Big plans for parks revealed

Erin Neff

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001 | 9:24 a.m.

Parks are popping up all over the city of Las Vegas, but the city must build 77 acres of park space a year for the next 20 years to even meet national standards.

In 1999 the city had just 446 acres of park. A total of 92 acres were added in 2000 and another 120 are planned to come on line this year. By 2020, the city should have 1,550 acres.

The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday authorized some ways in which the city can achieve that goal.

The board prioritized and funded two particular shortfalls for park projects that had arisen.

As a result, the planned Metro Park at Gowan and Hualapai Way will be fully funded at $3.1 million. The project will have lighted tennis and basketball courts, a lighted skate park and a lighted roller hockey rink. It also will have barbecue and playground areas, paths and open space.

That project originally came in short $350,000 for the construction contingency fund. The city is funding the shortfall based on money saved in construction of the Bettye Wilson soccer park.

Pioneer Park, planned at Buffalo and Vegas drives, was authorized to receive $1.1 million from NDOT and $700,000 from residential construction taxes.

The council also awarded the bid for Metro Park to Richardson Construction; awarded an $844,000 bid for renovation of Baker Park to J A Vay & Sons and approved a $7,144,260 award to American Asphalt & Grading for construction of Buffalo Park.

Buffalo Park, at Buffalo Drive and Oakey Boulevard, will have 10 football fields and should be open by August. Baker, on St. Louis Avenue near Maryland Parkway, will feature new playfields, turf areas, equipment and lighting.

The council discussed the issue at length, including remarks about parks in specific wards vs. facilities used citywide.

Councilman Lawrence Weekly said he thought every new project is a testament to the city's current park efforts.

Many of the new park projects have been in Councilman Larry Brown's Ward 4. Councilman Michael McDonald is in the process of building five parks in his ward.

"This council will build more parks than any other in history," McDonald said.