$1.25 million prioritized for Carson City parks, rec projects

The Parks and Recreation Commission on Tuesday made its capital improvement recommendations and honored the life of a former member.

The commission heard the staff report prioritizing roughly $1.25 million in work and equipment for Carson City’s parks and recreation facilities.

“We have more than $8 million in needs,” said Jennifer Budge, director, Parks, Recreation and Open Space. “We have aging infrastructure, the oldest vehicle fleet in the city.”

Among the larger projects recommended were $300,000 for playground rehabilitation, roughly $250,000 for further upgrades at the Carson Aquatic Facility, and $180,000 for a sprinkler system installation at Lone Mountain Cemetery. Work to upgrade the Carson Rifle and Pistol Range for $500,000 has already been submitted.

A $30,000 matching fund was added to the recommendation after users of the Pony Express Airpark advocated for money to redo the park’s runway. The new proposal would make available matching funds for groups with use agreements that want to make infrastructure improvements to a facility or park.

The commission’s recommendations go to the Board of Supervisors, which will consider and approve a city-wide capital improvement program budget when it approves the fiscal year 2020 budget.

The commission also made recommendations to the board on the naming of two parks and the Carson City Community Center’s Bob Boldrick Theater.

The city received 336 responses to a survey to name the three locations, said Dan Earp, recreation superintendent. The survey offered several names for each and an option to suggest a name.

The commission voted to recommend the names of Schulz Ranch Park for a 4-acre park under construction at the south Carson City residential subdivision, and Carson Ridge Disc Golf Park for the new disc golf courses.

The commission decided to recommend retaining the name Bob Boldrick and adding a tagline, Carson City Community Theater, to help identify it for marketing purposes.

The renovation of the theater is soon to be completed and celebrated next week with a ticketed opening gala fundraiser on Feb. 12 and a free public event on Feb. 13.

The meeting started with a tribute to Donna Curtis, the commission’s longest serving member who passed away in November.

“Her passing leaves a void in the community,” said LeAnn Keever, commission chair. “She was passionate about many causes. If it involved animals, she was on it.”

The commission briefly discussed naming a dog park or other park facility after Curtis in the future.

“Donna was so passionate,” said Budge. “I really miss her and it was an honor to know her.”