City allots $28.8 mil. for parks

Diana Sahagun

Tuesday, June 26, 2001 | 11:06 a.m.

Both the mature and fast-growing areas of Las Vegas will reap the benefits of additional parks and a community center being built this fiscal year, which begins July 1.

In a special meeting Monday, the Las Vegas City Council spent nearly three hours deciding how to divvy up the $29.1 million available for parks and community projects this year. The money comes from the city's general fund, including residential construction taxes.

Instead of lobbying for projects in their own wards, the council members tried to take a universal approach to determine which projects should be built.

To some, that meant their wards would go with less park money this year. Most, though, cheered the method as fair and set the oldest and newest parts of town as top priorities.

The council's wish list included requests for $81 million worth of projects. The council whittled that down to $28.8 million in funded projects. The projects that weren't funded will be rolled over to next year and given top priority.

Councilman Lawrence Weekly's ward, which includes West Las Vegas and other older areas, received $8.4 million for several projects, most downtown, including a park and enhancement of the Lewis Street Corridor.

Weekly, however, was happiest with $6.2 million allocated to the Doolitte Community Center, built more than 40 years ago. There are talks of rebuilding the complex after numerous attempts at renovation.

Following the meeting, Weekly said he was pleased with his colleagues' willingness to help rebuild the declining areas of Ward 5.

"We need to start looking at everything that needs help and working on projects together," he said.

The fast-growing northwest, which Councilman Michael Mack oversees, will receive $10.3 million. Topping off the list of projects is $7 million for phase-one construction of the Deer Springs Regional Park. Mack's ward also received funding for design work to renovate Brinley Pool and construction of a six-acre park.

After the meeting, Councilman Gary Reese decided not to emphasize the funding given to certain wards. He noted the city as a whole will benefit, and residents are oblivious to ward boundaries. Reese's ward received $1.7 million for a baseball park and a future park.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald's ward received $3 million toward construction of a 140-acre regional park. Another $2.1 million was allocated to cover an Olympic-sized pool being built by Howard Hughes Corp.

While Councilman Michael McDonald's Ward 1 has recently benefited from several new park and road projects, it received only $412,500 this fiscal year. Some $47,500 would go to rehabilitate Dexter Park and $365,000 for a feasibility study of the Mirabelli Community Center.

The council also set aside $200,000 in extra park improvements for all wards.

Some council members rolled their eyes when Councilman Larry Brown questioned details of the budget that resulted in lengthy and complicated answers. Brown's ward ultimately received $3.3 million to build the Northwest Family Park.

But the councilman, who says he loves crunching numbers, said the format of the meeting was the best way to accomplish city business.

"This was the best procedure I've seen in the four-plus years I've been on the council," Brown said. "There was a balance of being protective of your ward and your own concerns, but acknowledging there are some citywide priorities that need to be addressed."