Park named for Chavez

Monday, March 25, 2002 | 9:41 a.m.

In the shadow of Sunrise Mountain, Clark County commissioners dedicated a new 5-acre park on Saturday.

Originally named after former Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, current executive editor and columnist for the Las Vegas Sun, the $1.5 million park was renamed for United Farm Worker organizer Cesar Chavez at O'Callaghan's request.

The park is next to the Mike O'Callaghan Middle School, 1450 E. Radwick Lane.

O'Callghan said that although he was honored to have the park named after him, he asked the County Commission to change the name of the park to honor Cesar Chavez, a hero of Southwestern farm workers.

O'Callaghan, who has written columns advocating a public structure be named for Chavez, said that naming the park after the labor organizer will honor an individual who displayed fairness in leadership, a belief in solidarity and the value of human rights.

The Clark County School District donated the land for the park. The park was designed by Pentacore Architectural Firm, and J.A. Vay Construction built it in less than a year.

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