Mills Park will get 56 new parking spots along Highway 50

Mills Park will get 56 new parking spaces along Highway 50, providing needed event and overflow parking for the popular Carson City recreation spot.

While workers have removed asphalt and the fencing on the north side, work will be suspended during this weekend's Nevada Day Festival and parking will be available.

The diagonal spaces will be separated by a landscaped median, providing extra parking in the future for park visitors, said Parks and Recreation Director Steve Kastens.

"It will help with overflow parking at the Community Center when we have events there," Kastens said. "Also, it will make it more convenient and be closer parking for the skateboard park. So it should help with some of our parking problems related to Mills Park and the Community Center."

In the past, the city had to get special permits from the Nevada Department of Transportation to allow parking along the highway during special events. The city was using a temporary permit, which prompted city officials to seek a permanent solution, Kastens said.

The $215,000 project being constructed by Granite Construction will be paid for using funds from the Mills Park Bond. Work started last week. The contractor was given 45 days to complete the job, but with the weekend suspension of work to allow room for festival-goers to park, the city will allow extra time, Kastens said.