15650 Wedge Pkwy, Reno, NV 89511

South Valleys Regional Park

Park Description:

South Valleys Regional Park is a 105-acre Washoe County park with restrooms.

Park Amenities:

Playground, baseball/softball fields, multi-purpose fields, soccer/football field, horseshoe area, volleyball court, picnic area, reservable picnic shelters, and tables/benches.

Park Contact Information:

Washoe County Parks and Open Space (775) 828-6612

Park Highlights

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Park History

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

Park Establishment

Nestled up next to I-580 near Mount Rose Highway is a treasure of a park/sports complex – South Valleys Regional Park. In 1990, when the south portion of Truckee Meadows was in its infancy, there were no public ball fields for youth south of Longley Lane. Consequently, the County considered purchasing land to build a sports complex similar to the Shadow Mountain Park in Sparks.

Land was acquired thanks to a donation from Dr. Massoud Dorostkar, Virgil Wedge, Hadi Sahrakar, Theodora Peigh and the Dr. Millard Duxbury family. A plan to develop the park was approved by the voters in 1990 and the park was dedicated in late 1992. Two years later, the funding to develop the park was obtained via a statewide parks and wildlife bond approved by the voters in 1990, and a dedication ceremony took place in late 1992.

Image:
View of the Valley from Geiger Grade, circa 1940s. Source: Nevada Historic Society.

Park Development

Two years later, four baseball fields and three soccer fields were completed. A Washoe County bond issue in 2003 produced another soccer field, the Babe Ruth baseball field, and a playground. Future phases, they hoped, would include a library and community center.

As the population of south Reno continued to expand, it created a need for even more sports and recreation space. That drove the donation of another 23 acres of land in 2009 from Dr. Massoud Dorostkar and the Hadi and Ursula Kar Family trusts, giving the park a total of 105 acres. This allowed the park to expand with additional football/soccer fields.

Image:
Arial photograph of park as the fields were being built. Source: Google Earth.

Upgrades

Washoe County’s Department of Regional Parks and Open Space received a federal grant to install rubberized tile surface around the playground equipment at South Valleys and two other Parks (Lazy 5 and ArrowCreek) in 2011. The reason for the new tiles was driven by the desire to increase accessibility of the playgrounds for children of all abilities while reducing the operating and maintenance costs to the county.

More upgrades to the playground were announced by Senator Harry Reid in 2016 when a grant of over $91,000 was received from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to replace loose fill surfacing with accessible, rubberized surfaces.

Image:
Rubberized tile on the Playground. Photo by Jill Richardson.

South Valleys Library

A prominent fixture at the park is the bright yellow building with big windows - the South Valleys Library. This uniquely-designed library opened in May 2003 and is dedicated to the voters of Washoe County who funded the project with a bond issue in 2000.

The library’s award-winning design came from architect Michael Brendle of the Worth Group Architects. According to Brendle, the bright yellow color reminds the travelers passing by on Hwy 580 of the yellow flowers that bloom in the area, such as Rabbit Brush and Sagebrush. The library’s windows offer visitors stunning views of Mount Rose. When not captivated by the view out the windows, the library offers visitors thousands of books, computers with internet access, meeting rooms, and gathering spaces.

Image:
Library. Source: Jill Richardson.

Park Donors and Influencers

Massoud Dorostkar:
Dr. Dorostkar was a prominent Persian anesthesiologist in Reno. He graduated from Tehran Medical School in 1956 and made his way to Reno. He was an avid jogger and believed in physical fitness and the value of parks for the community. “There aren’t enough parks no matter what area you live in,” he said in 1985 when he donated land along the river for Dorostkar Park. He gave four acres in 1979 and another 2.5 acres in 1980, and two more in 1985 for the park. He passed away in 2012.

Virgil Wedge:
Virgil Henry Wedge was a prominent lawyer in Reno for many years. He passed away in 2000 at the age of 87. Originally from a ranching family in Pioche, NV, Wedge came to Reno after getting his law degree from Brigham Young University. Besides his law work, he was very involved in politics. He was a partner in the development of the Park Lane Mall in 1961. Running a herd of 100 cattle on his ranch in southwest Reno was his hobby. Besides Wedge Drive being named in his honor, Virgil Drive in Reno is also named after him.

Theodora Peigh:
Mrs. Theodora Peigh (1923-1994) was a lover of animals and the arts. Her husband Al Peigh died in 1972. The Peighs moved to Reno in the early 1950s and purchased the Pine Tree Ranch south of Reno and raised cattle and horses.

Dr. Millard H. Duxbury:
An internist in Reno for many years, Dr. Millard Duxbury died in 1991 at the age of 75. He was born in Wisconsin but lived in Reno for over 40 years.

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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!

South Valleys Regional 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:

Washoe County Parks and Open Space - South Valleys Regional Park
Reno Gazette-Journal: December 18, 1992. (pg. 30).
Reno Gazette-Journal: "23 Acres donated to county for Park."
Washoe County Commissioners: Agenda. December 22, 1992.
Reno Gazette-Journal: Bremner, F. "County accepts land for sports complex."
Reno Gazette-Journal: DeLong, J. "South Valleys soccer field project needs funding."
Reno Gazette-Journal: "Grant funds help playgrounds."
Reno Gazette-Journal: Hoke, J. "Working to save Galena's open space."
Reno Gazette-Journal: "Legal Notices."
Reno Gazette-Journal: "Library, museum feasts for the eyes."
Reno Gazette-Journal: Melton, R. "Donation to school will do much goods."
Reno Gazette-Journal Obituaries: Dr. Millard H. Duxbury. December 20, 1991.
Reno Gazette-Journal Obituaries: Virgil Henry Wedge. March 9, 2000.
Reno Gazette-Journal: "Reid announces nearly $400,000 in grant funds."
Reno Gazette-Journal: "South Valleys Regional Park." June 17, 1990.
Reno Gazette-Journal: "South Valleys Regional Park." November 28, 1991.
Reno Gazette-Journal: "Library, museum feasts for the eyes."
Reno Gazette-Journal: Vetter, D. "Doctor gives 8.5 acres for county park."
Reno Gazette-Journal: Voyles, S. "Trusts donate 23 acres."
Reno Gazette-Journal: Voyles, S. "Washoe County getting wealth of new parks."

Contributor(s):

Jill Richardson (history)

Haley McGuire

Alex Shahbazi

Last Updated:

August 26, 2022 at 6:24:58 PM

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