Commission bypasses Centennial Park plan idea, seeks upgrades

Carson City Parks and Recreation Commission members voted without dissent to delay a John D. Winters Centennial Park site development plan.The approved motion also encourages city staff to seek funds through grants or other means to improve existing Centennial Park facilities at the fourplex ball fields not far from the Eagle Valley Golf Course complex.Park Planner Vern Krahn said at the commission’s Tuesday meeting that two challenges leading staff to recommend the two-pronged motion were lack of money and questions about what may develop at the golf complex. Owned by the city, the complex is leased to a nonprofit that hasn’t kept up with lease payments to the city.The Carson City Board of Supervisors has yet to decide what to do about the matter given that treated city effluent is used to water the course and keep it green, and disposing of the effluent in some other manner could cost more.At Centennial, modernization is needed, including work on the ball fields, parking lots and concession facilities, commissioners were told.The commission also heard a report from Parks and Recreation Director Roger Moellendorf on the multi-purpose activity center (MAC) building planned on Russell Way.Moellendorf said the plan is for a “mini-MAC” rather than the “big MAC,” with two gymnasiums of high school size rather than larger. An elevated walking track, however, remains part the proposed structure. Moellendorf said work is proceeding on choosing a “construction manager at-risk” rather than using a low-bid process to construct the MAC, which could cost about $5.7 million. The Carson City School District has used a similar method. Carson City Supervisor John McKenna, a former school board member and a current member of the commission, gave a verbal nod to that approach, saying, “It works pretty well.”No action was taken on the MAC report, nor on reports or ideas regarding a disc golf course, hosting a state fair in Carson City, repairing and improving the skate board area at Mills Park and a program to promote fishing instruction for youths.In addition, the commission got updates from city Transportation Manager Patrick Pittenger on completion of a multi-use path along Fairview Drive, between South Edmonds Drive and the 5th Street roundabout, as well as bicycle/pedestrian improvements along Roop Street between Winnie Lane and Northridge Drive.