual turf maintenance from Monday, May 1st until reopening on Saturday morning, May 27, 2023. Please visit Dog Parks & Off-Leash Areas for alternate locations to take your pup.
Sheep Grazing in Arrowcreek begins May 15
Sheep will be grazing in the Arrowcreek area for the purpose of fuels reduction again this year beginning on Monday, May 15. They will start in the Thomas-Whites Creek area and then head north along the Sierra Front. They are anticipated to graze for approximately two months. The National Forest Service will have a Forest Order signed requiring dogs to be on leash in the area while the sheep are present to avoid potential conflict. Please be on the look-out for signs along the trailheads.
Turf field closures to occur at South Valleys Regional Park throughout spring of 2023
Sections of the lower soccer field at South Valleys Regional Park will be closed intermittently through May and June of this year to allow over-seeding to occur. Signage and barrier fencing will be placed on the field to indicate the closed area.
All visitors, including those with off-leash dogs using the field during off-leash hours (Monday-Friday 8:00am-1:00pm through October 31st) are asked to respect any closures and keep out of the areas being rehabilitated in order to give the efforts the best chance of success!
Closures at Park Facilities
Washoe County Park facilities inevitably experience closures, many of which are unexpected and unavoidable. We regret that this happens but do our best to post updates as soon as possible. Click here to read more about why these closures happen, and what you can do to stay in the know.
Off-Leash Dog areas have been approved for select parks!
After a one-year pilot program, the Washoe County Open Space and Regional Parks Commission approved utilizing certain athletic fields for off-leash dog use during certain non-team use times. The program consists of three designated soccer fields in three different parks - North Valleys Regional Park, Lazy 5 Regional Park, and South Valleys Regional Park. Check out Dog Parks & Off-Leash Areas for more details!
Construction may impact access at Swan Lake Nature Study Area
The boardwalk of the Swan Lake Nature Study Area was damaged during a high wind and wave event - knocking the boardwalk off the stabilizing piers. It has been closed since October of 2019 as a contractor makes repairs. During construction, a portion of the parking lot will be blocked off intermittently during this time. The pathway to the dock will be closed to the public until construction is complete. *Please note: Construction began in spring 2022 and will be ongoing for some time. Check back for updates.*
We appreciate your patience and look forward to sharing news from the Swan Lake Advisory Board on new and improved access.
Washoe County Parks has been designated Smoke & Vape-Free
Washoe County and the Washoe County Health District, City of Reno and City of Sparks have worked together on a regional effort among all jurisdictions to ensure our city and county parks are designated smoke and vape-free locations.
Taking into consideration the health of people, pets, wildlife, environmental impacts, maintenance, clean-up costs, and fire risk, residents and agencies have agreed that ensuring our parks are smoke and vape-free is in the best interest of our community.
Download the MOBILE version of the Galena Creek Nature Trail Guide
Explore the Nature Trail located at Galena Creek Regional Park while following along to our new mobile and interactive Galena Creek Nature Trail Guide, formatted for easier use from a mobile device.
'Birds of Davis Creek Regional Park' Guide
Pick up a Junior Ranger Activity Guide!
Looking for engaging, park-based activities to do with your children? Download our Junior Ranger Activity Guide or pick up a copy at your local park office. This free program can be done at your own pace, is flexible enough to appeal to a large age range, and can be completed at any combination of Washoe County parks. Visit our Become a Junior Ranger page for complete details.