FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Adam Mayberry (775) 353-7894, 232-4636

 

Sparks, NV – On Monday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m., ceremonies will begin to mark the partial opening of the Golden Eagle Regional Park & Sports Complex, a $30 million City of Sparks project and the largest public works development in the history of Sparks.

 

Mayor Geno Martini will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to inaugurate not only the start of the softball and baseball season, but years of recreation and sporting events at what will be the finest public park and sports complex in the western United States.

 

Additionally, the project will be recognized as the single largest project in the history of the artificial turf industry, with the anticipated record installation of 1.4 million square feet of turf.  The synthetic fields will not only save 129 acre feet of water a year (42 million gallons) enough to provide water to 428 single family homes, but will double programmable hours, or use of the fields, as well as provide a safer playing surface for youth and adults. 

 

"We are very proud of the Golden Eagle Regional Park," said Sparks City Manager Shaun Carey.  "The facility and all it has to offer will become the standard for regional parks, and will serve to accommodate the diverse needs of sports enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels for years to come."

 

"There is no way to overstate the impact that this Sports Complex will have on our community," said Stan Sherer, Sparks parks and recreation director.  "This facility will provide years of healthy recreation opportunities for persons of all ages."

 

"Our community owes a huge thank you to the City of Sparks and its recreation department for their vision, because this world class facility will be a gathering place for many residents for many years," said Norm Dianda, President of Q&D Construction, the project's general contractor.

 

"This is a historic project for the artificial turf industry and yet another first in the storied history of FieldTurf," said Joe Fields, FieldTurf Tarkett CEO. "We are thrilled that Sparks chose our turf. The City will be very pleased with the FieldTurf product and all of the advantages it brings to their community."

 

On April 14, the Golden Eagle Regional Park will be operational for softball and Babe Ruth baseball, and will be fully complete by mid summer this year.  The park is only open during scheduled games and practices at this time. 

 

In addition to picnic grounds and trail heads, the sports complex includes six softball fields, three multi-use fields, two baseball fields, and two little league fields along with numerous amenities such as dugouts, bleachers, volleyball courts, concession and restroom facilities, picnic shelters, lighting, roads and parking facilities.  Additionally, the local sports bar and restaurant Bully's has been selected to run the food and beverage concession.

 

The park is situated on a 450-acre parcel east of Wingfield Springs and south of Vista Boulevard.   A majority of the funding for this project has come from RED Development which paid the city $17.7 million for Don Mello Sports Complex.  Other funding sources include $6 million in consolidated tax revenue supported bonds, $3.4 million in park impact fees, and $1 million from Washoe County's trails and open space bond.

 

#####