Around the Arch Blog

The City of Reno is combining two celebrations into one next Tuesday at Pat Baker Park.  First, The new playground and improvements at Pat Baker Park will be highlighted by City officials on Tuesday, October 27 at the park shelter starting at 4 p.m.  Following opening remarks from Councilwoman Sferrazza, the annual Trunk or Treat event begins for neighborhood children.

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The Reno Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department has added children’s stories to the pathways at Canyon Creek and Manzanita parks for walkers to enjoy. Known as StoryWalks, they are growing in popularity across the U.S.

StoryWalk™ is an exciting initiative that combines a children’s story with a popular walking route. Children’s books are selected, the pages separated, laminated, and placed along a walking path at regular intervals so readers can follow the story as they walk the route.

StoryWalk™ is a way to inspire parents, teachers, and caregivers to take young children on a short stroll that will be fun for all. StoryWalk™ helps build children’s interest in reading while encouraging healthy outdoor activity for both adults and children.

At Canyon Creek Park in Northwest Reno, Halloween Rescue (Go, Diego, Go!) was installed, and at Manzanita Park in Southwest Reno, the book is What’s Hatching? (Jakers). The books will change every six to eight weeks.

The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier,Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

For additional information, please call Peggy Nelson-Aguilar, Recreation Supervisor at (775) 657-4634.

For years the City of Reno has been blessed to have generous community residents donate a tree from their property for its holiday celebrations. The city is now looking for a tree for this year’s festivities. The tree must be an evergreen (preferably a Giant Sequoia) at least 40 feet tall and symmetrical in appearance.

Only one tree is selected each year. The tree selected will be professionally removed by the city’s Urban Forestry Division from the donor’s property, saving the donor hundreds of dollars in tree removal costs. The tree must be easily accessible, such as a located in the front yard. The City would like to remove the tree on November 16th, weather permitting. The tree will be placed at City Plaza, 10 North Virginia Street, located near City Hall in Downtown Reno. The donor will be publicly recognized and thanked by city officials at the Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony.

If you have a tree on your property you wish to have removed and donate, or for additional information, please call Steve Churchillo, Urban Forester at 334-2270.

The annual Reno Balloon Races are back for the 28th time. There are about 90 balloonists from all over participating in the event at Rancho San Rafael Park.

At today’s meeting, the Reno City Council directed staff to work with homeowners and Washoe County staff to study opportunities that are available to assist Washoe County with the former Northgate Golf Course property and improvements. The property could potentially be designated for open space or other park uses.

Staff are to return to Council with a full evaluation of the 228 acre property and future options for its use. Washoe County has negotiated an option to purchase the property from the Robert J. Beaumont Testamentary Trust for the appraised value of $2,850,000 by December 31, 2009.

Three potential sources of funding have been identified by County staff, which are State Question 1 (SQ-1) funding, Washoe County Parks, Trails and Open Space Bonds (WC-1), and a potential Special Assessment District (SAD). A determination of the use of the facilities may be dependent on the source of acquisition funds.

For additional information contact Julee Conway, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services at (775) 334-2260.

Since announcing in May that the City of Reno was looking for sponsors to help fill Mutt Mitt dispensers in the parks and along the trails, residents have stepped up and sponsored 48 of the 80 dispenser units have been sponsored to keep them stocked for the year.

Mutt Mitt dispensers are those little stations where park users can get a bag to pick up after their dog to help keep the parks clean.

Some parks are still without sponsorship. The Parks Division continues to seek sponsors for these units for $100 per year.

To sponsor a Mutt Mitt station or for more information please contact Jeff Mann, Parks Division Manager at (775) 334-2270.

People can get firewood for $75 per cord this month from Reno’s Urban Forestry Division. The wood is from trees and limbs cut by Urban Forestry throughout the year. The firewood is mixed hardwood species with the majority consisting of elm, cottonwood, and silver maple.

The wood yard located at 190 Telegraph is open from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for wood cutting on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the month.

Customers must first sign a waiver of liability and pay in advance at the Park Maintenance Office, 2055 Idlewild Drive. Office hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday, excluding holidays. Payment can be made by cash or check only.

Please call Park Maintenance at (775) 334-2270 for more information.

The City of Reno’s Recreation & Park Commission is hosting a park cleanup at Wheatland Park on Thursday, September 3rd. The public is invited to help them from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Volunteers should bring their own gardening or work gloves to use while weeding or raking planter beds and tree wells, spreading mulch, planting annuals or painting. Materials and tools will be provided.

This is the fourth of five clean up events hosted by the Recreation & Park Commission this summer. The previous three have been overwhelming successes. Given the financial challenges facing the City and the resulting service reductions, these volunteer efforts are more valuable and more necessary than ever.

For more information call Jeff Mann, Parks Manager, at (775) 334-2270.

The Fall-Winter Program Brochure produced by the Reno Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department is now available. The Brochure contains information on public art, special events, senior programs, ice skating, swim lessons & pool schedules, adult leagues, a facility & park directory and more.

The Brochure can be downloaded from cityofreno.com or picked up at one of these facilities:

Evelyn Mount Northeast Community Center, 1301 Valley Road
Neil Road Recreation Center, 3925 Neil Road
McKinley Arts & Culture Center, 925 Riverside Drive
Teglia’s Paradise Park Activity Center, 2745 Elementary Drive
Southside Cultural Center, 190 East Liberty Street
Northwest Pool, 2925 Apollo Way

To have a copy mailed to you or for more information call (775) 334-2262.

The City of Reno’s Recreation & Park Commission, a volunteer group, is hosting several community clean up events this summer at five Reno Parks. The next one will be held in Northwest Reno at Rainbow Ridge Park on Saturday, August 15th. The public is invited to join them from 8 -11 a.m.

Businesses, organizations and groups of friends will find these events build teamwork, company and neighborhood pride, and personal satisfaction through service. Volunteers should bring their own gardening or work gloves to use while weeding or raking planter beds and tree wells, spreading mulch, planting annuals or painting. Materials and tools will be provided.

For more information call Jeff Mann, Parks Manager, at (775) 334-2270.