Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ambrose Outdoor Classroom topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee recommends grant submittal for Ambrose Carson River outdoor classroom and trailhead
Summary
Carson City advisory committee unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors authorize a Recreational Trails Program grant application to develop an outdoor classroom, vault toilet, ADA parking and interpretive elements at Ambrose Carson River Natural Area; staff estimated the project cost and outlined timeline and partners.
The Open Space Advisory Committee unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors authorize submittal of a Recreational Trails Program grant application for the Ambrose Carson River outdoor classroom and trailhead project.
Greg Berggren, Carson City trails coordinator, presented the proposal and said the concept dates to 2012. The project would place new amenities above the floodplain at the Ambrose site, including an ADA‑accessible vault toilet, two ADA parking spaces, an 18‑by‑18 shade structure, about 150 feet of accessible pathway, three interpretive panels and a kiosk for changeable content. “The site is separated from busy roads and the entrance was originally constructed to accommodate school buses,” Berggren said, describing the location as suitable for school groups to conduct water sampling and river education.
Berggren told the committee the application is competitive, federally funded through fuel tax dollars and administered by the Nevada Division of State Parks. He said the project team used cost estimates from last year for the pre‑application and would refine numbers for a full application if invited. The staff report included an estimated grant request amount of $99,928 with a 20% local match estimated at $24,982, for a total estimated project cost of about $124,910.
Lindsey Boyer, open space manager, said the city’s highest current priority is water rights acquisition and that staff view grants as a way to offset costs; the department would also consider future budget funding if grant awards are not successful. Committee members asked about the grant scoring process; Berggren said the state committee uses a matrix and seeks regional projects, and suggested letters of support would help an application.
A motion to recommend submittal of the Recreational Trails Program application passed without opposition. Berggren said award notifications typically arrive in January and, if funded, the city would move promptly to procurement and construction steps.
The committee also discussed how the recommendation could serve as evidence of local support for the grant; staff said the motion can be submitted with the application and that individuals are free to submit personal letters of support if they wish.
