December 2024
News From the Trail

Tailwinds Stories

My time as Board Chair ends in December with Chris Askin taking over the position. It’s been a wild two years. We’ve kept Janet’s vision in our decisions, and I am confident we are heading down the right path! I will still be involved with the board as past president and marketing chairperson.

Here are some of our accomplishments in 2024:  

We’ve secured funding for a feasibility study to help plot the trail’s two sections not yet completed, from Sparks to Mustang and USA Parkway to Fernley/Pyramid Lake portion of the TPT. The grant is over $300,000 and the feasibility study will take approximately 18-24 months to complete. We are working with NDOT on this project. The grant is to determine an alternative transportation corridor from Sparks to TRIC and beyond.

Major trail repair has happened in the canyon, especially where erosion has damaged the trail. We identified 9 projects and 6 have been completed. We are grateful for Richard May and his dedication to the trail. He has been building trail for probably 20 years. Thank you for the donations that went to funding these repairs.

We’ve had many people volunteering in 2024. Thank you to all the trail workers and trail adopters who spent days on the trail. The TPT is in great shape this year, as trail maintenance has been a major focus this year. They have cut down trees, pruned back brush, cut grasses, and raked. We also greatly appreciate the bakers who helped with the cookie ride and other volunteers working at outreach events throughout the year.

The plaque in memory of Janet was dedicated at Fleish Bridge. I hope you have had the opportunity to sit on the bench nearby and relax hearing the rushing water. It’s easy to see why this spot meant so much to Janet and Mike.

We’re exploring the possibility of putting in a dirt trail from Mayberry Park to Crystal Peak Park in Verdi. It would be an alternate route. Many meetings and exploratory field trips have already taken place.  

There is a beautiful mural on our TPT conex container. If you have not seen it, it’s near the tennis courts on Plumas Street. Previous to the mural, the conex was “tagged” so we decided to do something amazing. Thank you to our artist, Kendel Leslie, who painted this amazing image that captures the TPT in a unique way.  

Our board has new members and remains very much a working board. Thank you, Christina Thayer and Steve Randall, for joining us.

Thank you to all the amazing donors whose financial support is necessary to maintain the TPT. The trail is in great condition because we were able to pay a contractor to do rock work where needed.  

A big hug goes to all of our volunteers, whether you were working on the trail or helping at an event. I am not sure how to express my gratitude to all of you. Your legacy will be part of the TPT and I hope that means as much to you as it does to me!

A big shout-out to the board, staff, and advisory members. We would be lost in the woods without you.

 ~ Mary Beth Roselli, Chair of the TPT Board

A Note from Chris Askin, Incoming Board Chair

This January, I’ll move from Vice Chair to Chair, succeeding Mary Beth Roselli who has steered the TPT so well since Janet’s passing. Mary Beth’s leadership of a board of long-time and new volunteers resulted in great success on trail repairs and improvements, increasing trail users, a growing endowment, fantastic communications, and much more. There are lots of balls in the air but lots of hands to help.

Perhaps the biggest project is embarking on a partnership with NDOT on a feasibility study on the remaining incomplete trail sections between Sparks and Wadsworth. But there are many other important projects for trail improvements and new trail sections to improve user experience, to increase trail use, and to strengthen the organization. Together, a revitalized, strengthened board and two outstanding staff will be focused on our newly developed strategic plan. It’s my honor to help lead the TPT as we move forward.

I personally became involved with the TPT (Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway then) in 2006. I had met Janet through her involvement leading a committee charged with making grants to improve the Truckee River, funded by the newly formed TMWA. She told me about her vision, and coincidentally, I had been on many future sections. Apparently not many people had traversed the canyon at that time. I live in Truckee/Glenshire but worked in Reno at the time and rode my mountain bike to and from work for exercise and fun, and that took me right through the narrow part of the canyon. I was CEO at the Community Foundation and Janet and I immediately hit it off. I helped behind the scenes with connections and fundraising. In 2010, I did the full ride from Tahoe City to Pyramid Lake, with Janet connecting me with a guy from Fernley who knew the route through the reservation. Janet implored me not to trespass so as not to exacerbate sensitivities to the TPT, so I rode on the freeway from Sparks to Wadsworth. It took me just under 11 hours. In August of 2017, I worked with Janet as she set up the endowment that is now providing a substantial income stream enabling us to increase our investment in completion and improvement of the TPT.

We have an amazing team of long-time and newer board and volunteer leadership. Our focus is not just about finishing the trail, but taking on big projects, every year, to make noticeable improvements to the trail and user experiences. We have a long way to go, but thanks to you and other supporters, we’re well on our way. If you’d like to get more involved as a volunteer or if you wish to contribute to support our work, a specific project, or the endowment, please let me know.  caskin@tptrail.org

 ~ Chris Askin, Upcoming Chair of the TPT Board 2025

2nd Annual TPT Photo Contest

 ~ Photo by Dominique Tenford

Thank you to all who sent in their photos taken along the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail for our friendly competition. I love taking photos and it’s always fun to see how others view a scene differently. It helps to improve your photography skills and to see things through a new perspective.

The Board will vote at our December meeting, and we will unveil the results shortly after that. Winners will be contacted via email, and the winning photos will also be posted on our Facebook page.

And Then There Were Lights!

Truckee River Path Lighting Project

The Reno City Council voted last week to install bell-style lighting along the Truckee River Path/Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. They also awarded the contract for the installation to Titan Electrical Contracting. Many citizens spoke in support of the plan, including users of the trail, staff from the Reno Parks and Rec department, One Truckee River’s Iris Jehle-Peppard, and several of us from the TPT Board showed support for the project. They passed the plan unanimously. It supports the Truckee River Vision Plan, and it enhances public safety for users, first responders, and the rangers who monitor the trail. It provides the ability to use the trail during the evening and strengthens the infrastructure along the River Path.  

Funding for this project is from the American Rescue Plan Act. This project was identified through the Truckee River Vision Plan.

https://berrydunn.mysocialpinpoint.com/truckee-river-vision-plan

One of the major considerations in choosing the lights is that they need to be Dark Sky Certified. They must shine downward, and the lights need to be a warm color with limited circumference on the ground.  

Bell-styled lights will be installed from Booth Street to Ralston Drive and east of Museum Drive to the pedestal bridge at John Champion Park. They are able to reuse the infrastructure that exists but needs repair. Solar lights will be installed from east of John Champion Bridge through Fisherman’s Park. There is no infrastructure there and the tree canopy is minimal.    

Thank you, City of Reno! This reinforces our city’s commitment to making a safe and welcoming trail that follows the Truckee River. We are one of the fortunate cities that has such a resource right in the heart of our downtown. Let’s keep our River safe for all to use, healthy, and vibrant.  

TPT Recognized for 100% Board Giving

The TPT Board of Directors recently received recognition for 100% Board Giving from the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada for the 15th year in a row! In addition to countless volunteer hours, all TPT Board members make a personal financial contribution each year. Please join them and make your gift now!

The Board of the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail, our advisors, volunteers and staff would like to thank you for your continuing support throughout the year and want to wish you happy holidays and best wishes for the new year!