The Park
As cars speed along on South McCarran Boulevard, passengers may notice the 30-acre Betsy Caughlin Donnelly Park which bears the name and 150-year history of a pioneer ranching family of Reno, the Caughlins. Opened in 1993, the park with its beautiful trees, walking path and benches, is located on land where cattle and sheep once grazed. The Caughlin family owned the land from 1874 operated it as a ranch. At one point, the ranch totaled over 6,000 acres.
Betsy Caughlin Donnelly donated the land in 1990 to be used by the public. But she stipulated that the park have no bright lights, big buildings, or noisy ball fields. She wanted local kids to be able to watch cows doing their thing in the pasture next to the park and the original ranch house, just like she did when she was growing up. The County leases that land out in the summer for cows to graze that pasture.
Mrs. Donnelly received the Good Neighbors Award in 1995 for her contribution of the land.
Image: Jill Richardson.