13401 Rim Rock Dr, Reno, NV 89521

Virginia Foothills Park

Park Description:

Virginia Foothills Park is a 15-acre Washoe County park with portable restrooms open seasonally as well as drinking fountains.

Park Amenities:

Playground, tennis court, volleyball court, baseball/soccer field, horseshoes, exercise area, fitness trail, and picnic area.

Park Contact Information:

Washoe County Parks and Open Space (775) 828-6612

Park Highlights

1/1

Park History

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

The Park

Virginia Foothills Park was completed and dedicated in August of 1993. The park boasts many amenities -- tennis and volleyball courts, a group picnic shelter, horseshoe pits, children’s play areas, exercise facilities, a fitness trail, and a multi-purpose playing area. Another bonus is that it is located next to Brown Elementary School, which was built around the same time.

While the park was not officially dedicated until 1993, it had been in the works by the Washoe County Board of Commissioners for many years. As early as 1979 the board discussed the acquisition of 15-acres of land for the park. A few years later the Board approved the first phase of the park. Then in 1993, they awarded a contract for the construction of phase two, culminating in the dedication ceremony later that year.

Image:
Playground at Virginia Foothills Park. Source: Jill Richardson.

The Park is located next to Brown Elementary, which opened for classes in the fall of 1989. This is the second Brown School, the first was built in 1877 by Peleg Brown on an acre of his ranch land. The ranch was eventually sold to Louis Damonte in 1939. Over the years, the school was enlarged to the brick building which now houses the Washoe County School District offices on the Old Virginia Road.

The old school building accommodated about 200 students, but the new school building next to Virginia Foothills Park was designed for 497 students. It cost around $4 million to build, plus acquisition of land and the cost of equipment.

In addition to the need to accommodate more students, the school moved from Old Virginia Road to Spelling Court because at that time the new Hwy 395, from Reno to Carson City,