925 Riverside Dr, Reno, NV 89503

McKinley Park

Park Description:

McKinley Park is a 3-acre Reno park without restrooms. The park is home to the McKinley Arts & Culture Center.

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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McKinley Park

Sitting hidden away along the Truckee River not far from Downtown, the McKinley Art Center stands as a monument of a different time stretching back to the turn of the 20th Century. Today the park is the site for various community events such as farmers markets, craft fairs and summer camps. Back around the time the ageless structure was built, Reno was still a small town that was just starting to make a name for itself with McKinley Park being a testament to history.
Image Credit: Michael Misanik

Old Schoolhouse to Park

The McKinley Park School building was constructed in 1909. It was designed by local architect George Ferris (the man who also invented the Ferris Wheel). The school was the first to be constructed of the “Spanish Quartet,” four single-story Mission Revival style schools built in Reno in the early 20th century. Today, McKinley and Mount Rose Elementary School are the only schools to have survived. The schools represented a growth spurt that the city of Reno was experiencing at the time with them receiving high praise at the time of their construction for their modern convenience and technology, as well as their potential to serve as community focal points. McKinley Park School served the Washoe County School District for a number of years before being transferred to the City of Reno during the 1980s when it was used for the Parks and Recreation Offices.
The use of Mission Revival style has been attributed to the preference of the school superintendent at the time, B. D. Billinghurst, who was enamored of Spanish architecture. The school derived its name from the small public park that predated it on the site. The City of Reno established McKinley Park on the north bank of the Truckee River, bordering Riverside Drive, in 1902. It was named for U.S. President William McKinley, who was assassinated in September of 1901. Some two hundred shade and ornamental trees were planted on the grounds in 1903, and today many of those now old-growth trees continue to stand, retaining the original park legacy.
The former schoolhouse underwent rehabilitation in the 1990s and now serves as the City of Reno’s Arts and Culture Center, which is open to the public. The rehabilitation effort was supported through grant funds from the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Fund. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and was listed in the Reno Register of Historic Places in 2000.
Image Credit: Nevada Historical Society

Powning District

In 1886, C.C. Powning purchased 122 acres of land west of the downtown (Now Powning District between second street, the Truckee River, Riverside Drive and Keystone Avenue which includes McKinley Park School), which he divided into lots and began selling them under the name, Powning’s addition.
According to historical records, sales in the district were steady in the beginning, with a number of Italian families relocating in the new neighborhood, construction was stop-and-go due to Nevada’s roller coaster economy. During this time in history the state was heavily dependent on the mining industry.

As a result of the turbulent state economy, homes were built in the subdivision over a five to six-decade period (from the 1890s to the 1940s). Construction styles varied with early houses built with a Queen Anne design (popular in the late Victorian period) and later homes largely being Craftsman bungalows, a style popular in the 1930s.

By the 1930s and 40s commercial development began to appear along First and Second streets, which intersect the tract of land thanks to the increased popularity of the automobile, particularly after the development of the Lincoln Highway, which passed through downtown Reno (and still does today aka I-80 Interstate).
Today, Powning’s addition is a mixed-use neighborhood with many quaint historic homes, some still used as residences, alongside office buildings, apartments, commercial developments, and elegant houses that have been converted into businesses.
For more information on who Powning is, check out the Park history of Powning Memorial Park.
Image Credit: The LSN Studios Photography Blog

Community Events

By the time of the 2000s, the McKinley Park School (Renovated in 1999) was switched from the recreation offices to a both private and public special event location. From weddings and receptions to various public events being held at the now McKinley Arts & Culture Center. Throughout much of the year, mostly from April through October, a series of community farmers markets and arts/craft fairs draw thousands of locals to this hidden corner of the Truckee Meadows. The McKinley Arts & Culture Center occupies an important place within the Truckee River Arts and Culture District in the City of Reno.
Image Credit: Reno Gazette Journal

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!

McKinley 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:

Contributor(s):

Michael Misanik (History & Content)

Erin Larsen (Editor)

Last Updated:

November 7, 2022 at 8:26:39 PM

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Biodiversity

925 Riverside Dr, Reno, NV 89503

McKinley Park

Park Description:

McKinley Park is a 3-acre Reno park without restrooms. The park is home to the McKinley Arts & Culture Center.

Park Amenities:

Grassy area and tables/benches.

Park Contact Information:

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

Park Highlights

Park History

Click the image to read each topic's full text!

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!

Contact:

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

Want To Learn More?

References & Further Info:

Contributor(s):

Last Updated:

November 7, 2022 at 8:26:39 PM