By Laura Petersen, Nevada County public information contractor

Outdoor lovers have two new recreation opportunities this summer, thanks to collaboration and exciting developments with Nevada County’s community partners. 

About five miles outside of Nevada City, near a congested intersection on Highway 20, mountain bicyclists and hikers now have safer access to a network of trails via a new shaded public parking area adjacent to Nevada County Consolidated Fire District’s Station 82 located at 18969 Scotts Flat Road. 

That’s good news for Mitch Youngblood who has been coming up from Auburn with a friend from Yuba City twice a week in the summer months for the past decade to ride the forested Pioneer Trail and escape the heat of the valley. He says the extra parking is needed for the trail system that has become a destination for mountain bicyclists. 

“Sometimes everything is full. If it’s a weekend or holiday, forget it,” he said. 

Nevada County provided funding for the project’s development and the Fire District led the project planning and construction, aligning with the County’s vision of enhancing outdoor recreation for residents and visitors. The total cost of the project was $77,500, made possible by the Nevada County’s Outdoor Visitor Safety Fund Grant. 

"Station 82 is a big win for safety, access and community. We were glad to be able to use federal pandemic dollars from our Outdoor Visitor Safety Fund to not only aid the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District but to improve safety for trail users and residents and revitalize the Highway 20 corridor," said District 1 County Supervisor Heidi Hall. 

“This project reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting safe recreation and reducing hazards for both the community and first responders. The goal of this collaboration is to maximize the use of fire district-owned property in a way that provides added value to taxpayers while supporting recreational activities in the region," said Fire Chief Jason Robitaille.

The project includes trailhead signage and convenient, safe access to trails and local businesses such as the Harmony Ridge Market, 5 Mile House Restaurant and a bike shop known as Outpost Demo Center. Signage is expected to be complete in the next four months. 

The increased popularity of paths such as Scotts Flat Trail, Hoot Trail and Pioneer Trail in recent years has led to a dangerous situation with more cyclists and pedestrians crossing the path of speeding motorists traveling on Highway 20. 

“The trailhead has provided a much-needed safe and accessible parking area for local trail users, reducing unsafe roadside parking along state Highway 20. This has improved visibility for drivers and reduced the parking congestions for businesses near Station 82,” said Fire Chief Robitaille. 

Besides promoting public safety and community well-being by enhancing traffic flow, providing safer off-highway parking and creating clear entry points to an existing trail network, the design also allows for emergency vehicle access and the possibility to phase in future amenities.

The new parking is well timed. This month, Tahoe National Forest announced the completion and opening of 1.2 miles of Pioneer Trail reroutes east of White Cloud campground, restoring connectivity to 15 miles of the Pioneer Trail between Lowell Hill and Harmony Ridge Market. The multi-use, non-motorized, cross country trail is an important section of the future Pines to Mines Trail that will one day connect the towns of Nevada City and Truckee.  

 New Pickleball Courts in Penn Valley 

At Western Gateway Park in Penn Valley, recreationists are enjoying new pickleball courts thanks to a cooperative community effort to transform dilapidated tennis courts overgrown with weeds and crevices.

While the county has supported the park in the past through a loan to cash flow projects, the pickleball courts became a reality because of a grassroots effort led by 450 members of the Grass Valley Pickleball Club. The club donated $65,000 in cash and $100,000 of in-kind labor, with consent from the park, said Victor Simon, a USA Pickleball ambassador and co-founder of the Grass Valley Pickleball Club. 

“This is a good thing for Western Gateway Park and local businesses. This is all revenue to the little town of Penn Valley,” said Simon. 

In 2022, Nevada County supervisors made recreation a board objective and in June 2024 adopted a comprehensive and strategic vision known as the Recreation and Resiliency Master Plan – designed to enhance and expand recreation opportunities for residents and visitors. At the same time, a collaborative consortium was formed known as the Recreation Coalition. 

 The recreation coalition is a network of local parks, recreation providers, public land managers, community health and safety professionals, non-profits and agencies at the local, regional, state and federal levels. The coalition collaborates to advance the vision outlined in the County’s Recreation and Resiliency Master Plan, supporting initiatives such as the annual Recreation Fair, Wayfinding Signage, Recreation Outposts, and the development of a recreation and resiliency hub network, among others.

“Through the Recreation Coalition, the County plays a convening role—bringing together stakeholders to align resources, share knowledge and support projects that strengthen recreation access and community well-being,” said Shavati Karki-Pearl, senior administrative analyst and head of the county’s recreation program.

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* A new parking area at the corner of Scotts Flat Road and Highway 20 is reducing illegal parking and provides safer access to trails. Photo by Laura Petersen

*An aerial shot of new pickleball courts at Western Gateway Park. Photo by Ed Elefante