A few weeks ago, the City of Sparks announced that a few capital improvement projects are being done in Victorian Square to be completed before summer comes around. Among these are the Nugget Event Center Forecourt Project and Victorian Square Infrastructure Improvements.
The Nugget Event Center Forecourt Project was approved at the December 12, 2022, in a unanimous vote by the Sparks City Council. Q&D Construction was awarded the $3.7 million contract to: remove existing trees and planters; remove and replace sidewalk, curb, gutter, pavers, irrigation, and electrical systems; install eleven designer shade structures, shade trees, and an accessible tree planter; and install a backlit message board pylon and seat wall.
This project came about in 2019 when staff was planning future phases of the City’s streetscapes and recognized an opportunity to enhance the Nugget Event Center in the area between 10th Street and Victorian Plaza Circle. A lot of people gather around that area during special events and concerts, plus there are more people living in downtown Sparks who could benefit from these amenities. Cooler areas are especially needed in the May-September months when air temperatures top 100 degrees Fahrenheit while the summer concert/festival season is in full effect.
On February 13, 2023, the Sparks City Council then approved the Victorian Square Infrastructure Improvements Section 2C Project, which involves removing and replacing the pavers with concrete as well as removing the four existing tree planters and replacing them with three bigger ones. The majority of these “public improvements” were first constructed in two phases in 1988 and 1990 but have shown substantial deterioration in the last decade or so. In 2016, City staff identified this part of Victorian Square as an area that could be improved and enhanced to continue to be a safe and welcoming area for special events. A plan was soon put into place to phase improvements of Victorian Square into the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, one of the projects focusing on the Section 2C area of the south side of Victorian Avenue from 10th Street to Pyramid Highway.
When the Victorian Square Infrastructure Improvements Section 2C Project went out for bid on November 30, 2022, the City received five bids for it a month later and awarded the contract to Anchor Concrete who submitted the lowest bid of $423,659.68.
In the next few months, commuters should be aware that Victorian Avenue is limited to one travel lane while this construction takes place. The projects are scheduled to be completed by the beginning of April.
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