Eldorado park to be named for Seastrand

Lisa Snedeker

Thursday, May 20, 1999 | 11:38 a.m.

A new North Las Vegas park in the Eldorado master-planned community will be named after former longtime Mayor James Seastrand, who was instrumental in opening up the vast northern valley to development in the 1980s.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan calling for the transfer of 34 city acres to Pardee Construction Co. in exchange for the development of a $3 million park on about 23 acres owned by Pardee.

The establishment of parks is one of the council's goals for 2003, and the need for additional parks and recreation in the growing city was one of the top campaign issues to surface during the primary municipal election.

The park, slated for completion by April 2000, will be built on the northwest corner of Camino Eldorado and Tropical Parkway.

The agreement revises the development's original land-use plan to build a recreational complex, rather than a 10-acre park that remains to be built within the project.

In exchange for the expanded family park, Pardee asked the city to rezone the 34 acres for residential use.

Klif Andrews, Las Vegas area manager for Pardee, told the council the park will be home to six youth soccer fields and two lighted youth baseball fields along with volleyball, tennis and basketball courts. In addition, there would be tot lots, restrooms and picnic areas.

The park, which will be turned over to the city upon completion, will increase the city's recreation space by 16 percent and cost the city an estimated $212,000 to maintain for the first six months. That price tag, which is in the city's fiscal year 1999-2000 parks and recreation budget, includes hiring two new maintenance workers.