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Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Volunteers dig in at Main Street Art Park

Volunteers dig in at Main Street Art Park
Fernley General Services Foreman Randy Gahr helping 16 volunteers from the Step Ahead Preschool. Photo by Kerry Lyman

By Kerry Lyman

Volunteers trickled in and out of Fernley’s Main Street Art Park most of the morning on Tuesday, August 12 to help install 95 plants in newly irrigated planters and among new artwork installed along the linear park.

The artwork and landscaping effort was mostly funded by a federal Community Development Block Grant, a $1,200 donation by Twisted Steel and a $2,500 donation by the Fernley ACES, according to Lydia Altick, deputy city manager, noting that Trex also donated an eight-foot by eight-foot tree planter.

At about 11 a.m. last Tuesday, Jessica Murdock, development coordinator for the city manager’s office, said about 20 volunteers had shown up earlier, but the growing heat of the day made many of them disburse and only a few were left at that time, before two small school buses from the Step Ahead Preschool drove into the parking lot and disgorged 16 young and eager volunteers.

Seven city employees also helped out at the planting event, Murdock said.

The block grant funds were also used to pour an asphalt walking path along the length of the park, extend electrical lines to provide nighttime lighting to some of the displays and self-watering irrigation to the planters, costing about $60,000, Murdock said.

Pointing across the street to the barren yard by the train depot, Murdock said improvements to that landscaping effort will be done at a later date. At an earlier city council meeting, Altick had said block grant funds had also been used to purchase a planter for that site, as well as a 9-foot metal flower bouquet and three 5-foot sculptures of flowers and insects.



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Comment author: Christopher Walsh Comment text: Could you look into the strong recurring smell around Fernley? It smells like sewage and it can be bad enough that people don’t want to be outside or open their windows. It would be helpful to get an investigative journalist help the Fernley residents get a clear answer from the City, NDEP, and any involved facilities. I was really disappointed that the smell was not disclosed by my realtor when I moved here. I enjoy Fernley and am seeing the improvements that are being made. With Appreciation Comment publication date: 9/12/26, 2:49 PM Comment source: Sewage spill near City of Fernley Municipal Well 9 Comment author: Alicia Euresti Comment text: We are all so blessed to have Pastor Matt and Mrs. Regina in this town. They have become a major part of pur family and our children adore them. Thank you both for all you do for qll of us. We love you!!!! Comment publication date: 9/6/26, 9:24 PM Comment source: Fascinating Fernley: Meet Your Neighbors at Living Faith Food Pantry Comment author: R Conley Comment text: Is the deputy receiving any additional training or reinforcing prior training? Comment publication date: 9/5/26, 10:08 AM Comment source: Inmate escapes from Fernley substation Comment author: Kayla Allen Comment text: Suzie was a wonderful woman. I was pleased to call her my "godmother" as she helped me to become a better version of myself. I think about her a lot. Comment publication date: 7/10/26, 8:31 PM Comment source: Susanne Lynn Foster Comment author: Sheena Nash Comment text: After the trivia night is over, I would love for you to print the questions. I grew up in Fernley and would be interested to see how many answers I know. The coin is beautiful. Congrats on 25 years as a city! Comment publication date: 6/22/26, 1:38 PM Comment source: City of Fernley planning 25th anniversary celebration with three days of community events C Comment author: Carl C. Hagen Comment text: Maybe there is more to this story than what is reported, but it seems to me that the businesses that are causing this problem ought to be paying for this, or at least a major portion of it. Why does the County have to pay the whole bill? Just my opinion. Comment publication date: 5/7/26, 10:26 AM Comment source: Storey County, Tesla partner to extend I-80 Patrick on-ramp