9555 Evergreen St, Reno, NV 89521

Evergreen Park

Park Description:

Evergreen Park is a 2-acre Reno park without restrooms.

Park Amenities:

Pathways and tables/benches.

Park Contact Information:

City of Reno - Parks & Facilities (775) 334-2417

Park Highlights

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Park History

Click the image to read each topic's full text!

Truckee Meadows

Evergreen park offers beautiful views of Truckee Meadows, where various creeks and irrigation ditches flow from the higher elevations of the mountains in the Carson Range and the Truckee River. Starting as high as 9,000 feet in the mountains, creeks such as Thomas and White Creeks flow through the US Forest Service property, through neighborhoods and private property, and empty into Steamboat Creek. From there the water flows to the Truckee River and eventually, into Pyramid Lake.

Image:
Steamboat Creek (Nevada), Sept. 1, 2016. Photo by Beesmill.

The Washoe

Before the settlers came to the area in the 1850’s, this area was used by the Washoe Indians in the winter when the mountains were snowy. They could use the local hot springs for water for drinking, cooking, and bathing since the water never froze. They could also could hunt birds in the marshes and fish in the nearby Truckee River. The name Washoe comes from an Indian word meaning tall bunchgrass or ryegrass, and prior to 1861, the Truckee Meadows was called Washoe Valley (now this is referred to as Truckee Meadows and the area south by Washoe Lake is called Washoe Valley).

Indigenous American tribes still call this area their home, and more information can be found on the Reno, Sparks Indian Colony website, https://www.rsic.org/.

Image:
Washoe Indians – The Chief’s Family. Source: Lawrence & Houseworth Publisher.
Retrieved from the Library of Congress.

Wilbur D. May

The land in this area was once owned by Wilbur D. May. In 1936, a wealthy Wilbur came to Reno and bought 2,600 acres of land in southwest Reno. The Double Diamond Ranch was named for Wilbur’s initials stacked on top of each other which look like two diamonds, and the ranch became well-known for raising winning thoroughbred horses, as well as prized Black Angus cattle and Boston Bull Terrier dogs. Wilbur continued traveling, painting, writing songs, and even served as a reconnaissance pilot during WWII.

Image:
Wilbur May. Source: Wilbur May Museum.

Development

The Double Diamond Development was proposed in June 1980. The 2,330 acres previously used for cattle grazing were proposed for home development to relieve the Reno housing crisis of the time.

Image:
Evergreen Park through time. Google Earth images. Dates clockwise from top left: 1992, 1999, 2010, 2018.

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iNaturalist:

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Curious what's been seen in this park? Click the link below to see what species other have spotted!

Evergreen Park on iNaturalist

Contact:

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Want To Learn More?

References & Further Info:

City or Reno Parks & Facilities Directory - Evergreen Park
The May Department Stores Company. (n.d.). Retrieved July 2018, from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_May_Department_Stores_Company
Washoe County website: About Wilbur May. (n.d.). Retrieved July 2018, from Washoe County, NV: https://www.washoecounty.us/parks/maycenterhome/maybio.php
Nevada Department of Wildlife website. http://www.ndow.org/Bodies_Of_Water/Thomas_Creek/
Fockler, M. (2007). Plumbing the Truckee: Water, Diversion and the Creation of Community along the Truckee River, Nevada. Reno: UMI Dissertation Services.

Contributor(s):

Jill Richardson (history)

Haley McGuire

Alex Shahbazi

Last Updated:

August 26, 2022 at 6:32:28 PM

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