NLV not listening on park plan, residents say

By Mike Trask (contact)

Sunday, March 25, 2007 | 7:15 a.m.

North Las Vegas residents thought their voices had been heard.

Nearly 60 percent of people who visited a city-run Web site said they wanted the future 132-acre Craig Ranch Regional Park to be filled with trails, gardens, a pond and areas for leisurely picnics.

Of the three options for the park that will replace a golf course on Craig Road - a nature-based park, a sports-based park or a combination of the two - Concept One, a nature park that would preserve most of the course's trees, was the overwhelming favorite.

The city, though, has suddenly changed the game by introducing a new option, a move that has some residents furious.

Despite residents' input via the Web, the city's new choice, billed as a way to strike a better balance between organized sports fields and a natural environment, would retain far fewer trees than any of the other plans. It would keep only 25 percent of the trees, compared with 70 percent under the nature-based park plan.

"It's an issue of, 'How dare you override the people's voice,' " resident Karen Dyer said. "I'm livid. I'm angry."

Councilwoman Shari Buck said although the natural park was the Web favorite, many other people, especially those with children, have told her they want to see more soccer fields and baseball diamonds in the fast-growing city.

However, Buck said she was not satisfied with one component of the new option.

"I wasn't happy because it did take out too many trees," she said.

There is no dispute over the fact that the city could use more ball fields. Cheyenne Little League has 42 teams playing on four fields.

"With 130 acres I think there's more than enough room to make a section of it sports oriented," said Mike Mullis, the group's former president.

Buck's opponents in the coming Ward 4 election have jumped on the issue as evidence that the incumbent is out of touch .

"The residents aren't being truly listened to," candidate Deborah Lewis said. "You have residents that go to a City Council meeting and they feel like they are not being heard. We need somebody listening to residents all times of the year."

New York native Richard Cherchio, another Ward 4 candidate, called the new option "ludicrous."

"Leave it as some place to go to escape the hustle and bustle," Cherchio said.

At least one current council member supports the push for the natural park.

"I'm going to listen to the residents," said Councilman William Robinson, who is running for reelection in Ward 2. "I don't want to take all of the trees out of there."