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805 California Ave, Reno, NV 89509
Newlands Park
Park Description:
Newlands Park is a 2-acre Reno park without restrooms.
Park Amenities:
Playground 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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Newlands Park Overview
Newlands Park is located in the Newlands Terrace subdivision on the top of a bluff overlooking Keystone Avenue and its bridge over the Truckee River. The land had been previously owned by Francis Newlands, a prominent member of the U.S. Congress from 1882 to 1903, then a U.S. Senator from 1903 to 1917.
After the death of Francis Newlands, the land was deeded to the City of Reno in 1920 by the Newlands family with the understanding that the park was to be a memorial to the late Senator. In 1923, an engraved granite stone was installed in the park facing Peavine Mountain. The stone honors Newlands with a quote from the bible which references the important work Newlands did in securing federal funding for reclamation projects to benefit agriculture in Nevada and other western states.
The local neighbors sued the city of Reno in the 1970’s for attempting to swap portions of Newlands Park for other property in order to build an approach for the Keystone Bridge and widen California Avenue. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the city committed a “breach of trust” by attempting to trade the property.
Image:
Newlands’ work to reclaim Nevada land. Source: Wikimedia.
After the death of Francis Newlands, the land was deeded to the City of Reno in 1920 by the Newlands family with the understanding that the park was to be a memorial to the late Senator. In 1923, an engraved granite stone was installed in the park facing Peavine Mountain. The stone honors Newlands with a quote from the bible which references the important work Newlands did in securing federal funding for reclamation projects to benefit agriculture in Nevada and other western states.
The local neighbors sued the city of Reno in the 1970’s for attempting to swap portions of Newlands Park for other property in order to build an approach for the Keystone Bridge and widen California Avenue. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the city committed a “breach of trust” by attempting to trade the property.
Image:
Newlands’ work to reclaim Nevada land. Source: Wikimedia.
Early Days
At the park’s inception, the city of Reno hired a landscape architect to come up with ideas such as a public playground, a tourist campground and a baseball park. A small golf course was even considered, but the tract was too small. The hope was to take advantage of the park’s lovely views of the river and the mountains, and enhance the scenery with beautiful trees and shrubbery. The city’s first improvement in 1920 was to get the tract cleaned up and a drinking fountain installed; other improvements at that time were deferred due to limited funds.
The name of the park took time to be decided. While some Reno residents argued that “naming public streets, buildings and parks after politicians is no longer considered good taste,” the park’s name seems to have been chosen in 1923 by default over “city park,” “municipal park,” or “the camp ground.”
A US Coast and Geodetic Survey Triangulation Tower located at the park was an unintended play structure in 1946 when two young boys climbed the 60-foot tower and had to be rescued! Boys will be boys!
Image:
Derby Dam on Truckee River for Newlands Irrigation Project. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, June 1973.
The name of the park took time to be decided. While some Reno residents argued that “naming public streets, buildings and parks after politicians is no longer considered good taste,” the park’s name seems to have been chosen in 1923 by default over “city park,” “municipal park,” or “the camp ground.”
A US Coast and Geodetic Survey Triangulation Tower located at the park was an unintended play structure in 1946 when two young boys climbed the 60-foot tower and had to be rescued! Boys will be boys!
Image:
Derby Dam on Truckee River for Newlands Irrigation Project. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, June 1973.
Francis Newlands
The park is named in honor of Francis Griffith Newlands, a respected politician who served in the U.S. congress and U.S. senate from 1882 until his death in 1917.
Newlands was born in Mississippi in 1848 and studied at Yale college and Columbian college law school in Washington, D.C. He was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the District of Columbia, then took up a law practice in San Francisco before coming to Nevada in 1888. During his time in congress and the senate, he served on various committees addressing irrigation, foreign affairs, and banking. He is most remembered for his prominent role in the establishment of the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, and the US Forest Service. In Nevada, he established the Newlands water reclamation project which enabled the Rye Patch and Lahontan Reservoirs through the construction of a diversion dam (Derby Dam) on the Truckee River.
Newlands was one of the partners in the Newlands Company, which started in 1903, and was partly responsible for the gentrification of early Reno. The company developed several high-end neighborhoods near the park.
Image:
Francis Newlands. Source: Library of Congress.
Newlands was born in Mississippi in 1848 and studied at Yale college and Columbian college law school in Washington, D.C. He was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of the District of Columbia, then took up a law practice in San Francisco before coming to Nevada in 1888. During his time in congress and the senate, he served on various committees addressing irrigation, foreign affairs, and banking. He is most remembered for his prominent role in the establishment of the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, and the US Forest Service. In Nevada, he established the Newlands water reclamation project which enabled the Rye Patch and Lahontan Reservoirs through the construction of a diversion dam (Derby Dam) on the Truckee River.
Newlands was one of the partners in the Newlands Company, which started in 1903, and was partly responsible for the gentrification of early Reno. The company developed several high-end neighborhoods near the park.
Image:
Francis Newlands. Source: Library of Congress.