As a child growing up in old Carson City behind the Governor's Mansion, Robert Crowell remembers splashing his feet and playing in a free-flowing artesian well across the street from his family's house.
Sunset Park was formed in what used to be the open play area. Crowell, who now lives next door to his childhood home, sees children moving back into the neighborhood and using the small park to play soccer, T-ball and swing at the playground.
The well that once trickled through the park area was probably capped off some time ago, Crowell said, but it reminds him how high the water table is in the neighborhood along East Sunset Way off West Robinson Street.
City officials are now proposing to drill a new well at the park, but this time it will have boxed computer systems and steel pipes sticking out of the ground.
"I don't mind the well," said Crowell, an attorney and member of the Carson City School Board. "As long as the long-term effect doesn't destroy the beauty of the park and the noise doesn't affect the neighbors."
Like any other developer, the city Utility Department must get permission from the Parks Department and Board of Supervisors before drilling at the park. The application will be considered Tuesday by the Parks and Recreation Commission.
"All data came back to say this was a very favorable site for a production well," said Utilities Manager Tom Hoffert. "Indications show it should (produce) a few hundred gallons per minute."
City staff met with neighbors about the site and presented conceptual drawings. After hearing concerns, the city will install older trees to landscape and hide the well's operations and combine the two electrical boxes into one, Hoffert said.
The well will make "almost non-noticeable" noise, Hoffert said. A small air circulating fan in the computer cabinet may generate sound, but everything else will be below ground.
The Sunset Park well is one of two wells the city is planning to drill this year to keep up with water demand in the growing city. Workers will begin construction on a second well, if all is approved, at a site in Fuji Park this year.
"This will be the third joint venture with Water and Parks departments in doing potable wells and helping to do park improvements," Hoffert said.
The Fuji Park well will replace two older, abandoned wells at the park. The new well will offer the park newer safety standards.
Hoffert expects the city may be able to award a contract to begin the Sunset Park project by the end of March.
Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
