Riverside Dr & Washington St, Reno, NV 89503

Lunsford Park

Park Description:

Lunsford Park is a 0.25-acre Reno park without restrooms.

Park Amenities:

Grassy area and tables/benches.

Park Contact Information:

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

Park Highlights

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Park History

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C. C. Powning

C. C. Powning, arriving from Wisconsin in 1868, became head of the Nevada State Journal, a state senator, owner of Reno Water, Land and Light Company and a developer of land. He purchased a subdivision of land along what would become Lakeside Drive and named it the C. C. Powning District. A small triangle of land was set aside to become a park.

Originally called “City Park”, it was Reno’s first park. Located across from the courthouse at the time, the park was renamed “Powning Square” in honor of C. C. Powning who owned the land.

Image credit: Historic Reno (https://www.historicreno.org/media/custom/docs/FPv12n2.pdf)

Edward F. Lunsford

In 1900, S. O. Hatfield, a squatter, built a fence and a small house on the property. Hatfield lived there for 10 months before his house burned. He then transferred the property to Ralph W. Shearer. A 1913 Nevada Supreme Court decision determined that the property was actually owned by the City of Reno. In appreciation, the park was then again renamed Lunsford Park after E. F. Lunsford, the city attorney who represented the City of Reno in the successful lawsuit.

Image credit: Historical Washoecourts (https://www.washoecourts.com/Historical/1901/Lunsford)

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