Naming the Park and Culture Through the Years
After the school's closure, the Bishop Whitaker Hospital Association was formed and in 1917 the building was sold to two Washoe County ranchers and demolished for lumber. In 1922 the 6.5 acre plot was purchased by the city for a park. At the request of alumnae of the Whitaker School, who continued to meet annually for many years, the park was named in honor of Bishop Whitaker.
Whitaker Park was a vibrant hub for cultural and recreational activities for several decades. Many improvements and additions were made over the years and it became a popular site for public and private events including movies, concerts, puppet shows, watermelon feeds, political rallies, church socials, and go-cart races.
Fun little anecdote: In August 1952, five hundred people attended the ceremony in Whitaker Park to crown King and Queen of Playground— Tommy Lee, age 10, representing Pickett Park, and Patsy Brooks, age 11, from Mount Rose playground.
Image:
Bishop Whitaker School for Girls. Photo by Jerry Fenwick.