[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   CONGRATULATIONS TO SPARKS, NEVADA

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to offer my congratulations to the 
City of Sparks, NV, which was recently selected as a finalist in the 
2004 All-America City competition.
  Sparks is a city of about 80,000 residents in Washoe County, which is 
in northern Nevada. Under the leadership of Mayor Tony Armstrong, it is 
a wonderful place to live, even better than it has been in the past.
  The All-America City Award is sponsored by the National Civic League, 
which was founded 110 years ago by Theodore Roosevelt to promote 
citizenship and democracy.
  Since the award was initiated in 1949, more than 4,000 communities 
have competed for the coveted designation as an All-America City. This 
year, hundreds of cities began the process, which requires extensive 
documentation of how the community is responding to challenges. Sparks 
was selected as one of the 30 finalists.
  Nevada is the fastest growing State in the country. Sparks is doing a 
great job of absorbing growth, while preserving the hometown family 
atmosphere that makes it so attractive to longtime residents and 
newcomers alike.
  Sparks has also done a great job of revitalizing its infrastructure, 
especially in the wake of a massive flood a few years ago. Sparks 
Marina Park and the Victorian Square redevelopment project are two 
examples of this renewal.
  Sparks has always been a great place to live and raise a family. Now 
it can boast of being an All-America City finalist. Once again, I 
congratulate the Mayor, City Council and the citizens of Sparks, NV.

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