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The Story Behind Retract Plaza
An 80 year placemaking journey to beautify downtown Reno
The City of Reno once rattled with train noise, horns and exhaust fumes as one of the largest transportation hubs in Northern Nevada for the Union Pacific Railroad. In the early 1940s, the Reno Transportation Rail Access Corridor, ReTRAC, was proposed to improve the overall quality of life in Reno. The project was completed in 2005, successfully depressing 2.25 miles of railroad tracks below city streets.
ReTRAC was just three-years-old when the Great Recession devastated Northern Nevada. The project was forced to halt and left both physical and metaphorical empty spaces in the heart of Downtown Reno.
Designed to be a central component of the city, the original plans envisioned a large greenway and entertainment spine for citizens to gather for centuries to come, but due to the economic downturn, it fell into the shadows for 15 years.
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Until today, when financial partners joined forces once again.
After more than a decade-long-wait, innovative partnerships have come together to enhance the ReTRAC East Plaza concrete and dirt space between the Whitney Peak Hotel and Eldorado Resort Casino on Virginia Street. Residents and visitors can now look forward to a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing space. Plans are underway to landscape the eastern lid. Artist Brad Carney was selected to paint a mural with the help of the community at large.
When the project is complete, the ReTRAC plaza will be painted with a mural named “Locomotion” and maintained by the City of Reno Arts, Culture and Events Office. Making an attractive space is part of a larger placemaking and programming goal for the Downtown Reno Partnership. We believe the space will be more appealing to ongoing small events and activities once the project is completed.
Locomotion Plaza Fun Facts
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Square Feet Of Concrete Was Painted Twice
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Colors In The Mural
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Gallons Of Paint Used
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Volunteers Signed Up For 300 Time Slots To Complete The Mural & Install Landscaping
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Hours To Complete The Mural
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New Shade Trees
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Square Feet Of New Trees & Flowers
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Perennial Flowers Installed
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The Journey To Locomotion Plaza
Construction ran from May 2021 to July 2021.
Community volunteers painted the plaza from June 7-11, 2021.
ReTRAC stands for: Reno Transportation Rail Access Corridor.
Downtown Reno Partnership, in partnership with the City of Reno, spearheaded the beautification to enhance this public space as part of its placemaking mission.
Construction ran from May 2021 to July 2021.
Community volunteers painted the plaza from June 7-11, 2021.
ReTRAC stands for: Reno Transportation Rail Access Corridor.
Downtown Reno Partnership, in partnership with the City of Reno, spearheaded the beautification to enhance this public space as part of its placemaking mission.
$25,000 was awarded to the City of Reno by the Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to pay for the mural.
$50,000 was awarded to Downtown Reno Partnership by the Main Street grant.
$25,000 was awarded to the City of Reno by the Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to pay for the mural.
$50,000 was awarded to Downtown Reno Partnership by the Main Street grant.
The Downtown Reno Partnership combined the Main Street grant and $80,000 of its beautification budget and donated those together to the City of Reno to complete the project.
Nevada Landscaping Association, Stantec donated a combined $65,000 of consulting time.
The Downtown Reno Partnership combined the Main Street grant and $80,000 of its beautification budget and donated those together to the City of Reno to complete the project.
Nevada Landscaping Association, Stantec donated a combined $65,000 of consulting time.
Community Artists & Volunteers
The following Reno artists & community members painted the mural:
Asa Kennedy • Shay Neth • Daria Nakritskaia • Jenny Baker • Holly Spahr • Diane Hohen • Amaya Rodriguez Keir • Ashley Brock • Benjamin Kincaid • Kelly Corrigan • Kiley Cryer • Ashley Frost • Sofia Lombardo • Heidi Parker • Cynthia Sarver • Richard Kaczmarek • Cynthia Albright • Cammy LoRe • James Johnson • Lauryn Norris • Heather Reynolds • Ashley Gottlieb • Violet Smith • Bryce Chisholm • Courtney Green • Eric Lerude • Stephanie Lerude • Michael Trembath • Tamara Thomas • Andrew Thomas • Marissa Velasquez • Anahy Meza • Ysenia Velasquez • Jeremiah Neal • Nathan DeGraaff • Tamarah Zimek • John Rossi • Bridget Enderle • Deborah Hug • Naima Valentin • Sara Cardoza-Orellana • Shayleah Neth • Daria Nakritskaia • Kristianna Twyeffort • Ed Adkins • Holly Spahr • Asa Kennedy • Allyssa Robidoux • William Gray • Constance Hanson • Vicki Heacock • Leah Norsworthy • Shawna McBride • Marylou Johnson • Megan Anderson • Alisha Anderson • Carson Costa • Haley Grable • Diane Hohen • Takeshi Otani • Rachel Zunino • Maya Stibick • Michael Higdon • Jenny Baker • Victoria Richardson • Kyle Hess • Joshua Chang • Chanelle Bessette • Michelle Legras Peltier • Teasha McNamara • Tyrell Daniel • Dylan Meeks • Macely Daniel • Christina Cavallaro • Mira Mathavoru • Zilla Soswa • Dylan Daniel • Jordan Young • Brenda Bush • Rick Eilenberger • Jaime Eilenberger • Shaylynn Ellis • Sheyenne Taylor • Caitlin Aitchison • Adam Czajkowski • Shoshana Zeldner • Jessica Baker • Cathy House • Jaime Chapman • Kelly Kittell • Brian Hanson • Karla Dawn Villanueva • Ian Johnson • Adrian Montes • Elana Jovero • Cecilia Wade • Robert Alto • Aly Robbins • Katrina Olson • Leah Kittell • Inge Costa • Alicia Colon • Art Rangel • Penny Rangel • Fran Vancil • Bianka Dodov • Elizabeth Dodov • Salvador Torres • Daisy Robles • Elise Stephens • Rachel Jones • Melanie Wood • Cheryl Leith • April Gratrix • Sonya Lucatero • Mike Willyoung • Josh Crayton • Danielle Stroup • Madeleine Hendrick • Shannon Ferguson • Marlowe Kulley • Wan Cone • Jessica Adams • Alexis Hill • Erik Fong • Megan Duggan • Marleta Fong • Lea Wilson • Kelly Echeverria • Mandy Hodach • Shawn Everhart • Abigail Everhart • Lindsay Morgan • Tyler Herzig • Andrew Wang • Tonglin Yue • Yaoyue Wang • Jenie Villanueva • Carole Brill • William Letcher • Gail Letcher • Karen Bernal • Arthur Kerr • Annie Flanzraich • Jill Flanzraich • Eric Marks • Emma Will • Maggie Will • Michael Stewart