Editorial: City should stop eyeing state park

Monday, Nov. 10, 2003 | 8:43 a.m.

Las Vegas Councilman Michael Mack surprised even us last week with his suggestion that a substantial portion of Floyd Lamb State Park be turned into a "world-class" zoo. We're used to city officials suggesting obnoxious changes to the park, but this one beat them all.

Mack's suggestion came while the City Council was discussing the possibility of taking the park back from the state. This is a discussion that arises every few years because the area around the park is growing and the city sees an opportunity for managing a park that could now turn a profit. The city was the park's custodian until 1977, when it decided it could no longer afford to maintain it. It begged the state to take it over and the state agreed.

The park is located east of U.S. 95 (accessible from the Durango Drive exit) in northwest Las Vegas. Our concern with the city gaining control has always been that it will not respect the unique character of this 2,000-acre park, with its natural springs, archeological sites and fascinating ancient and modern history. At Floyd Lamb, there are no softball fields with night lights, roller rinks, tennis courts, horseshoe pits or jogging tracks. Rather, it has a placid pond where people can quietly fish. It has lots of trees and rushes and open space for nature walks and picnics. We love city parks but Floyd Lamb offers that rare opportunity in the Las Vegas Valley to relax in a more natural setting.

Mack's suggestion of turning 200 or more acres of the park over to private zoo operators reinforces our sense that city officials have no respect for the experience enjoyed by thousands of visitors to Floyd Lamb. It seems that every time the city discusses regaining control over the park, it's with an eye toward some revenue-producing development. The only way the city could afford to operate the park would be by collecting admission fees to urban-style attractions -- softball tournaments, concerts, zoos -- and the list goes on. We look forward to the day when all discussion of a city-operated Floyd Lamb park is dropped -- permanently.