Maslow Park renamed after boy who was killed there

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 | 9:19 a.m.

Many parks and schools in the Las Vegas Valley are named after residents who have made significant contributions to the community.

Hector Perez never had that opportunity.

But that is exactly why Clark County commissioners agreed last week to rename Maslow Park to honor Perez, the 9-year-old boy who was fatally shot last month while in the park with a crowd of neighborhood children.

A new sign labeling Hector Perez Park will be placed at the park on Lana Drive near Nellis Boulevard and Harmon Avenue by the end of the year.

Doug Bradford, manager of resource development for the Parks and Recreation Department, said residents in Perez's neighborhood asked that the name of Maslow Park be changed in memory of the boy.

"They felt it was a good way to honor the little boy," Bradford said.

Commissioner Dario Herrera, who oversees the district in which the park sits, said he supported the name change after learning that "Maslow" carried no historic significance.

"I thought it was appropriate to honor the memory of a young boy lost for no apparent good reason," said Herrera, who said he approached his fellow commissioners on the proposal. "I'm not looking for fanfare, I just wanted to do something quietly to honor the boy's memory."

Perez was in the neighborhood park Oct. 9 with about 15 children when at least five gunshots were fired from a dark-colored Dodge Neon that pulled through the parking lot. Perez, who was shot once in the chest, was taken to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Perez was at the park with his 17-year-old sister, 19-year-old brother and 2-year-old brother when the shooting occurred shortly after 9 p.m..

Bradford said it is not unusual for a park or school to be named after a community member so soon after his death.

The investigation into Perez's shooting is still open, and Metro Police have no suspects. Police are looking for a dark purple or black four-door Dodge Neon with tinted windows. Anyone with information about the shooting can call police at 229-3521 or Secret Witness at 385-5555.