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The possibility that no local Earth Day celebration would be held arose after Nevada EcoNet, the organization that had organized it for about 20 years, closed Dec. 31.

Now, the Nature Conservancy in Nevada and Caesars Entertainment Northern Nevada have stepped forward and announced plans to hold a picnic in the park with live music, food, beverage vendors and educational presentations.

Representatives from the Nature Conservancy could not be reached for comment Monday, but a former official of the now-defunct EcoNet was glad to hear that a local celebration has been planned.

“It was our pleasure to put on the Earth Day event for the community for so many years, and it really got huge in the last few years,” Jo Simpson, who was president of EcoNet’s board of directors, said Monday.

“We applaud any effort made to have an Earth Day celebration in Reno this year,” she said.

In a news release, the Nature Conservancy noted that “Picnic for the Planet is not as ambitious as what EcoNet has put on in years past at Idlewild Park.”

The Nature Conservancy and Caesars are trying on a smaller scale to connect residents with the outdoors and the environment, according to the release.

“The event will feature food, music and education, but not informational booths from other organizations,” it said. “Due to a short timeline, as well as limited financial, staff and logistical resources, the number of participating organizations will be limited in order to keep the event structure manageable.”