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General Park Information:
Wilson Commons Park contains 5-acres of historic ranch outbuildings, 20-acres of irrigated pasture, and several acres of developed parkland without a restroom.
Amenities Include:
Picnic area, horseshoes, volleyball, tennis court, fishing pond, benches, and over 100-year-old barn and ranch buildings.
Here is a link to Wilson Commons Park on Washoe County’s website.
View the slideshow to see some of Wilson Commons Park amenities!
To view Wilson Commons Park of the Week video, click here!
Washoe Indians – The Chief’s Family.
Source: Lawrence & Houseworth Publisher.
Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
Washeshu (Washoe) Tribe:
This valley was originally occupied by the Washeshu or Washoe Tribe who enjoyed abundant food sources within the mountain streams and riparian areas around Washoe Lake. Washeshu roughly translates to “the people.” After the arrival of european settlers, the land exchanged hands many times, and by the 20th century, most of the tribe had been forced to move to reservations.
Washoe Valley is still an important area to the tribes and more information about the three tribes of this area can be found on the Reno, Sparks Indian Colony website here: http://www.rsic.org/.
Main Sign
Photo by: Haley Kirby
history
Submit Your Park Stories and Photos!
Do you have personal photographs or stories about this park and are willing to share your memories with your community? Stories and photos can be recent adventures in the park, old memories of what the park used to be like, or fond remembrances of what this park has meant to you in the past. Sharing your photographs and memories will help to build our shared history of these important public places.
Click here to upload your photos and/or stories!
biodiversity
Typical flora and fauna:
The following are a few of our favorite highlights.
See the community submission section below to view additional wildlife sightings found at this park, and submit you own favorite naturalist sightings on iNaturalist here!
Fauna:
community submissions
Biodiversity Submissions:
Community Stories and Photos:
Your Name
Wilson Commons Park
Tell us your stories about this park or share your photographs to add to the growing record of our shared park history!
Your Name
Wilson Commons Park
Tell us your stories about this park or share your photographs to add to the growing record of our shared park history!
Your Name
Wilson Commons Park
Tell us your stories about this park or share your photographs to add to the growing record of our shared park history!
volunteer highlights
Wilson Commons Park History Researcher
Jill Richardson
Jill is the History Researcher for this park. She has dedicated time to research and document the history of Wilson Commons Park. Thank you Jill for your commitment to our parks and historic preservation!
Volunteer Researcher:
To learn more about volunteering for this Project, click here.
Enjoy history? Then consider volunteering as a History Researcher today!
Like plants and animals? Then volunteer as our Biodiversity Researcher!
Researchers Needed:
Rephotography Site Steward:
To view this project, click here.
Laura Lea Evans:
Laura Lea Evans was the Site Steward for Wilson Commons Park. She has been involved with The Parks Rephotography Project since 2016. Thank you Laura for your dedication to the Parks Foundation!
Click here to see the collection!
References/more info
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Washoe County: Wilson Commons Park
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Nevada Department of Wildlife: Wilson Commons Pond
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Park of the Week Video: Wilson Commons
General Park Resources:
History Resources:
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100 years ago - 1873. (1973, August 3). Nevada State Journal, p. 5.
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B. (1895, June 8). Flush times in Washoe. Weekly Nevada State Journal, p. 4.
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Carlson, H. S. (1974). Nevada Place Names. Reno: University of Nevada Press.
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Flumes. (1878, May 23). Reno Evening Gazette, p. 2.
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McGee, W. a. (2004). The Divorce Seekers. St. Helena, California: BMC Publications.
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Personal. (1878, May 23). Reno Evening Gazette, p. 2.
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The best things in life are still free. (1998, June 21). Reno Gazette-Journal, p. 9B.
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Voyles, S. (2000, March 21). Restored Washoe farm may become national landmark. Reno Gazette-Journal, p. 1C.
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Washoe Co’s agricultural lands and products. (1881, December 17). Weekly Nevada State Journal, p.4.
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Washoe County - No. 6. (1873, February 1). Nevada State Journal, p. 2.
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Washoe County Commission. (1993, March 5). Reno Gazette-Journal, p. 3D.
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Wood. (1873, July 29). Gold Hill Daily News, p. 3.