Thursday, June 13, 2002 | 10:55 a.m.
At the historic circular park near downtown Las Vegas, homeless people are a more common sight than children playing on the grass.
Built in the 1940s, Circle Park has become mostly unusable for families, in part because of heavy traffic along Maryland Parkway, residents say.
Building on the progress they've made in revitalizing their neighborhoods, residents living in and around the old Huntridge section have formed a new plan to transform the park by adding new amenities and creating a place where the community can gather.
"We wanted it to be a place where people felt safe getting there and being there, and a place where the community could come together as a whole," said Ben Contine, who chairs the park steering committee.
The plan comes after months of efforts by residents of various neighborhood associations to revitalize their areas by renovating their homes and promoting downtown living. Earlier this month, residents fought a proposal by the Stratosphere to build a thrill ride that would coast past their homes, saying it went against the goals of neighborhood revitalization.
Since January, residents living in neighborhoods bounded by Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas Boulevard, and Sahara and Charleston boulevards have attended meetings and this week finalized a plan for the park.
The plan includes the installation of playground equipment and a jogging and walking path.
Residents have secured the support of Councilman Gary Reese and Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams, who represent the area.
Now it's a matter of getting the plans approved by city staff and ultimately the City Council.
Reese said the park project was a grass-roots effort by the neighbors.
"The mayor's dream and my dream has been to do things downtown that help bring in people to live in that area, to do business in that area," Reese said.
Resident Kasey Baker, with HCA Architects, donated her services to design the new park, which would includes rest rooms and picnic benches. Her work, if it had not been donated, would have cost the city $10,000, she said.
To address traffic concerns, the plan includes pedestrian-controlled stoplights and a three-foot tall barrier surrounding the park made of block, boulders and tree planters.
A unique feature is a spiral "labyrinth" made of stepping stones.
"By the time you get to the end you're supposed to obtain clarity," Baker said.
Reese set aside $600,000 from this year's fiscal budget for the park improvements. While no cost estimates were available on the improvements, residents say they will look to other sources for additional funding, including the county and federal grants.
Baker said she hopes that renovation of the park, which divides two neighborhoods on Maryland Parkway, will bring the community together.
"We hope with the use of the park it will start to bring the two sides of the community together and all of the businesses that surround the park can be something exciting one day," she said. "It seems like the perfect place to start."
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