State supports Las Vegas taking over Lamb Park

Monday, March 3, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A bill that would open the door for Las Vegas to operate Floyd Lamb State Park has been endorsed by the state Division of Parks.

Senate Bill 144 would permit the Parks Division to enter into cooperative agreements with political subdivisions to run state parks that are used primarily by residents of the local government.

Parks Director Wayne Perock told the Senate Government Affairs Committee on Friday the bill came about because of Las Vegas' interest in acquiring the park. But the bill could also be applied to Washoe and Douglas counties, where there are state parks near urban developments.

Perock said the city has not yet made a commitment to acquire the park from the state. The park, formerly called Tule Springs, once belonged to Las Vegas, but the city gave it to the state in 1977 because of the poor financial condition of the city at that time.

In November the Las Vegas City Council ordered city staff to study the economic impact of taking over the park, but council members expressed reservations about taking responsibility. They were told the park would need $450,000 in immediate renovation and cost about $1 million a year to maintain.

Since the state acquired the park, major subdivisions have been built near the property.

The bill, Perock said, would permit the city and the state to work on development plans.