LAS VEGAS, NV — Nevada’s public lands advocates, elected officials, and local communities will unite to celebrate the 9th Annual Nevada Public Lands Day, a day dedicated to protecting and expanding access to our state’s natural treasures for all Nevadans. This vibrant, block-party-style event will feature hands-on activities and a press conference where leaders will discuss the critical importance of safeguarding Nevada’s public lands and ensuring everyone, regardless of zip code, can experience the beauty of our shared landscapes.
Congresswoman Dina Titus, Congressional District 1, issued the following statement:
“Public lands are central to our national heritage. They are our common ground as Americans, owned by the people and preserved for the future. They include places that represent our culture and history, are engines for rural and national economies, and are hallowed ground for tribes. But our public lands are under assault by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress. I worked across the aisle earlier this year to defeat efforts to sell off these treasured lands in Nevada to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Now, more than ever, it is critical for us to stand together to protect these lands for our children and generations to come.”
Assemblymember Cinthia Zermeño Moore, Nevada Assembly District 11, issued the following statement:
“Nevada’s public lands hold our history, our survival, and our hope for the future. For too long, decisions about these places ignored the voices of our Black and Brown siblings and other marginalized, underserved communities. Today, we celebrate because that is changing. Nevada Public Lands Day proves that protecting open space is not just conservation; it is justice, equity, and belonging. When every community has power and voice in shaping these lands, we build a Nevada where everyone can thrive.”
Barbara Hartzell, Executive Director of Native Voters Alliance Nevada, issued the following statement:
“Nevada Public Lands Day shows what happens when communities unite to protect what matters. For nine years, we’ve proven that people power can protect rivers, mountains, and deserts — and we are just getting started. We celebrate because we have fought to get here, and we fight because these lands, waters, and stories deserve to be here for the next generation. We will protect them, so our grandchildren inherit a homeland, not a memory.”
Brian Harris, Organizing Manager of Institute for a Progressive Nevada, issued the following statement:
“Our public lands are part of who we are as Nevadans. For nine years, we have come together to celebrate them and stand in solidarity with them. As a father, I see how much these places mean to the next generation. My son loves being outside, running around, exploring, and learning from outdoor experiences. Protecting our public lands means ensuring that he, and every child in Nevada, can grow up with the same opportunities to hike, play, camp, and fully enjoy the great outdoors. This is about our public lands, but it is also about our community, our culture, and the legacy we leave behind.”
Bertha Gutierrez, Nevada-based Program Director of Conservation Lands Foundation, issued the following statement:
“Public lands are an essential part of Nevada’s identity, providing immeasurable value to our communities by supporting unparalleled opportunities for recreation and connection with nature while boosting local economies. We’re proud to join fellow Nevadans in celebrating Nevada Public Lands Day and reflecting on the accomplishments we can continue to achieve through collaboration and persistence.
“Nevada’s public lands depend on our continued advocacy and care, especially in times when these lands face mounting pressures and threats. Nevada Public Lands Day is a call to action and our renewed commitment to keeping public lands in public hands to ensure that future generations will inherit the same wonder, joy, and quality of life that Nevada’s lands and waters offer us today.”
Joseph Kennedy, Executive Director of Get Outdoors Nevada, issued the following statement:
“Nevada’s public spaces are essential to who we are and how we thrive. Get Outdoors Nevada works so that every Nevadan, regardless of where they live or how they grew up, can experience and protect our shared lands. Today, we celebrate what is possible when communities connect with nature, and we commit to keeping these places open, healthy, and welcoming. Public lands belong to everyone, and true access and stewardship are acts of justice we advance every day.”
Eric Jeng, Executive Director of One APIA Nevada, issued the following statement:
“Public lands are a shared inheritance that must be safeguarded from privatization and harmful legislation. Debates in Congress over land sell-offs earlier this year reminded us that these spaces are never guaranteed, they remain only when communities stand to defend them. Preserving public lands means honoring their history and the tribal stewardship that has cared for them for generations. On National Public Lands Day, as we celebrate these treasures, we must ensure they remain places of heritage and recreation—and, most importantly, always in the hands of the people.”
Jose Witt, Nevada State Director of The Wilderness Society, issued the following statement:
“At this perilous time when there are so many efforts to sell off our shared public lands for development and resource extraction, National Public Lands Day is a time to remember and celebrate the benefits of landscapes that give us clean air, clean water, and open spaces that restore our minds and spirits. They are where we hike, hunt, bike, camp, and connect with nature and with one another. It’s a time to remember that our national public lands belong to all of us, regardless of background, income, or status. These lands were entrusted to us, and we have a responsibility to care for them so they remain healthy, accessible, and resilient for future generations.”
Yesi Castro Lopez, Southern NV Communications Organizer of Nevada Conservation League, issued the following statement:
“Public Lands Day celebrates that Nevada is more than just a place on a map; it’s a landscape of memories, culture, resilience, and future possibility. As a mom, I want my daughter, and every child, to know that Nevada’s natural places belong to them. That they are worth protecting. That they hold joy, healing, and that by careful stewardship of our public lands, we’re strengthening our outdoor economy, and ensuring that we can experience a home that works for all of us, now and for generations to come.”
Angel Lazcano, Nevada Program Manager of Somos Votantes, issued the following statement:
“As we celebrate today, let’s remember: Public Lands Day is a call to action to protect these spaces that support both our natural heritage and working families’ economic future. Somos will continue to organize to ensure that our community’s environmental and economic concerns are heard, respected, and addressed. When we protect our public lands, we equip working people with the tools they need to build strong communities and thrive.”
Jackie Spicer, Coalition Coordinator of the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition, issued the following statement:
“We are proud to celebrate Nevada’s 48 million acres of public land that provide clean air, clean water, and homes to countless species. By preserving public lands for future generations and protecting them from development or extraction, we can limit pollution that harms our health and exacerbates the climate crisis. Today’s celebration must also acknowledge the historical legacy of racism and colonialism on public lands. We cannot ignore the centuries of genocide and displacement of Indigenous life that took place there, nor the Indigenous stewardship of the land for millennia before colonization. The most recent data shows that the majority of visitors to national parks and national forests were white. To change this narrative, public lands must become safe, accessible, and inclusive spaces for communities of color. We must work to ensure that everyone, no matter their background or zip code, can enjoy the benefits of green spaces and the outdoors.”
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ABOUT NEVADA PUBLIC LANDS DAY: Nevada Public Lands Day is part of the nation’s largest single-day volunteer event, celebrating and protecting public lands. The 9th annual celebration will be held at Gary Reese Freedom Park, near the proposed East Las Vegas National Monument, and will spotlight equitable access to Nevada’s lands for every community. This day brings people together to take action, share stories, and protect the places that define our state’s culture, history, and future.