Fernley begins beautification work

The City of Fernley is taking the first small steps in its extensive Main Street beautification project.

Glacier Construction of Fallon won an $84,000 contract with the city to pour three concrete slabs to hold artwork donated to the city from Black Rock Arts Foundation’s Big Art for Small Towns program.Two of the pieces will be rotated to another city after a time, while the third, a desert tortoise designed by Fernley resident Pan Panjou, will remain in place. The artwork will be housed in a new city park to be built on the north side of Main Street at the terminus of Silver Lace Boulevard.

The artwork is a minor piece of a years-long beautification project that will change the look of Main Street from Interstate 80 through downtown Fernley, City Manager Chris Good says.

“It is only one piece of a larger project we are looking at for Main Street, but it is an important first piece,” Good says. “It is needed to make Main Street in Fernley a more welcome place for pedestrians and businesses and to promote Fernley’s identity. It also will help build community pride and help drive economic development.”

City officials are working with Wood Rodgers Inc. under a $90,000 Community Development Block Grant to get “big picture” ideas and concepts, Good says. Additional aspects of the work include paving, landscaping and placement of large natural boulders and installation of rock mulch. Contractors to perform the work will be selected as plans for the project are finalized, he adds.

“We are undertaking a larger project to create a theme and a design for the long stretch of Main Street. This is step one of a long-term process to improve Main Street, but this artwork will surprise some people and delight others.”

NNBW staff