COR NEWS RELEASE
Community-wide effort to rebuild athletic fields at Moana Stadium site
Reno City Councilmembers Jessica Sferrazza and Sharon Zadra have joined forces with the Great Basin Youth Soccer League, Sierra Nevada Community Aquatics and other sports organizations to support the Miracle on Turf: The Rebirth of Moana Stadium Fields. This project to rebuild athletic fields will be the first step toward transforming the Moana Site into a multi-use complex featuring a modern aquatics facility, soccer fields, baseball fields and other community amenities. The Miracle on Turf event will be discussed at the February 8 Reno City Council meeting, which begins at noon at Reno City Hall, 1 East First Street.
Northern Nevada has suffered a series of catastrophes over the last nine months. While these events have shone a light on the community’s strong character, they have also left residents shaken. These critical events occurred at a time when northern Nevada’s economy continued its agonizingly slow recovery, which has led to blight and decline. Moana Stadium is illustrative of these economic challenges; it is literally a crumbling building and has become the target of vandalism, making it an eyesore for the neighborhood.
In bright contrast, the Miracle on Turf is an opportunity for the entire region to come together and literally build a legacy that will benefit residents’ children, grandchildren and successive generations for years to come. During the weekend of June 2-3, 2012, neighbors and friends will converge on a portion of the site and begin the transformation into a series of athletic fields for use for soccer, rugby, football and assorted other flat field sports. This project will complement the mission to construct the future multigenerational aquatics center next door, a collaborative effort by groups including the City of Reno and Sierra Nevada Community Aquatics.
The two day Miracle on Turf effort will be similar to the 1968 community action that built Pat Baker Park on Bishop Street, Reno’s first “Instant Park”, which continues to serve that neighborhood today.
Councilmembers Sferrazza and Zadra have reached out to every elected official in northern Nevada to join them in this effort. So far the following leaders have committed their support:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,U.S. Senator Dean Heller, U.S. Representative Mark Amodei, Governor Brian Sandoval, Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki, Treasurer Kate Marshall, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, Secretary of State Ross Miller, State Controller Kim Wallin, Senator Greg Brower, Senator Don Gustavson,Senator Ben Kieckhefer, Senator Sheila Leslie, Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson, Assemblyman David Bobzien, Assemblyman Skip Daly, Assemblyman Ira Hansen, Assemblyman Pat Hickey, Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung, and Washoe County Commissioner Bonnie Weber.
Many of them will attend the February 8 City Council meeting in support of this outstanding project.
While sweat and elbow grease will be the key ingredients to make the Miracle on Turf a reality, money is also necessary to realize this vision. The fundraising effort has already begun. The Peppermill Hotel Casino and Spa and the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa have each committed to contribute $10,000. We expect to hear from other substantial contributors at the February 8 City Council meeting. Soon we will work in conjunction with the Great Basin Youth Soccer League and other youth organizations to launch a community-wide drive for individuals and organizations to be a part of the miracle by contributing financially. Tax deductible donations can be sent directly to Great Basin Youth Soccer League, a 501(c)3 organization. Please mark your donation “Moana Stadium Fields”. Additional information can be found at www.gbysl.org.
