305 E Gepford Pkwy, Sun Valley, NV 89433

Gepford Park

Park Description:

Gepford Park is an 8.4-acre Sun Valley park with restrooms.

Park Amenities:

Playground, basketball courts, baseball/softball fields, picnic area, and tables/benches.

Park Highlights

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Park History

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Harry Lee Gepford

Harry Lee Gepford was born in Mason County, Illinois in 1880. Gepford came to Sparks Nevada in 1928 after his success in rural businesses in the Central Valley of California. He opened and ran a successful furniture store at 600 15th street in Sparks, which remained in business until Mr. Gepford’s death in 1963.

Gepford subdivided and sold land in Sun Valley 70 years ago. Building conventional housing was difficult but in 1938 the Small Tract Act (STA) made tracts of land more desirable for settlement in the west. Gepford was the primary developer in the Sun Valley area.

Photo credit: Reno Historian Neal Cobb

Development of Sun Valley

Gepford’s picture of farming, ranching, and an ideal location to place trailer homes in the area worked. Gepford’s initial advertisement in the area was placed in 1947. By the time of his retirement, he owned thousands of acres in and around Sun Valley. At the time of his death, around 3,000 people had settled in the area. Today, Sun Valley is 15 square miles of land and home to over 20,000 people.

Photo credit: Reno Evening Gazette, May 3, 1949

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iNaturalist:

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Gepford Park on iNaturalist

Contact:

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Want To Learn More?

References & Further Info:

Sun Valley General Improvement District - Gepford Park
University of Nevada, Reno- dissertation by: Jonathan Miles Cummins
Nevada Humanities.org
Find a Grave
Harry L. Gepford Obituary

Contributor(s):

Haley McGuire (general research)

Alex Shahbazi (editing)

Bill McLarty (history research)

Rachel Carrol (history editing)

Last Updated:

November 18, 2021, 11:24:13 PM

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