North Las Vegas considers park property

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, May 31, 2000 | 10:21 a.m.

North Las Vegas officials expect to hear from an appraiser in the coming weeks about the price of land considered for a park site in the northwest part of the city.

Appraisers are evaluating a 16-acre parcel at Craig Road and Ferrell Street. If approved, the park would be the 23rd in North Las Vegas.

Residents have repeatedly told the council of the need for parks and recreation areas throughout the city, and the council has responded by making more parks and recreation areas a goal to reach by 2002.

Just 5 percent of the city's budget is now directed toward culture and recreation, including parks. The result is a growing city of 117,000 people that has lowest park acreage per resident in the Las Vegas Valley.

Randy Cagle, property manager for public works, said once the appraiser tells the city what the property is worth, the City Council will decide whether to authorize the purchase.

The money to purchase the land will come from the residential construction tax, which assesses a 1 percent fee up to $1,000 maximum on every new residential development. District 3, the area north of Cheyenne Avenue, is averaging more than $400,000 a year in assessment taxes.