Editorial: Better planning is essential for parks

Sunday, Sept. 19, 1999 | 1:25 a.m.

Most local governments -- with the notable exception of Henderson -- have been woefully inadequate in meeting the park and recreation center needs of area residents, but some positive steps have been taken recently. Early last week a partnership was formed by the city of North Las Vegas and Clark County to share the costs of building a recreation center in North Las Vegas. The city of Las Vegas, meanwhile, last week approved a 20-year master plan for the development of parks and trails. All in all, then, the week wasn't too bad.

But there still is a way to go in achieving harmony, as was evidenced by a flap reported by the Sun's Adrienne Packer last week. Las Vegas City Councilman Larry Brown and Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone got into a dispute over plans to build a 40-acre park in the northwest. Malone, who represents a district that also contains city residents in Brown's ward, charged that the city of Las Vegas was holding hostage the plans to build a park. Malone was upset that the city wanted Durango Drive leading to the park to be widened from four lanes to six to handle the traffic for what the city believes will be a regional park. Malone and residents along Durango Drive worry that a six-lane design will ruin the rural character of the area.

Lately it seems that for every two steps forward, local government officials take one step back in planning for the valley's future. The acrimony between Brown and Malone over a new northwest park demonstrates why regionwide planning for parks and recreation centers is needed. There previously have been successful consolidation efforts of government services, including the Metro Police Department, the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Regional Transportation Commission. Not only would such a consolidation create greater efficiency and savings for all area residents, it would provide a more unified vision for the development of parks and recreation centers.