Julie Guerrero, Executive Secretary to the Churchill County Manager, worked with several different groups and volunteers to create the jet park monument on the west end of the city limits on the Reno Highway, to show support for the Navy in the community.
The original project began in 1993, when the Nevada Department of Transportation relocated Bottom Road and relinquished a small triangle of property to the county for the purpose of a monument. The Navy League’s former leader, Webb Stephens, worked to procure an A7E Corsair from the naval museum in Pensacola, Florida. Over the years, that plot of land and the jet seemed to fade away in its glory. “As a resident and proud supporter of the Navy, it was clear it needed a little tender love and care,” Guerrero said.
23 years later, the band of volunteers began a transformation of the park into its present status. On November 22, 2016, as a part of Enel Green Power North America’s “Green Up Our Community Week,” and along with Colorado TBC, and Grant Mills, the clean-up day brought volunteers from those companies to share resources and labor to clean up the park. “The efforts of everyone provided us with a clean slate to work from, and it allowed it to make the park a community project,” Guerrero said.
Over the years NV Energy, Churchill County Facilities, and Parks and Recreation staff have all donated their time and resources to install lighting in the park in order to showcase the jet and future plaque installments. The NAS Fallon Public Works Department also donated labor to clean the jet that is on loan from the naval museum, along with grounds at the park.
Nearly a year later, in July of 2017, the Fallon Rotary club donated monetary funding to assist with the jet park as well. As time passed, other local businesses and private community members, donated more and energy to continue improving the park with signage and benches. Boulder Designs, Roger Lambert Construction, Cheek Construction, McFadden Electric, Western Nevada Title, Bob Withers, Captain Wilke, Stu Richardson, Jack and Gail McCallister, and many more, have made donations of time and treasure.
“It is a huge community effort -- from to the sponsors to the volunteer work,” Guerrero said. The jet park was a long-term project that became a shining star showcasing the community’s effort to welcome newcomers. “Sailors and other people who come here to work for the Navy aren’t familiar with us and our community, and this will be the first thing they see when they come into town, which will show that we are a proud Navy community,” Guerrero said.
As the jet park nears completion, Guerrero and the county leadership had aimed to dedicate the completed park on a special day – the release of Top Gun: Maverick. The entire community would have felt the powerful attachment to the Navy community, and the pride that both Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick were filmed in and near Fallon. Unfortunately, due to the Coronavirus, the movie release was postponed along with it the large gathering expected for the dedication.
As the movie industry recovers, and the film has been set to release on December 23, 2020, Guerrero said that the jet park will be dedicated as soon as it is safe to have group gatherings and the county will no longer plan to coordinate the dedication of the jet park with the release of the film.
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