Carson City MAC project ground breaking Thursday

Ground breaking for Carson City’s new multi-purpose athletic center (MAC) is set for Thursday morning on Russell Way.

The ceremony is expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. with the Board of Supervisors on hand as the initial spades of dirt will be turned to kick off construction of the recreational facility, which will be 33,418 square feet and rise just south of the Boys and Girls Club building at 1870 Russell Way, according to a press release sent by city staff right before 5 p.m.

The MAC building will feature two collegiate basketball courts that can be converted to four smaller tournament-sized courts for basketball or volleyball. It also will have an elevated walking and jogging track.

According to a news release issued by city government and the Parks and Recreation Department director, Roger Moellendorf, other facility amenities include locker rooms, rest rooms and administrative space. The project will be on 10.6 acres next the boys and girls club building and there is a shared use agreement between the city and the club.

The general contractor will be Miles Construction of Carson City. The architect is VCBO of Salt Lake City, Utah. Construction oversight is being managed by city government’s Public Works Department. Project completion and a grand opening are expected next December. The $8.3 million project is funded partially from Question 18 Quality of Life money dating to 1996 and partially from the infrastructure project sales tax hike of 2014.