http://www.downtownmakeover.com/downtown_reno/Public-beautification-projects.asp
Downtown Reno, in the last twenty years, has been growing more and more rundown and unsafe. Although there are large parks, such as Wingfield and Barbara Bennet, near the downtown area, these parks, just like the surrounding buildings, have become rundown and neglected. The playgrounds and parks in the residential areas of Reno are considered to be much safer; therefore the parks closer to central Reno are not frequently used by children and instead are used by the city’s homeless for shelter. These parks and the surrounding areas have, at one point or another, hosted several rows of tents, where the homeless reside during the warmer months. These areas were dubbed “Tent City” in reference to the homeless camps that plagued the country in the Great Depression. The neglected state of the downtown area was brought to the attention of Reno’s local government; in response a revitalization project for the city began. Following the city’s lead, the Riverwalk Merchant’s Association (RWMA) initiated a beautification project for the Truckee Riverwalk. One of the major goals of this project was to create an area for Reno’s youth in order to encourage and provide means for outdoor recreation. As a result, the downtown riverwalk has become one of Reno’s most popular features, providing entertainment and recreation for both adults and children within the downtown area.
http://www.downtownmakeover.com/downtown_reno/Public-beautification-projects.asp
As part of the Reno Beautification project, many sections of the downtown river area have been renovated. Many of Reno’s homeless, especially in the summer months, would reside in the parks and empty buildings along the Truckee river. Since the mid 1990’s, the city of Reno has put together a program that aims to rebuild and enhance many of the buildings and parks that surround the downtown area. While the project’s designers suggested that it was all an effort to improve the quality of Reno’s downtown area, many saw it as an opportunity to address the growing problem of homelessness in that area. In the 90’s, the police were not very strict about enforcing the public park’s laws because at this point, Reno was still struggling to deal with its growing homelessness problem. The programs for the homeless were not very well organized and it wouldn’t be until 2006 that Reno would come up with an effective plan to combat poverty within downtown Reno. The parks and
http://www.visitrenotahoe.com/
poverty were only part of the problem. Due to Reno’s large gambling and casino scene, there are not a lot of activities and options for Reno’s youth. Part of the beautification project aimed to create recreational and safe activities for all ages, opening up downtown Reno to both adults and children. While the beautification program did create a safer area for families to enjoy near downtown, Reno’s fight against poverty is not as successful. One of the Riverwalk’s biggest complaints is centered on the amount of homeless men and women that loiter or live in the parks. The beautification project, instead of completely solving Reno’s problem with homelessness, merely treated a symptom by improving the aesthetic appeal of the downtown area.