Around the Arch Blog

At today’s Reno City Council meeting, July was proclaimed National Parks and Recreation Month by the City Council. Since 1985, America has celebrated July as the nation’s official Parks and Recreation Month recognizing the value of recreational activities and public parks to the quality of life in a community.

To celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month, and to thank the community for their support of parks and recreation, residents will be able to swim for FREE during the open swim times at Idlewild, Northwest and Traner pools on Friday, July 24th. The times are:
• Northwest Pool, 2925 Apollo Way: 1 – 3:45 p.m.
• Traner Pool, 1600 Carville Drive: 1 – 4 p.m.
• Idlewild Pool, 1805 Idlewild Drive: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The City of Reno’s Recreation & Park Commission, a volunteer group, is hosting a community clean up at Whitaker Park in Northwest Reno on Saturday, July 18th. The public is invited to join them from 8 -11 a.m.

Businesses, organizations, university students 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.

The financial challenges facing the City and the resulting service reductions make volunteer efforts more valuable and community involvement more necessary than ever.

The Recreation & Park Commission will be holding other cleanup days as follows:
Saturday, August 15 – 8 a.m. – Rainbow Ridge Park & Trail
Thursday, September 3 – 5:30 p.m. – Wheatland Park
Saturday, September 19 – 9 a.m. – Horseman’s Park & Trail

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

The lights have long been dark at Yori Park, but not anymore. The park has new, state of the art lights to replace what vandals destroyed thanks to the efforts of Linden/Grove residents, the Ward 2 Central Neighborhood Advisory Board and Ward 2 Council member Sharon Zadra.

The $30,000 lighting project was paid for using Community Development Block Grants and Community Pride Grants. The new lights are “dark sky” compliant, meaning the design reduces light pollution, allowing you to see the stars at night despite the illumination. Motion sensors will turn the lights on when there is activity in the park after hours. The new bulbs are also energy efficient, using 60% less electricity and lasting 5 times longer than incandescent bulbs. The new fixtures are vandal resistant because the small LED bulbs will continue to illuminate the area even if several are broken.

You are invited to check out the new lights following a ceremony set for Thursday, July 2 at 5 PM at the park.

The Ward Four North Valleys NAB granted $14,000 in CPG funds and the City Council added $2,173.94 in discretionary funds to the Lifestyle Homes Foundation to assist with the Accelerated Reader Literacy and recreational soccer programs. The money will also provide new playground equipment at Stead Elementary School. The new, modern playground equipment is safer than the older equipment. Children will have access to the new playground during the school day and will also be able to enjoy the facility on weekends with family and friends.

On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, the Reno City Council approved the allocation recommendation. These grant are designed to be used for neighborhood-specific projects. They are for projects the City may not have budgeted for that NAB members would like to expedite. Funds are generally intended for projects that are short term and quick to implement. While funding is recommended by the NABs, its use and expenditure are guided by established city procurement, expenditure procedures and ground rules.

On Wednesday, June 24, the Reno City Council approved the NAB allocation. Community Pride Grant funds are designed to be used for neighborhood-specific projects. They are funds the City may not have budgeted for that NAB members would like to expedite. Funds are generally intended for projects that are short term and quick to implement. While funding is recommended by the NABs, its use and expenditure are guided by established city procurement, expenditure procedures and ground rules.

Reno’s Recreation & Park Commission is hosting several community clean up events this summer at five Reno Parks. The first will be held at Dick Taylor Park in Northeast Reno on Saturday, June 27th. The public is invited to join them from 8 -11 a.m.

The financial challenges facing the City and the resulting service reductions make volunteer efforts more valuable and community involvement more necessary than ever.

The Commission is adopting this park and several others through September to build awareness of the City’s Adopt-A-Park program, demonstrate the value of public assistance, and foster stewardship within neighborhoods through caring for neighborhood parks.

The Ward Five Old Northwest Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) transferred $5,000 to the Parks, Recreation and Community Service Department today to be used for picnic tables and benches at the new Keystone/Van Ness Trailhead and Park.

Keystone/Van Ness Trailhead and Park is currently being designed. It is located in Northwest Reno on the corner of Keystone and Van Ness near North McCarran. Development of the Keystone/Van Ness Trailhead and Park is a community-led effort to place a recreation area within the neighborhood of North Keystone Avenue. A design review with the community is expected this fall, with construction planned for spring 2010.

At today’s meeting the City Council accepted the dedication of four park properties to the City from Somersett Development Company. The properties include a five acre park and three pocket parks. The park designs were approved by the City of Reno Recreation and Parks Commission prior to construction. The properties are now publically owned, are available to the entire community and are a part of the City’s park system. Somersett HOA will perform daily and routine maintenance while the City performs structural facility maintenance and pays all utility costs. The parks were built with Residential Construction Tax funds.