Fernley’s Out-of-Town Park could receive significant improvements to its athletic fields, including nighttime lighting, if the Fernley City Council approves proposals presented to it on March 26 in the city’s first budget planning session for fiscal 2026-2027.
At that strategic planning work session, in which department heads presented their wish lists for next fiscal year, Public Works Director Barry Williams requested $600,000 for athletic field improvements and $80,000 for sports field lighting at the Out-of-Town Park from the city’s general fund.
Williams said the planned athletic field improvements would include all the ball fields and some improvements to the soccer field.
The requested athletic field improvements should help alleviate some of the concerns expressed at a late-January city council meeting where local sports enthusiasts pleaded with the council for improvements to the city’s many athletic fields.
To correct compacted, uneven and nutrient-deficient soil, resulting in poor grass, drainage issues and increased maintenance at the fields, the proposal would remove and replace existing soil and turf to allow for proper grading, improved soil composition and the establishment of healthy, resilient grass, according to a staff report.
However, even with these improvements, the city would probably only get five to 10 years of useful life before the fields would need to be rehabilitated again, Williams said.
When asked if the turf would be artificial or natural, Williams said it would be natural turf because artificial turf is cost-prohibitive, probably costing $300,000 to $350,000 per field. In addition, he said, with natural grass, it is expected all athletic fields at the park could be rehabbed in about a year, whereas if they used artificial turf, it probably would only be possible to do one field a year.
Most of the athletic field lighting costs will be paid for by a grant from a local industry leader. “I believe it’s Trex,” Williams said, indicating the $80,000 for lighting being requested from the city will only pay for any costs not covered by the grant.
The lighting would allow increased evening use, especially during the fall and spring when daylight hours are shorter, allowing increased access as well as supporting local athletic leagues and special events, Williams said.
In a related public works department request, Williams also asked the council for $121,000 from the general fund to install security cameras at In Town, Out-of-Town, Green Valley and Autumn Winds Parks.
The cameras are intended to help reduce vandalism at the parks, including broken equipment and graffiti eradication, which costs the city thousands of dollars every year. Williams said the city spent about $15,000 because of vandalism last year at Out-of-Town Park, about $7,000 at In Town Park and another $7,000 at Green Valley Park.
Public works department requests for city hall improvements include new carpet at $80,000, another $250,000 to slurry seal and re-stripe the parking lot, $35,000 to remodel the public restrooms, $250,000 for a new HVAC system and $300,000 for a commercial backup generator, with all funds to come from the general fund.
Williams also requested $500,000 from the general fund for another commercial backup generator for the Community Response and Resource Center (CRRC), which is more expensive than the city hall generator due to the size of the facility, he said.
The backup generator at the CRRC is needed because the CRRC is also intended as a refuge in the event of a national emergency or a disaster, Williams said.
Wrapping up budget requests from the public works department, Williams also asked for $40,000 for two storage buildings to house equipment and tools currently stored outdoors, $200,000 to replace two pickup trucks with service bodies and $70,000 for a large vehicle lift to replace transmissions, large pumps and other items that now have to be sent outside for service.
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