Parks projects get construction tax funds

Two neighborhood parks and a new carriage house will get a funding boost from the city's residential construction tax proceeds.

Each year, the Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission decides where it will allocate Residential Construction Tax funds. Generated from taxes on new construction the taxes may only be used for the acquisition, improvement and expansion of neighborhood parks or for installing facilities in existing parks or neighborhood parks.

The commission determined three projects will share the $150,000 proceeds:

Ronald D. Wilson Memorial Park will get $60,000 for site development costs, Carson River Park will receive $75,000 for Phase 2 of its construction and $15,000 will go to Carson City Historical Society for the design of the Roberts House Carriage House.

Plans for the carriage house were donated last year by a local architect and will blend in with the Gothic Revival architecture of the Robert's House.

The original house was constructed in Old Washoe City in 1859 and is now at 1207 N. Carson St. In 1873, the house was placed on a flat cart and rolled over the hill to its present location.

The 1,200 square-foot carriage house will provide meeting rooms, a display area, space for a library, archival storage for the city's historical documents and space for training and education.

"Fifteen thousand dollars is a small investment in a great piece of real estate that's a keystone right on main street," said Carson City Supervisor Pete Livermore, at the board's Dec. 2 meeting where the allocations were approved.

The Ronald D. Wilson Memorial Park is a neighborhood park near James Drive and Mark Way. City officials expect to have some facilities installed like a climbing wall, restroom and play equipment by the end of next year.

The Carson River Park is an outdoor recreation area on Carson River Road near Lloyds Bridge and the Carson River, adjacent to Silver Saddle Ranch.

Construction will be on a leased Bureau of Land Management parcel on a portion of the Silver Saddle Ranch.

Funds allocated to the Carson River Park will go toward a 50 percent match in the grant program for the Carson River outlined in State Ballot Question 1, passed by Carson City voters in November 2002. The Nevada Division of State Lands will provide matching funds.

Construction will include picnic shelters, landscaping and new ranch fencing.

Contact reporter Robyn Moormeister at rmoormeister@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

parks projects

Carson City's residential construction tax will be spent on:

• Ronald D. Wilson Memorial Park will get $60,000 for site development costs

• Carson River Park will receive $75,000 for phase 2 of its construction

• Carson City Historical Society will receive $15,000 for the design of the Roberts House Carriage House