TRUCKEE, Calif. – The Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District (TDRPD) is launching its first comprehensive master plan in over three decades to assess and enhance community recreational facilities and services. General Manager Sven Leff emphasizes the importance of community involvement.
“We haven’t had a comprehensive master plan since the late 1980s,” Leff said. “It’s time to take a fresh look at what our community truly needs.”
Master plans provide a strategic framework for decision-making, helping TDRPD identify gaps, evaluate facilities, and prioritize improvements.
“A comprehensive master plan looks at what services we provide, who we serve, and where we need to grow,” Leff said. “It helps us determine whether we should be fixing up what we have, building new facilities, or improving service delivery.”
The first phase focuses on gathering community input to ensure all residents have a voice.
“There are people in this community who don’t even realize we have a recreation center and pool,” Leff said. “We need to reach them.”
TDRPD has partnered with consulting firm Design Workshop to conduct a statistically valid survey launching in early April. Initially sent to a randomized sample, it will later be open to the broader public through social media, newspaper ads, posters, and school flyers.
“Statistically valid means we get a mathematical representation of our community’s priorities,” Leff explained. “It prevents ballot stuffing or skewed responses from only the most vocal groups.”
The survey will cover:
- Awareness of TDRPD facilities and programs
- Satisfaction with current services
- Preferred communication methods
- Investment priorities, including maintenance, new construction, and staffing
- Ranking of facility needs, from dog parks to performing arts spaces
“One question, for example, asks: If you had $100, how would you distribute it between fixing up existing facilities, building new ones, hiring more staff, or other priorities?” Leff said.
TDRPD is coordinating with local entities such as the Town of Truckee, Truckee Tahoe School District, Nevada County, and Truckee Sanitary District.
“For example, we have this joint use agreement with the school district,” Leff said. “Let’s see if our survey supports and agrees with the outcome of their recent facilities master planning work or if there are differences, and let’s see how we might partner in implementation.”
The district is also working with land management entities to align planning efforts. Funding for improvements could come from reorganized resources, grants, bond measures, or TDRPD’s nonprofit foundation, established last year for fundraising.
Leff emphasized that the goal is an actionable plan, not one that “sits on a shelf.”
“This is about stopping for a moment and evaluating which direction we want to take,” he said.
Community feedback has already highlighted the need for more athletic fields, a dedicated indoor recreation facility, expanded trails, and an accessible playground.
Other suggestions include pickleball courts, enhanced fly fishing access, and improved neighborhood parks. A two-and-a-half-acre parcel near Coldstream has been earmarked for potential park development, with the master plan guiding its best use.
Leff acknowledged diverse resident perspectives, whether personal interests, children’s needs, or Truckee’s broader recreational future.
A draft plan with recommendations will be released later this year for public discussion before finalization.
“We’re excited to hear what this community in 2025 feels like it should be like,” Leff said. “This is a big undertaking, and I can’t wait to see where it leads.”
TDRPD urges residents to participate in the survey and help shape Truckee’s recreational future. More details on survey distribution and public engagement opportunities will be announced in the coming weeks.
Written by Zoe Meyer for the Sierra Sun
Leave a Reply