Editorial: Park-funding policy is a shot in the arm

Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002 | 8:43 a.m.

In 1999 the Clark County Commission created a park-funding policy that it hoped would result in more parks being built in the older areas of Las Vegas. The change allowed the local government to take funds, which have been set aside for park construction and renovation, and instead use them to buy land and raze old buildings to build a park in their place. Part of the difficulty in creating new parks in aging areas of the valley is that they usually are already built out. Acquiring land that is vacant or run down so it can be turned into a park is one way to get around this impediment.

The 1999 initiative finally came to fruition this month when the county started razing a grocery store at Twain Avenue and Cambridge Street to make way for a 9-acre park. Commissioners Myrna Williams and Dario Herrera, whose districts take in some of the aging parts of the valley, helped broker the deal to purchase the Twain property for $5 million from developer Irwin Molasky.

It is important that local government take steps to improve the quality of life for residents who live in the older areas of the city, and a park certainly would be near the top of the list. And while a new park alone won't revitalize an area, it is an important amenity and something that could encourage residents to stay and not move to the suburbs. This is one of those government initiatives that isn't flashy, but it is just the kind of policy where residents experience real benefits.