Main Street Gardnerville Director Jen Tune speaks at Rotary on Jan. 30.
Gardnerville residents and visitors are very fortunate to have a clear focus on revitalizing, preserving and developing a unique identity in the downtown area.
Main Street Gardnerville Program Director Jen Tune, a Board of Directors and more than 250 community volunteers have been very successful at doing just this.
Tune shared with the Minden Rotary Club that the organization began with the efforts of Jim Park in conjunction with Robad and Associates. The Gardnerville Town Board approved a resolution to establish this separate non-profit section 501(c)(3) organization in 2008. In 2018, Main Street Gardnerville was Nationally Accredited (the only one in Nevada).
Volunteers serve on four very active committees:
Design - this includes flower baskets (“Main Street in Bloom”), Heritage Park Community Garden, Art Installations (6 art pieces including the “Man with Dogs,” 31 commemorative benches and commissioned art) and Historical Building Improvements.
Economic Vitality focuses on Clean the Town Annual Clean Up
Organization
Promotion through events like the Thursday Wine Walks, We Run This Town 5k Run/Walks, Annual Coffin Race and Fall Fest, Dia De Los Nuerto Fest and Wreaths Across America.
In 2024, there was a lot of focus on the Highway 395 repavement work through Gardnerville. Main Street Gardnerville sent out daily texts to residents with updates on street closures while NDOT dug down to the original 1920 street and replaced the ancient storm drains. In addition, facade improvement grants through the organization continued for four businesses totaling more than $135,000.
2025 projects include another round of Facade Improvement Matching Grants ($36k), Heritage Park improvements ($75k) and more Public Art Installations.
To get involved, check out their website at www.mainstreetgardnerville.org.