Council discusses Laura Mills Park improvements

The Fallon City Council received a report Oct. 18 to discuss a proposed special project to improve Laura Mills Park with a Community Development Block Grant.

City Engineer Derek Zimney said the CBDG development is intended to develop a community’s vitality or expand economic opportunities. He said the Governor’s Office on Economic Development (GOED) will allocate $3 million for rural Nevada.

Zimney said community projects will be evaluated and ranked at a third hearing for the park which is located between Babb Lane and West 5th Street. The park has a large grassy area.

“Three million dollars sounds a lot, but it isn’t a lot,” Councilman Paul Harmon said, referring to how the money will be divided among Nevada’s rural communities.

Zimney provided the council a proposal for the Laura Mills Park revitalization. The proposed cost for all the improvements is $1.8 million with the CBDG expected to cover $630,700. That would leave $1.2 million for the city to fund.

Among the major improvements for the park, which was constructed in the mid-1970s, is for improved walking paths and parking lots. Newer playground equipment would cost $250,000.

Harmon said there’s a chance the city may not receive the requested amount.

The council discussed the amount, but they also realize the grant may award only half or upward to $400,000. The city’s Kaiser Street project, for example, received about half of what the city requested.

Mayor Ken Tedford said the project at Laura Mills may have to be phased in similar to the Oats Park improvement plan.

Zimney said the project request will be reviewed by GOED in February.