At the Mineral County Board of Commissioners meeting held March 15 & 16, Grant Administrator Alyssa Burke gave an update regarding potential projects that may be considered for 50/50 matching grants through the Nevada State Parks Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Seabee Park, Lions Park, and State Beach were the public lands that Mineral County identified in its application, and there was discussion about where the other 50 percent of funding could come from for improvements to the three places.
Public Works Director Eric Hamrey said that his department could contribute to improvements at Lions Park and Rob Mathias mentioned that the Sportsmen’s Club is taking care of the latrines, shades, fire pits, and other amenities at State Beach. Hamrey said that a few of the K-rails have been washed out as well and they will need to redirect the water that is coming off SR-95, so that should be a priority as well.
Burke and Commissioner Cassie Hall explained how the Nevada Division of State Parks scores the submissions and that all three areas fit the criteria for the grant. If Mineral County applied for all three grants and got approved, then 50 percent of the cost would total around $300,000. It is unclear whether the county could choose one or two of the projects if the county were awarded all three.
Commissioners Curtis Schlepp and Larry Grant believe that the priorities should be placed on State Beach and Lions Park for the application. Burke said that there has been prior discussion about refurbishing the tennis courts, taking out the playground equipment, and installing more workout equipment at Lions Park.
When the commissioners revisited the conversation later that afternoon, Commissioner Grant said that he believed improving State Beach would bring more tourism to Hawthorne. Commissioner Hall said that her priorities would be to focus on State Beach and then Seabee Park next.
In conclusion, the Board voted to put in for a grant of $200,000 for improvements to State Beach as well as apply for a grant to install an obstacle course at Lions Park for no more than $100,000.
According to the Nevada Division of State Parks website, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 was established to help preserve, develop, and assure accessibility of quality outdoor recreation resources to all US citizens of present and future generations. Approximately one million dollars is available in the LWCF to Nevada’s cities, counties, towns, GIDs, and Native American tribal governments for the 2023 fiscal year.
