The Fallon City Council approved an $815,798.81 contract Tuesday to replace nearly three-quarters of a mile of aging walking paths at Laura Mills Park with wider, fiber-reinforced concrete paths as part of a larger park improvement project.
The council awarded the contract to Ernst Earthworks. The project will replace both the interior and exterior asphalt walking paths with concrete designed to improve accessibility and address long-standing drainage issues.
Public Works Director Brian Byrd said the existing asphalt paths will be removed and replaced with wider concrete paths that include improved slopes and drainage.
"The removal of the existing asphalt will allow for the installation of wider paths, proper slopes, and alleviating low areas," Byrd said.
The walking path project is one phase of broader improvements planned for the park. Byrd said the city has already completed a new exercise area on the north side, and previously purchased playground equipment will be installed while the walking paths are under construction.
City crews also plan to install a professionally designed irrigation system, improve soil conditions, and reseed the park.
"Our hope is that we get the walking paths, the playground, seed in the ground, and the irrigation system before Oct. 1," Byrd said.
Construction will require temporary closures within the park.
"The plan is to close the interior walking path portion where the playground is because that's where the majority of the work and hazards are going to be," Byrd said.
He said staff hope to keep portions of the exterior walking path open for as long as practical before expanding closures as construction progresses.
Councilman Paul Harmon encouraged the city to better inform residents about the project in response to ongoing public inquiries about improvements at the park.
"I think if there's any way that we can publicize this project," Harmon said. "I think we've gotten a lot of feedback about Laura Mills Park."
Harmon said he hopes residents will recognize the improvements as part of the city's ongoing investment in the park.
"I don't know if the city did the best job of promoting what project we were going to be doing," Harmon said. "Hopefully by October we've got seed on the ground and grass growing, and it looks really nice."
Byrd said the project will be funded primarily through city bond proceeds. The council approved the contract unanimously.
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