975 Kuenzli St, Reno, NV 89502

John Champion Park

Park Description:

John Champion Park is a 2-acre Reno park without restrooms. The park is located along the Truckee River and offers access to the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail.

Park Amenities:

Bicycle path, picnic shelter, barbeque area, and tables/benches. John Champion Park is located near the Truckee River.

Park Contact Information:

City of Reno - Parks & Facilities (775) 334-2417

Park Highlights

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Park History

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John Champion Park Overview

Between 1980 and 1997, if you walked along the Truckee River south of downtown you were likely to run into a man wearing a big floppy outback hat, fly fishing, wrapping trees with chicken wire, planting trees and shrubs, teaching kids to fish, or simply talking to someone about the river. That man was John Champion.

John Champion Park is a two-acre memorial park located on the Truckee River east of downtown Reno. The park was built less than a year after the death of John Champion. At the time of construction, the park was owned by The Reno Gazette Journal and leased to the City of Reno. In 1981 the property was deeded to the City of Reno. The park was designed by Louise Kehmeier of Schoenberg Design. It was constructed as a lasting example of work done by the volunteer group, Champions of the Truckee, named in honor of John Champion. Krump Construction, Reno Lawn & Landscape, Operating Engineers #3, Moana Nursery, Rainbow Rock, and Wester Turf were among more than 40 companies that donated time and/or materials. On September 26th and 27th 1998, 150 volunteers put the finishing touches on the park, planting shrubs, trees, flowers, building a dry creek bed, placing benches, and many of the other tasks that make a park. A memorial plaque was erected with the quote, “The sun shines not on us but in us. The river flows not past but through us.” In 1999 the park won a Medallion Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Who Was John Champion?

So, who was this John Campion who has largely been lost to history? He was a native Nevadan who owned a machine shop on Manuel Street, two blocks from the Truckee River. He made the preservation and restoration of the Truckee River his life’s work.

Image:
Photo by Jim Dickey.

John Champion and the Park

In the late 1980s and early 1990s beavers were cutting down trees along the Truckee River. Champion battled with the City of Reno and State of Nevada to save the trees which cool the water temperature, stabilize the river banks, and make it appealing for people. In November 1990 the Reno City Council agreed with Champion and allowed trapping of the beavers over the objections of the animal rights groups. It’s estimated he personally wrapped 400 trees with chicken wire to protect the trees from beavers.

He recognized the homeless problem as early as 1990 and its effect on keeping the Truckee River clean. He spent time educating the homeless on keeping the river clean and organizing river cleanups when that failed.

In 1994, Champion received The Phoenix Award from the Society of American Travel Writers for his leadership in conservation, preservation, beautification and anti-pollution efforts which enhance travel destinations. It estimated he volunteered over 5000 unpaid hours on the Truckee River.

Image:
Photo by Jim Dickey.

The Park Today

A trip to the park today is a stark reality check on how to maintain a park that gets little use except as a place for the homeless to congregate. The Park is in an industrial area that has little vehicle traffic and no foot traffic. The shrubs, trees, and grass are long gone. The gazebo and fountain are deteriorating. Chunks of concrete have been dumped along the river bank. Garbage litters the park. In an era with limited resources, it appears that this park is a low or non-priority. The question is what can be done to restore the park’s beauty and would people use it when it is reclaimed?

Image:
Photo by Jim Dickey.

Get Involved!

Donate:

Make a donation to support the Parks Project or your favorite Parks Foundation program, project, or wherever its needed! Click here to donate today.

Volunteer:

Support our parks by volunteering with the Parks Foundation! Attend a volunteer event or choose an ongoing role. Click here to explore opportunities.

iNaturalist:

Out in our parks or open spaces? Try cataloguing the biodiversity around you with iNaturalist! All it takes is downloading the iNaturalist app onto your phone to get started.

Curious what's been seen in this park? Click the link below to see what species other have spotted!

John Champion Park on iNaturalist

Contact:

Have a question about our parks or the Parks Project? Email us at parksproject@tmparksfoundation.org!

Want To Learn More?

References & Further Info:

City of Reno Parks & Facilities Directory - John Champion Park

Contributor(s):

Haley McGuire

Alex Shahbazi

Last Updated:

August 26, 2022 at 6:33:05 PM

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