Harrington Park, sitting at the east edge of Nevada along the historic Lincoln Highway, is the focus of the City’s next major recreational fundraiser and project. And this time, the recreation isn’t just human-centered. The revitalization of Harrington Park will include a Bark Park for your favorite four-legged companions.
The “Harrington Park Fetch Some Fun” capital campaign recently kicked off, and residents, businesses, and organizations are invited to consider how much they can contribute to help finance this important community undertaking.
The key elements of the Harrington Park project are:
• A fenced-in dog park with play areas for both large dogs and small dogs. The dog park proposes to feature a training/event space, water and electricity on-site, security system, shade, benches, and agility/play equipment.
• Frisbe golf course expansion with nine additional tee boxes, water crossings, and signage.
• Paved trails inside the park to the restrooms and an asphalt milling trail system through the remainder of the park (which, when funds allow, will be paved as well).
• Sand Volleyball/Mini Pitch amenities. This includes relocating the sand volleyball court from the aquatic center, where it will be available to use more months of the year, and having a mini-pitch court for volleyball, adult soccer, and other uses.
• Restroom renovation to make the restrooms more aesthetically appealing on the outside, and update fixtures on the inside.
“I think this is one of those projects where the finished product is going to be wonderful, but the process of getting there could be just as meaningful,” said Parks and Rec board member and Fetch Some Fun Chairperson Lacey Johnson. ” We have an opportunity to revamp a community space and turn it into something fulfilling, giving people even more reasons to gather, play, and spend time together. I’ve seen what happens when people in Nevada believe in something and decide to pitch in. Whether someone gives $10, volunteers their time, sponsors a piece of the project or simply tells a friend about it, every contribution moves us closer.”
To begin fundraising efforts, the City applied for and secured a $250,000 Land, Water and Conservation grant. But there is a long way to go when it comes to funding the project, estimated at $640,575.
Creative Ways to Give to Harrington project
The Nevada Foundation will be accepting donations for the fund-raising campaign. This means that all contributions are tax-deductible.
Many will choose to give a straightforward monetary gift toward the project, and it will be very much appreciated.
But, considering the park’s historic value — being the site of Nevada’s first dog park, having an incredible history of being given to the City in 1985 by one of the City’s largest and longest-time employers Donnelley Marketing — some may want to take an opportunity to give in a more memorable way by having areas/amenities named after their family, a loved one, or a beloved dog.
Naming opportunities will include areas of the dog park, dog park benches, and dog park equipment; holes of the frisbee golf course; and other park features, such as parts of the trail system, benches along the trail, a pedestrian bridge, the mini pitch, and more.
If you would like more information about this project, please email Nevadabarkpark@gmail.com.
Park’s History and Future Possibilities
Harrington Park was donated to the City of Nevada from Donnelley Marketing in 1985. It was truly the city’s first “outdoor recreation complex,” until the SCORE Park along Fawcett Parkway was developed.
Harrington Park has, through the years, featured two ball diamonds, a shelter house, a playground, restrooms, and lots of greenspace for soccer. In 2000, the Parks and Recreation Department received a grant from KCCI for the purchase and installation of a 9-hole frisbee golf course (which was recently updated), and in 2004, through the work of a committee dedicated to it, a small skate park area was added.
Over the course of time and other priorities, Harrington Park has aged and seen less use by the public. Now the City aims to resurrect this wonderful green space along the historic Lincoln Highway. The park is full of possibilities, several of which are named in Nevada’s 2040 vision plan: development of a dog park, expansion of the disc golf course, expansion and connection to the trail network in town, expansion of adult recreational opportunities, and increasing partnerships to enhance recreational opportunities and community aesthetics.
The City strives for this project to have the best possible amenities for each area that is proposed for the park, but as always, the fundraising is key to what we can and cannot do. Your donation does matter when it comes to how this project unfolds!