NLV park’s greenery could cost city extra $100,000

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, June 7, 2000 | 11:37 a.m.

Because the James K. Seastrand Park is behind schedule and planting grass would delay the July opening date, Pardee Construction Co. tonight will ask the North Las Vegas City Council to pitch in $100,000 toward the cost of sod.

If the council grants the request, this would be money over and above what the city is obligated to spend according to a contract signed with Pardee in May 1999 for the company to build the city park at its Eldorado master-planned community.

The contract specifically states that Pardee will shoulder the cost of sodding and planting grass at the nearly 23-acre park at the northwest corner of Camino Eldorado and Tropical Parkway.

While Pardee was anticipating the cost of seeding certain areas, it now realizes that to meet its opening date it must lay sod over the entire park, which is much more expensive.

Pardee, in exchange for agreeing to build the $3 million park, received 34 open acres from the city in May 1999. The company used that land formerly owned by the city to expand its single-family housing at Eldorado.

The contract included building the park, complete with soccer and baseball fields, tot lots, restrooms, lighting and other amenities.

Pardee has also added amenities to the park that were not within the agreement, including a jogging/walking path with exercise stations along the path.

In November, the council approved spending $250,000 for soccer field lighting at the park, an expense not covered by the contract.

In terms of the grass and according to the contract, the project originally included having three of the existing soccer fields sodded, while the remainder of the park would be seeded.

According to staff reports, in order for Pardee to make their July opening date the company will not have time to seed, which is why it is requesting help with paying for sod. Pardee is asking to split the cost of the sod with the city.

Pardee spokesman Klif Andrews said the project is behind schedule because of problems with power and water supply, and that the park will not be ready until November if it were seeded.

Planting in the heat of the summer would be problematic, he said, because workers would have to water the seeded ground by hand every two hours and it would be almost impossible to grow grass under that condition.

Andrews said putting money toward sod will save the city money in the long run. Three months after the park is completed, Pardee will turn the park over to the city, which will maintain it at an estimated $424,000 a year.

Kenneth Albright, acting parks and rec director, said he will recommend that the council allocate the funds because sod is a better alternative to seeding.