(Photos by Chris Holloman)
Reno, Nevada: More than 2,000 visitors flooded Reno’s East Fourth Street on Saturday, April 23 for the city’s inaugural Victory Way Block Party, the realization of Next City’s 2015 Vanguard Big Idea Challenge. The event aimed to showcase the vibrant arts and brewery community along Fourth Street, long considered one of the city’s more disenfranchised neighborhoods.
The block party took place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and was kicked off with a parade featuring several local art cars and street performers starting on Lake Street and ending on Elko Avenue. Live bands performed throughout the afternoon on open-air stages. Visitors browsed arts and crafts vendors; sampled food from several food trucks; enjoyed street artists, muralists, and other performers; and took a self-guided walking tour of the businesses on Fourth Street with a bingo-style map. During the event, American muralist Erik Burke created an expansive mural called “Cast in a New Light” that pays tribute to veterans, who make up a large portion of Reno’s homeless population.
“Saturday’s event brought a vision to reality,” says Vice Mayor and Reno City Council Member Oscar Delgado. “I was very happy with the event’s outcome and was reminded of the power of collaborations in our community. Whether it was a business, a nonprofit or an entertainer, all played a role in making the day a success. I look forward to the vision continuing to evolve into a permanent space in our downtown community.”
Leading up to the event, new banners were hung throughout the district; wayfinding signs to guide pedestrians throughout the city will also be hung later this month. Storeowners in the area said they saw a huge increase in foot traffic throughout the day, and the event provided a stepping-stone to the formation of a new merchant’s association that will enable local business owners to work together on future events.
“The innovative ideas that came out of the Next City Vanguard conference dovetail perfectly with RTC’s plans to enhance safety and give people transportation choices,” says Amy Cummings, the director of planning for the Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County. “Events, like the one planned by the innovators, are building a sense of community and triggering revitalization. These trends are going to be supported with new wider sidewalks, improved electric bus service, new landscaping and bike lanes. We’re very excited to have worked with the Vanguards to develop these positive plans that will give Fourth Street a truly bright future.”
The event was funded with a $10,000 grant procured by Next City for the Vanguard Big Idea Challenge from the city of Reno, The Nightingale Family Foundation, Dermody Properties and United Construction, and was organized by Next City, The City of Reno, Reno Art Works and EDAWN.
For questions or press inquires, please contact Sara Schuenemann by email or phone at (302) 409-0631.
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