800 Robinhood Dr, Reno, NV 89509

Robinhood Park

Park Description:

Robinhood Park is a 0.57-acre Reno park without restrooms.

Park Amenities:

Playground, basketball court, picnic shelter, barbeque area, and tables/benches.

Park Highlights

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Park History

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A Place to Play

Tucked amid a sea of apartments and asphalt sits a half-acre island of refuge for visitors and southwest Reno families living near Berrum Lane’s Anderson Elementary School.

Seeing the need for a safe spot where area children can play ball away from the streets and families to gather, a group of Rotarians in the mid-1990s pushed for the dirt site to become one of Reno’s numerous small parks scattered throughout the city.

The once-blighted land lies in a four block area of Lakeside Drive just north of Moana Lane, which is covered by large scale apartment complexes built in the 1960s. Over the years, it ranked as one of Reno’s top crime ridden areas, often known for gang street fights, drive-by shootings and graffiti.

That’s when the 100-member South Reno Rotary Club worked to clear the dilapidated, weed-covered area and create an oasis of refurbished basketball and sand volleyball courts, shaded picnic tables, upgraded lighting, drinking fountains, and playground with open lawns and landscaping. It became a nice complement to the nearby popular Virginia Lake, known for duck feeding and a mile-long path around the lake for walking and jogging.

No Small Task

“A very special thank you to you all for caring about our neighborhood as much as we do,” wrote resident Kelly Calub and Marjorie Fee, in the Reno Gazette Journal. “My mother and I have lived on Robinhood Drive for three years and have seen many changes come about.

“The park is like a reward for trying to straighten and clean up our neighborhood.”

It was no small task. Usable land needed to be acquired, money raised for design and construction, maintenance costs sought all before the park could become a reality and dedicated in May 1995, although opened for play in 1994.

While the 100-member groups raised nearly $10,000, other grants and funds included the Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation ($20,000), E.L. Cord Foundation ($20,000), the Nell Redfield Trust ($10,000), the city of Reno ($25,400) and volunteer labor. Moana Nursery, among other good neighbors, donated plants.

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iNaturalist:

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Robinhood 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 - Robinhood Park
Reno Gazette Journal, “Reno turns thumbs down on apartment units.” Aug, 23, 1995, page 18 or 1B.
Reno Gazette Journal. “Letter to the Editor.” May 27, 1995, page 11A.
Reno Gazette Journal. “Reno Activists take park back from vandals.” Aug. 18, 1994, page 41 or IE.

Contributor(s):

Jody Covington (history)

Haley McGuire

Alex Shahbazi

Last Updated:

April 20, 2021, 4:30:28 AM

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