The ground has been officially declared "broken" for the soccer fields - the first step to a hoped-for Winnemucca recreation center and Boys and Girls Club. Those who gathered included representation from the City of Winnemucca, Humboldt County government, Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority, Humboldt County School District, and members of the Winnemucca Recreation Center/Boys and Girls Club Committee.
Ray Parks, chair of the Winnemucca Recreation Center committee, announced a $300,000 grant pledge from Newmont Mining Company. Newmont also agreed to have the Boys and Girls Club as one of the charities to which employee Legacy Fund contributions can be made. Parks noted that the Newmont Legacy Fund in Elko raises $100,000 a year to support the activities and operation of Elko's Boys and Girls Club.
The Newmont pledge joins many other pledges by businesses and individuals. City Manager/Engineer Steve West said although there have been significant pledges and there are wonderful grant opportunities available for building the recreation center/Boys and Girls Club, the operation costs depend on passage of the quarter percent recreation sales tax addition.
The group talked about hopes that the measure will have been passed by voters by the time the polls close on Tuesday evening, Nov. 4.
"It's been 25 years since Winnemucca has added any significant recreation facilities or opportunities," said Mayor Di An Putnam. "I hope the voters are willing to add the quarter-percent recreation tax that so many other communities have already put in place to improve the quality of life for their residents. I believe such facilities will be seen as a positive factor for those who might consider moving their business or industry to our area."
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