Council to vote on park takeover

Dan Kulin

Thursday, June 9, 2005 | 10:19 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council is expected to vote Wednesday on changes to an agreement regarding the city takeover of Floyd Lamb State Park, which are intended to clearly state that only passive uses would be allowed at the park, Councilman Michael Mack said.

Under the initial transfer agreement narrowly approved by the council on April 20, playing fields and other outdoor recreation could have been allowed at much of the park.

The transfer must also be approved by the governor and then the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee. But state officials put the transfer on hold, saying they needed a better understanding of what would be allowed at the park in northwest Las Vegas.

The new version of the proposed agreement would limit the uses at the 680-acre park to passive uses only, which is the existing land-use restriction on the park. The new version of the agreement also defines passive uses as hiking and jogging trails, picnic areas and family play fields, which Mack said would be open areas.

Lighted fields and sports fields would not be allowed under the new proposed agreement, Mack said.

"I'm looking forward to putting this to rest," said Mack, a primary supporter of the transfer whose last council meeting will be Wednesday. Mack, who represents the part of the city that includes the park, decided not to seek re-election.

When the council approved the initial transfer agreement, some council members said they were concerned about the cost of maintaining the park.

The initial agreement would leave the state in charge of the park for two years and then the city would take it over.