Nevada City, Calif. – The City of Nevada City is seeking community input as part of its Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Element update to the City’s General Plan. Residents can participate through an in-person workshop on Sept. 16 and an online survey available through Oct. 7.

“Our General Plan update represents a critical opportunity for our community to define how Nevada City will preserve, enhance, and expand our outdoor spaces for current and future generations,” said City Manager Sean Grayson. “Receiving feedback is critical in our planning process, so we are encouraging our residents to participate.”

Understanding the General Plan’s Role

The General Plan serves as Nevada City’s comprehensive roadmap, guiding decisions about land use, infrastructure, public safety, environmental health, and overall community well-being.

California law requires all cities to maintain and periodically update their general plans, with community input playing a central role in the process.

The Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Element is one of seven required components of the General Plan. This element establishes the framework for how the City protects and improves outdoor spaces, supporting recreation opportunities, natural ecosystems, public health initiatives, and community resilience.

“The Open Space Element directly impacts quality of life for every Nevada City resident,” explained City Planner, Lisa McCandless. “It guides how we preserve natural areas, develop recreational facilities, create trail connections, and ensure equitable access to outdoor spaces throughout our community.”

Multiple Opportunities for Public Participation

We recognize that residents have varying schedules and different ways they prefer to provide input, so we designed a comprehensive public engagement process to accommodate different schedules and participation preferences:

In-Person Workshop:

  • Date: Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025
  • Time: 5:30 p.m.
  • Location: Nevada City Hall, 317 Broad St.
  • Format: Interactive discussion on local parks, trails, and natural habitat priorities

Online Survey:

  • Timeline: Available now through Oct. 7, 2025
  • Length: Approximately 30 questions, covering diverse topics
  • Access: NevadaCityCA.gov/OpenSpace

Community Input Will Shape Future Policies

Feedback gathered through these engagement opportunities will shape the development of values statements, goals, strategies, and policies governing recreation planning, natural resource protection, accessibility improvements, and community space management.

Next Steps and Timeline

Following the public input period on October 7, City Planning Team will analyze community feedback and incorporate findings into draft policy updates. Note, we plan to schedule additional public review opportunities prior to final adoption by the City Council.

Residents interested in staying informed about the General Plan update process can sign up for project updates at NevadaCityCA.gov/OpenSpace or contact the Planning Department at (530) 265-2496.