Tuesday, April 22, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.
The swath of grass in the middle of Maryland Parkway known as Huntridge Circle Park has a brighter future ahead of it.
A groundbreaking ceremony Monday kicked off a planned $1.7 million upgrade to the historic open space on Maryland Parkway between Charleston Boulevard and Franklin Avenue.
"This will be a wonderful place where people who are proud to live in this area can go," Mayor Oscar Goodman told a crowd of about 100. "I ask only one favor, that you all will enjoy it."
The transformation slated for the park was designed and supported by the area's neighbors. Residents have complained that the park was unusable due to the traffic on Maryland Parkway and homeless people who camped out at the park.
Early in 2002, the residents approached Las Vegas City Councilman Gary Reese, whose ward encompasses the park, and gained the councilman's support to push for improvements.
In October, a 15-member steering committee developed a plan for the park that included jogging trails, a children's play area and an amphitheater. Plans also call for the installation of traffic lights for pedestrians to cross the parkway safely.
Resident Kasey Baker, with Carpenter Sellers 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.
Clark County Commissioner Myrna Williams, who also represents the area, supported the project as well. The city of Las Vegas and Clark County have set aside funding for the project.
"I'm very excited because it makes the park more user-friendly," said resident and steering committee member Gerard Marshall. "It'll be less of a place that's grass in the middle of a street and more of a park."
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