240 W Moana Ln, Reno, NV 89509

Moana Park

Park Description:

Moana Park is a 5-acre Reno park without restrooms. The park was built after the demolition of Moana Stadium, Reno's former home of professional baseball.

Park Amenities:

Playground, soccer/football field, 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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Moana Hot Springs

The Moana Park complex was once home to sheep peacefully grazing on land above an artesian well of 180 degree water. But their lives changed in 1905 when three entrepreneurs opened a resort, including what was advertised as the largest pool in Nevada, heated by the hot springs. There were six smaller pools, for groups of six to eight, catering to guests who wanted privacy.

Initially, patrons came by car or wagon, or they could take a bus from downtown Reno to the resort for only 25 cents. A few years later, local landowner, Louis Berrum, built a street car line to bring visitors from California Avenue, down Plumas Street, to the resort on Moana Lane. Nevada Senator Francis Newlands spoke in favor of this electric railroad, stating that Reno must offer the amenities of metropolitan life to attract those engaged in mining to take up residency in Reno.

After a few years, Lou Berrum, who was born in Denmark and came to Nevada in 1887, bought the entire resort. He made his home across the street from the resort so he could manage the pool. After his death in 1938, his son, Lou Jr., took control of the business. Lou Jr. sold the resort and land to the City of Reno in 1956.

Image:
Bath house at Moana Springs. Source: Jed Black, The Western Nevada Historic Photo Collection.

Moana Stadium

On this unassuming 9.4-acre patch of land where the soccer fields and parking lot are now located, Reno’s professional baseball teams once played and hosted famous players such as Satchel Paige, Reggie Jackson, and L.A. Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzula who gave up four unearned runs in his first U.S. professional appearance at Moana Stadium in 1979. And it’s not just baseball: Jim Jeffries trained here for his 1910 heavyweight title fight against Jack Johnson, and Olympic sprint champion Jesse Owens ran against a horse at Moana.

The first baseball diamond was built here in 1908, and in 1939 lights were added for Nevada’s first night game. Professional baseball arrived in 1947 when the stadium was upgraded with facilities fitting of pro-ball. Disaster struck on Halloween 1960 when the stadium burned to the ground. It was rebuilt (in a different orientation) in 1961 and improved over time, bringing fans to the University of Nevada, Reno’s home games, as well as the Reno professional and semi-pro teams, including the Reno Padres, Silver Sox, Chukars, and Diamonds. The last pro team moved away in 1999, leaving the well-worn stadium to recreational and adult ball games. People complained that the old stadium was an eye-sore, and by 2009 the Reno Aces were playing in a new stadium—Aces Ballpark (later renamed Greater Nevada Field). Finally in 2012 the old Moana Stadium was finally demolished and replaced with today’s soccer fields.

Image:
UNR baseball at Moana Stadium. Source: By permission from Special Collections, University of Nevada, Reno, Libraries.

Aquatic Center

Besides the stadium, the Moana Park complex at one time had an indoor swimming pool, located where the parking lot is now near the corner of Moana and Baker Lanes. The pool opened in 1960 and closed in 2007 after it experienced major equipment failure.

The City of Reno had purchased the property in 1956 and demolished the remaining buildings of the old Moana Hot Springs, then built the new pool. As with the hot springs, the indoor pool used geothermal heating to warm the water.

Following the closure of the pool, fundraising efforts were made by community groups such as Sierra Nevada Community Aquatics to repair or replace the pool. Unfortunately, the damage to the rusty old pipes was so extensive that repairs were out of the question. Between the effects of the 2008 recession and the fact that the Aquatics group didn’t own the land, it was impossible for them to raise money for a new multiuse aquatic center. The pool was torn down in 2012, along with the old baseball stadium.

Image:
Moana Park with Richard L. Jay Fields, Jack Tighe Memorial Fields, and location of the former indoor pool (in red box).
Source: Google Earth, 2018.

Richard L. Jay Fields

After the Moana Stadium and pool were torn down in 2012, plans were made for a soccer complex to be built on the property. The fields were finished in an unheard of 103 days, and opened on March 30, 2013, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and soccer game. Many city leaders and local organizations worked together to transform the property into fields for soccer.

The soccer complex was named the Richard L. Jay Fields. Jay is a prominent city leader who worked with the Reno City Council on the vision of replacing the old stadium with soccer fields and helping to raise $400,000 in funding for the removal of the stadium. He was also a promoter of youth soccer in the area and helped create the 7,500 member Great Basin Youth Soccer League. According to friends, he has had a positive impact on many youth in the community.

Jay played soccer back in the 1970s in high school. He graduated from Reno High School in ’79. Later he coached youth soccer, many of whom went on to play in college.

Image:
Richard L. Jay. Source: Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority.

George Hamilton

The playground is named in honor of George F. Hamilton, a prominent citizen. Hamilton arrived in Reno in 1939 and was involved in the Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Lions Club, Reno Exchange Club, and many more. He was named Distinguished Citizen of the Year by Reno Chamber of Commerce in 1967.

As owner of Hamilton Opticians, he was named to the Guild of Prescription Opticians Hall of Fame in 1992. The Reno Host Lions named a service award in honor of Hamilton’s voluntarism for the visually handicapped. Nevada Governor proclaimed March 9, 1993, as a day to honor George Hamilton. He passed away in 1993 at the age of 92.

Image:
Moana Park Playground. Source: Jay Kolbet-Clausell.

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Moana Park on iNaturalist

Contact:

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Want To Learn More?

References & Further Info:

Historical Marker Information: Moana Springs
Reno Historical: Moana Springs
Full list of sources...

Contributor(s):

Jill Richardson (history)

Haley McGuire

Alex Shahbazi

Last Updated:

August 26, 2022 at 6:43:08 PM

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