The Fernley Community Foundation (FCF), a nonprofit organization committed to improving Fernley’s community facilities for the city’s residents, is commemorating the progress of the Fernley Community Campus project. The FCF will announce the progress and acknowledge key players at a Media Day on Friday, December 18 at 2 p.m. outside of the William N. Pennington Fernley Complex.
Home to the new Lyon County William N. Pennington Senior Center and Human Services offices, the project began with the development of the William N. Pennington Fernley Complex, an 18,000 square foot building designed and built by Sletten Construction. Lyon County led and funded the $8.6 million project, which included a $3 million grant from the William N. Pennington Foundation, and all services were moved over on November 2 from the former senior center on Newlands Drive.
“Our Foundation is dedicated to capturing the positivity of our community,” said FCF Chair Cody Wagner. “We would like to ensure the Pennington Foundation, Lyon County and the City of Fernley receive the credit and appreciation they deserve for building an incredible community-oriented facility for all residents of Fernley to enjoy.”
The FCF recently received its first major donation for the Fernley Community Campus: a $100,000 grant from the Polaris Foundation. The grant will be used to build the Polaris Plaza directly to the east of the historic Fernley Depot on Main Street.
“We are honored to have Polaris’ dedication to this project and to our city as a whole,” said Wagner. “They have been champions for Fernley from the start, beginning their commitment with asking what they could do to be a great community partner. This grant demonstrates their devotion to supporting Fernley and helping to build community.”
“Community development is one of Polaris’ core areas of strategic giving. It is important to us that our local communities are vibrant and offer opportunities for everyone,” said Ben Mollman, Manager of the Polaris Fernley Distribution Center. “Polaris is proud to support the Fernley Depot Community Campus, as it will serve as a gathering spot for the community and its residents, offering space to learn, grow and Think Outside.”
The City of Fernley and Fernley Community Foundation are collaborating on future proposals to build a new community center as the main attraction for the Fernley Community Campus. This center will be located behind the historic Fernley Depot with plans to include a community gymnasium, convention center, large outdoor events space and a new home for the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows.
More details about the vision and future of the Fernley Community Campus will be revealed on the Media Day on December 18 at the Pennington Fernley Complex, located at 105 Lois Lane. The FCF will recognize contributions to the Fernley community from the City of Fernley, Lyon County and the William N. Pennington Foundation.
All members of the media are welcome. If you would like to attend media day, please contact fernleycommunityfoundation@gmail.com to RSVP ahead of time – as the event will be capped at 50 people in accordance with the current Nevada government mandate – or to arrange for a one-on-one interview. Facial coverings and social distancing are required.
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About the Fernley Community Foundation
The Fernley Community Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a mission of “building Fernley’s future through improved community facilities, arts and culture, recreation, education and social interaction for residents of all ages.” The FCF is at the forefront of the Fernley Community Campus project, which is planned to be a centralized community space that will include the new Pennington Senior Center, arts and education opportunities, recreational spaces and more. To learn more about the FCF, visit fernleycommunityfoundation.org.