Our Open Spaces Need You

Something big is happening—and not in a good way. Across the United States, parks, trails, and open spaces are facing a serious funding crisis. We’re seeing firsthand how these cuts are affecting the places we all love and rely on. Now more than ever, we need our community to step up and help protect the natural spaces that make northern Nevada so special.

What’s Going On?

In early 2025, over 3,000 federal employees working in environmental and park services were laid off. Just last week, 85% of the Corporation for National and Community Service (more commonly known as the AmeriCorps agency) placed 85% of its federal staff on administrative leave and sent home all AmeriCorps NCCC members. These are the people responsible for protecting our public lands and maintaining the trails and open spaces we all enjoy. On top of that, more than $210 million was slashed from the National Park Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency lost $1.7 billion in grant funding. 

While this is tremendously upsetting, there’s another issue impacting our ability to protect and enhance our open spaces: only 3% of all charitable donations in the U.S. go to environmental causes. That’s a small slice for something that impacts every one of us—clean air, safe water, and the beautiful outdoor spaces that define life in Washoe County.

Why This Matters for Truckee Meadows

At the Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation, we’re working hard to fill the gaps left by these cuts. Our mission is to protect and enhance local parks and open spaces while inspiring the next generation through hands-on environmental education.

And honestly, we can’t do it without you. We’re calling on our community to come together and support our environmental education programs, restore eroded trails, and revegetate our open spaces. 

The Time to Act Is Now

Our parks don’t have a pause button. They need protection, restoration, and love—right now. Every donation you make helps ensure our local parks stay open, thriving, and accessible for everyone in our community, including wildlife. 

Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation relies on our AmeriCorps Members to run our youth education programs, host accessible hikes throughout the region, and support our development and communication teams. Please, write to your representatives and express the importance of AmeriCorps to our community. Tell your Members of Congress to Protect AmeriCorps! - Voices for National Service.

Together, we can weather this crisis and come out stronger on the other side.

Make your impact today. Let’s keep the Truckee Meadows green, growing, and full of life. Donate today at https://www.tmparksfoundation.org/donatespring2025

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About the Author:

Claire joined the Parks Foundation team in 2023. Claire grew up in Seattle, Washington but has since moved around the United States. She received her bachelor's in Geology with GIS and statistics minors from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. After school, Claire moved to Louisiana to do statistical machine learning and GIS analysis for the U.S. Geological Survey. Following this position, she found her way back to the west and settled in Incline Village, Nevada where she currently lives. In her freet ime, she can be found climbing peaks throughout the Sierra Nevada and making art.