LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – As part of an effort to host larger community events and welcome more people to campus, UNLV and Clark County have formed a partnership to upgrade the University's track & field facility.

The Board of County Commissioners will give a $1 million gift towards the project for the installation of new bleachers at Myron Partridge Stadium & Sheila Tarr-Smith Field, which will provide the UNLV Track & Field program the ability to host larger community events in the future. 

Commissioner Lawrence Weekly was the driving force behind the gift.

"I want to thank Lawrence Weekly and his fellow commissioners for all their efforts on this initiative," said UNLV President Dr. Keith E. Whitfield. "We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with Clark County and its continued support of UNLV."

"Happy I could help," said Commissioner Weekly. "The UNLV track has been an important amenity in this community for decades. These new bleachers will very well complement what we have there now."

"Community is a cornerstone of UNLV and we are so appreciative of this grant from Clark County, the Board of Commissioners and to Commissioner Weekly," said UNLV Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois. "We look forward to this project and upon completion, welcoming many community events to our track & field stadium and our campus."

In addition to the track & field program's regular-season meets, UNLV has served as host to the Mountain West Outdoor Championships, Nevada Senior Games, local all-comer meets and other charitable events. The gift from the County will give UNLV the opportunity to welcome similar events back to campus as well as new options such as the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Championships, United States Track & Field Association (USATF) Youth Championships and more.

"We want to thank the County and Commissioner Weekly for this grant," said UNLV Track & Field Head Coach Yvonne Wade. "Our goal is to be able to bring events to our campus that will allow athletes of all ages and their families to have a great experience. Our sport has one of the largest numbers of participation in the nation. There are no gender boundaries, no racial boundaries, no socio-economic boundaries and no age boundaries. We have an opportunity to provide great opportunities for everyone and have a positive impact on our community when these events happen, so I am grateful for the support of that vision."