Amador Vista Park gets final approval

By Jeremy Twitchell

Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 | 6:52 p.m.

Henderson has awarded the construction contract for a five-acre park to be built near Horizon Ridge Parkway and Amador Lane, behind Fire Station No. 97.

Construction on Amador Vista Park is expected to begin by the end of the year and last for six months, according to the Henderson Parks and Recreation Department. The city is planning to open the park in Summer 2009.

The City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to fund the Amador Vista Park project for $2.1 million, with $2 million of that coming from the federal government through the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.

The act allows local government entities to select federal lands for public auction, and then after the lands are sold, apply for grants from the proceeds for use in parks and trails development. Amador Vista received grant approval in 2005 and the city held two public meetings in 2006 to seek residents' input in the park's design.

"The neighborhood was great," Henderson Park Planner Patricia Ayala said. "We had a lot of input. Even the kids in the neighborhood came in and told us what they were looking for in terms of amenities. We had very positive meetings."

When the Council awarded the construction contract to Gothic Landscaping, it added an additional $140,000 from the city's Residential Construction Tax Fund to build a shade structure over the playground and provide additional shade structures throughout the park.

According to public plans for the park, Amador Vista will serve as a rest stop along the bicycle trail that connects the River Mountains to the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area. The park will be developed with a bicycle-oriented theme.

In addition to traditional park features such as a playground, water play feature, picnic shelter, dog park, basketball and tennis courts, it will have a bicycle safety course and cycling-themed sculptures.

Ayala said the park will be a welcome addition to the area.

"The neighborhood around Amador Vista Park is very anxious for it to be constructed," she said.

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or jeremy.twitchell@hbcpub.com.