City reaches out to future voters

Friday, Oct. 19, 2001 | 4:22 a.m.

To help children understand the basics of city government -- who its leaders are and what its departments do -- the city of Las Vegas has launched an interactive website for children ages 4-12.

The colorful website can be accessed at clvkidzkorner.com. Among its features is a time line of Las Vegas history that dates back to 1700, when Spanish traders traveled through the area.

By clicking on dates on the time line, users are briefed on such early Las Vegas events as the visit in 1829 of 18-year-old Mexican scout Rafael Rivera -- the first non-Native American to travel through the area; and when explorer John C. Fremont arrived in 1844 and drew a detailed map of the valley.

Historic photographs on the site include Las Vegas' first post office; its first television station (KLAS Channel 8) and the area's first building to have air conditioning (El Portal Theater, built in 1928).

More recent photographs include the Stratosphere and the Fremont Street Experience.

Children can also read short biographies on Mayor Oscar Goodman and City Council members.

The website was designed to generate interest in the city among future voters, who are just beginning to learn about local government, said Joseph Marcella, director of Information Technologies for the city of Las Vegas. Children can learn information about basics of city departments and play games on the website.

"The features are specific to kids," said Louis Carr Jr., software development manager for the Information Technologies Department. "It's extremely simple in navigating and it's entertaining."

More importantly, he said, it's educational. "Most kids understand the president, who he is, what he looks like," Carr said. However, "They're impacted more by local government."

The site includes links to websites for the city of Las Vegas, state of Nevada, Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Clark County School District and cities of Henderson, North Las Vegas, Boulder City and Mesquite.

Marcella said the city of Las Vegas plans next spring to introduce a similar website geared toward teenagers.