The creation of Virginia Lake Park was a product of the Great Depression era, a time when public works projects were pivotal in providing employment and fostering community development.

With the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Virginia Lake was created in 1937 specifically for fishing. Water enters the lake via Cochran Ditch and exits through a screened, submerged storm drain. From here, water drains into Boynton Slough, then Steamboat Ditch, and eventually the Truckee River.

The pond sits within Virginia Lake Park, which is managed by the City of Reno. Fish stocking by the Nevada Department of Wildlife started from its inception, but since 1951, rainbow trout have been the primary species stocked.

To help lift the United States out of the Great Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps was created in 1933. The CCC as it was sometimes known, allowed single men between the ages of 18 and 25 to enlist in work programs to improve America’s public lands, forests, and parks.

For many, just the prospect of three meals and a bed were enough to get young men to enroll. As jobs and income were incredibly scarce, the CCC for a lot of these young men was their first job. Enlisters would make $30 a month, $25 of which would be sent straight to their families, while the other five was for the worker to keep. Meals and lodging were provided in military camp fashion. Education opportunities were an added bonus of joining the CCC. In fact, many completed their high school education while serving.

During construction, the Virginia Lake project began with a crew of 25 workers and quickly expanded to 60. The crews dug the massive lake basin, added storm drains, built a walking path around the lake and installed landscaping.

When it was completed, the lake covered 25.5 acres, with a capacity of 208 acre-feet and a maximum depth of 12 feet.

While the lake has served as a stormwater detention facility during particularly wet years, it was originally intended to serve as a city fishing park and recreational lake. It has traditionally been stocked with fish (mostly rainbow, brown and bowcutt trout), although a state record, 35-pound, 3-ounce carp was caught in the lake March 2019. Other varieties of fish found in the lake include Channel catfish, largemouth bass and black crappie.

In addition to fish, the lake also is home to waterbirds, including double-breasted cormorants, geese, duck, snowy egrets and California gulls.

Virginia Lake is a winter home to dozens of species of water fowl. The Audubon Society reports that over 100 species have been recorded there, with notable ones including “Hooded and Common Mergansers, Snow and Ross’s Geese, and occasional Barrow’s Goldeneye and Eurasian Wigeon.”

A couple of small islands in the lake, from which fountains spray water, also serve as nesting grounds for several species of birds. Visitors often bring stale bread from home, which they feed to the birds.

The lake remains one of Reno’s more popular recreation spots with grassy fields, picnic shelters, barbecue pits and tables and parcourse fitness areas.

Reno is home to dozens of fantastic parks, but Virginia Lake Park is most definitely a destination of note. Here you can take a stroll along a paved path while taking in the views of Virginia Lake. Although close to downtown, the park surrounding the lake makes for an excellent place to enjoy nature's tranquility.

There may be pedal boats available to rent in the future at Virginia Lake.

Recently, the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Reno hosted a pilot pedal boat program at Virginia Lake to see if it would be a hit. These boats were coming in and out of the dock all morning and afternoon. People seemed really excited about getting out on the water.

This was a test run to see if it would be worth expanding and putting these boats on other lakes in parks around the city.

Surrounding the lake is a popular almost flat, paved 1-mile walking and jogging loop trail.

Prior to my Real Estate career, which began in 2004, I worked for 22 years at the nearby Peppermill Hotel Casino.

The Virginia Lake Loop Trail was a relaxing and beautiful place to go for a walk on a lunch break.

Virginia Lake Park, created in 1937, is more than just a recreational area; it is a historical and cultural landmark that embodies the spirit of Reno. Its development through the decades reflects the city's growth and its residents' commitment to preserving natural spaces.

As a hub of community activity and environmental education, Virginia Lake Park continues to be a vital part of Reno's urban fabric, offering a peaceful retreat and a reminder of the city's rich heritage. The ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance the park ensure that it will remain a cherished asset for future generations to enjoy.