The temperatures have been blazing hot in Sparks this July, and residents may be wondering where to go to get some respite.
Managed by the City of Sparks, the Sparks Marina is a public area with paved walking paths, trees, grass, and sandy beaches that surround a 77-acre manmade lake. It was formerly a gravel pit owned by a construction company and was later acquired by the City, decontaminated, and reopened for public use. The reservoir holds around one billion gallons of water, and its natural aquifer replenishes the lake with around 2-3 million gallons of water per day.
The preserved lake in turn provides recreational opportunities for windsurfers, kayakers, swimmers, scuba divers, anglers, and sailboats. On particularly hot days, Goodi’s Café also serves ice cream and cold drinks.
Other activities at the Sparks Marina include a dog park, playgrounds, picnic areas, volleyball courts, and showers.
It also acts as habitat for several bird species, such as yellow-headed blackbirds, seagulls, ducks, herons, and bald eagles that can be seen there in the autumn and winter months.
The Sparks Marina is also home to several renowned Northern Nevada events, such as Kids Free Fishing Day, the Mark Wellman’s Adventure Day, and Dragon Boat Festival in the summer; and the popular Thanksgiving Day Scheels Turkey Trot in late fall.
Along with the Legends Outlets being within walking distance to the Sparks Marina, other businesses that are directly on the lake include Western Village casino on the western side and the Sparks Water Bar and Lighthouse Coffee on the eastern side, across the bay from the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza. Sparks Marina Paddle also hosts standup paddleboard tours out of the marina.
The Sparks Marina Park is located at 300 Howard Drive and is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. It is staffed with lifeguards seven days a week from 1-6 p.m. For any questions or concerns about the Sparks Marina, a park ranger is available between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Outside of those hours, contact the Sparks Police Department at 775-353-2231. Remember to drink lots of water, wear sunscreen, and stay in the shade as much as possible during periods of extreme temperatures.
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