1000 Jamaica Ave, Reno, NV 89502

Jamaica Park

Park Description:

Jamaica Park is an 8-acre Reno park with restrooms (opened seasonally: late April-early October weather permitting).

Park Amenities:

Playground, soccer/football field, baseball/softball fields, horseshoe area, pathways, picnic shelter, barbeque area, and tables/benches.

Park Contact Information:

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

Park Highlights

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Park History

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Jamaica Park

Jamaica Park was named after nearby Jamaica Avenue, and was probably built in the 1960s or 1970s. Records detailing the exact date of the park have not been found, but the park is located in the Smithridge Park neighborhood, which started to be built in the early 1960s.

It’s not clear why the name Jamaica was used. The developer of the neighborhood was J.J. Matthews of Consolidated Construction Company, and they wanted to use a park theme when naming the streets. The plan was to name the main streets after trees (Alder, Almond) and the smaller residential streets after bushes and flowers (Azalea, Persimmon).

Peckham-Fife Ranch

The land originally was part of the Peckham-Fife Ranch, south of Peckham Lane and east of Kietzke Lane. James G. Peckham operated a 170-acre ranch there. James Peckham was born in 1881 to Mr. and Mrs. George E. Peckham, pioneers of the Truckee Meadows. In 1954, the land was then sold to Raymond I. (“Pappy”) Smith, an important figure in the history of gaming and casinos in Reno and all of Nevada through his operation of the Harold’s Club.

By 1961, the old ranch was divided into residential lots for development of homes and named Smithridge Park after Pappy Smith. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Pappy Smith and Edward M. Peckham.

Image:
Smithridge Park advertisement. Source: Reno Gazette-Journal

Edward Pine Middle School at Smithridge

Jamaica Park is located next to Pine Middle School which opened in early 1976. The school is a twin to the William O’Brian Middle School in Stead, and together they cost $7 million. When the school opened, it boasted the latest in education—telephones installed in every classroom, separate practice rooms for the band, and indoor/outdoor orange carpeting!

Pine Middle School was named after Dr. Edward L. Pine, who was a trustee and member of the Washoe County School Board, as well as the president of a business. At the time the school opened, he had been on the school board for over 20 years and was a respected member of the community through his involvement in many civic and fraternal organizations. Ed Pine died on April 20, 1997.

The school accommodated 883 students when it opened and came about because of increase in the population south of Reno, as well as some aging schools (such as B.D. Billinghurst Junior High School) being closed due to declining conditions.

Raymond I. Smith

Born in 1887 in Vermont, Raymond Ingram Smith went on to be called the “Grandfather of Gaming” in Nevada and one of the most influential innovators of America. After the stock market crash of 1929, Raymond (known as “Pappy”) and his son Harold came to Reno from California and opened a casino on Virginia Street.

The two were the first to use advertising to promote gambling to the average person rather than attracting shady hustlers. At one point, Harold’s Club, as their casino was called, was a household name around the country (and world) and was the largest casino in Nevada…until Las Vegas grew up and became an even greater destination. Pappy died in 1967, his son Harold died in 1985, and Harold’s Club closed in 1995.

Image:
Harold’s Club. Source: REReno website.

Meadowood Mall

Across S. McCarran Boulevard from Jamaica Park is Meadowood Mall. This shopping center opened in 1979 on 322-acres of land purchased from the Raymond I. Smith estate in 1971.

Since art was a key design of the mall, there are a few of the mall’s original sculptures worth noting. The internationally noted artist Charles O. Perry designed the 12-foot tall geometric sculpture called “Fan Mace.” He provided works of art for many other projects around Northern California, but the piece at Meadowood used “mathematical precision to reflect the quality and excitement of the mall.” Another sculpture called “X for Reno” was designed by New York artist Bucky Schwartz. It consists of two 14-foot steel pipes which form a cross. Harold Paris designed a 12-foot monolithic teardrop near Macy’s called “Odds and Evens.”

Image:
Meadowood Mall. Source: Simon Malls.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport

Just a block or two down from Jamaica Park is the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. According to the airport’s website, it was built in 1929 and originally called Hubbard Field after the Vice President and Operations Manager of Boeing Air Transport. Eddie Hubbard was instrumental in developing transcontinental air service. Then in 1963 United Airlines bought the airport from Boeing and owned/operated it until the City of Reno bought it in 1953. A new terminal building was constructed for the 1960 Olympics being held at Squaw Valley.

In 1978, the Airport Authority of Washoe County (now the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority) was assigned by the state to own and operate the airport. The name of the airport was updated in 1994 to Reno-Tahoe International Airport with its terminal building named after US Senator Howard W. Cannon.

Image:
Runway looking south at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Source: D. Ramey Logan, Wikipedia.

Jamaica Park Through the Years

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iNaturalist:

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Jamaica Park on iNaturalist

Contact:

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Want To Learn More?

References & Further Info:

City of Reno Parks & Facilities Directory - Jamaica Park
Apartments first phase of $100 million Duffel Development. (1973, July 15). Nevada State Jorurnal , p. 33.
At last, students get a look at their new school. (1975, December 19). Reno Evening Gazette , p. 15.
Developer pays 3.5 million for 322 acre Reno parcel. (1972, March 13). Reno Evening Gazette , p. 1.
Drew, L. (1975, February 9). It was heartbreaking for many Washoe youngsters. Nevada State Journal , p. 7.
Editorial: Meadowood helping out. (24, March 1979). Reno Evening Gazette , p. 4.
J. G. Peckham former civic leader passes. (1961, November 14). Reno Evening Gazette , p. 1.
McAndrew, S. (2014, March 14). District investigating threat made on bathroom wall at Pine Middle School. Retrieved April 19, 2020, from Siobhan McAndrew's Report Card: http://blogs.rgj.com/reportcard/2014/03/14/district-investigating-threat-made-on-bathroom-wall-at-pine-middle-school/
McFarren, J. (1975, July 19). Opposing forces abount in shopping center issue. Nevada State Journal , p. 5.
Meadowood plans detailed for 103 acres of shopping. (1977, July 25). Reno Evening Gazette , p. 1.
Meadowood Shopping Mall to have 115 stores. (1979, March 19). Reno Evening Gazette , p. 3C.
Meet the new kids on the block. (1983, March 14). Reno Gazette-Journal , p. 7.
Powers, L. (1979, March 24). Meadowood Mall - a preview tour. Reno Evening Gazette , p. 11.
Powers, L. (1975, July 30). New school opening delays irrate board. Reno Evening Gazette , p. 13.
Sculptures enhance Meadowood Mall. (1979, March 26). Reno Evening Gazette , p. 87.
Stevenson, J. (1977, February 15). Huge shopping center sewer will have to wait. Reno Evening Gazette , p. 15.

Contributor(s):

Jill Richardson (history)

Haley McGuire

Alex Shahbazi

Last Updated:

August 26, 2022 at 6:33:07 PM

Back to All Parks

Biodiversity

1000 Jamaica Ave, Reno, NV 89502

Jamaica Park

Park Description:

Jamaica Park is an 8-acre Reno park with restrooms (opened seasonally: late April-early October weather permitting).

Park Amenities:

Playground, soccer/football field, baseball/softball fields, horseshoe area, pathways, picnic shelter, barbeque area, and tables/benches.

Park Contact Information:

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

Park Highlights

Park History

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

Get Involved!

Donate:

Make a donation to support the Parks Project or your favorite Parks Foundation program, project, or wherever its needed! Click here to donate today.

Volunteer:

Support our parks by volunteering with the Parks Foundation! Attend a volunteer event or choose an ongoing role. Click here to explore opportunities.

iNaturalist:

Out in our parks or open spaces? Try cataloguing the biodiversity around you with iNaturalist! All it takes is downloading the iNaturalist app onto your phone to get started.

​

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

Contact:

Have a question about our parks or the Parks Project? Email us at parksproject@tmparksfoundation.org!

Want To Learn More?

References & Further Info:

Contributor(s):

Last Updated:

August 26, 2022 at 6:33:07 PM