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Nevada council approves Harrington Park concept and greenlights private capital campaign
Summary
The Nevada City Council approved a phased concept plan for Harrington Park and authorized staff to begin a private capital campaign to fund park amenities, including a dog park, trails and a Frisbee-golf area; staff said about $51,000 in donations is already earmarked and private matching will be required before construction begins.
The Nevada City Council voted to approve the concept plan for Harrington Park and to allow staff and the Nevada Foundation to begin a private capital campaign to fund the project in phases.
Staff framed the proposal as a phased effort that would rely primarily on private donations and grants rather than direct city funding. The presenter said roughly $51,000 in in-kind and monetary contributions already have been identified and used the dog‑park component—estimated in example materials at about $125,000—as a funding example to illustrate campaign needs. Staff told the council that to begin the dog‑park phase they would need to raise roughly another $78,500 and secure a private commitment of $20,000–$25,000 for the initial phase.
Councilors asked for clarification on phasing, funding and whether city crews would provide labor. A council member said the dog park example was only a component and that the full concept includes Frisbee golf, trails and a bridge; staff said detailed costs for those individual amenities have not yet been finalized and that each element would go out to bid if and when funding is secured. Another council member urged caution, noting constituents prefer road repairs, and asked for transparency about which funds would be used for construction and city labor contributions.
Motion and outcome: The council approved Option 1 to move forward with the concept plan and start a capital campaign; the motion was moved by Henry and seconded by Jason and passed on a voice vote.
Why it matters: The decision authorizes the city to solicit private donations and seek grant matches rather than obligating the city’s general fund to pay for the park up front. Staff said final design, phasing and formal contract awards will return to council for approval and that no construction will begin until required private fundraising benchmarks are met.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate with the Nevada Foundation on campaign length and solicitations, refine cost estimates for each park phase, and return to the council with specific bids and proposed timelines if fundraising reaches program milestones.
