Long-awaited Henderson park up for approval

By Jeremy Twitchell

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 11:07 a.m.

An anxiously awaited park project in Henderson is on the verge of becoming reality after its final public meeting last night.

Reunion Trails Park will be located a block northeast of the intersection of Stephanie Street and Paseo Verde Parkway, on Casady Hollow Avenue. It is scheduled for review by the Henderson Planning Commission on Thursday and, if approved as expected, will be on track for completion in summer 2010, Henderson Parks and Recreation officials said.

Construction can’t come soon enough for residents of the neighboring Champion Village development. They have been working to get a park built on the 14-acre site for several years. Residents originally were told that the developer would build a park there, but when the company came on hard times, the land sat vacant until Henderson, nudged by residents, acquired the land and began planning a public park three years ago.

“It’s just good that the city has recognized the community and the (homeowners association) board and all the things that we’ve tried to accomplish,” Champion Village resident Robert Young said.

Reunion Trails Park itself will be a little bit less than four acres. It draws its name from the nearby Amargosa and I-215 trails, and will serve as a trailhead for them.

The remaining 10 acres are owned by the Clark County School District and will be designed as an open space area with a walking trail and dog park until the district decides to build on the site. The district, however, has no specific plans for the site and any construction is likely years away.

Young said he’s disappointed that the district is holding onto the land, despite not having a specific need for it, but said residents are too excited about the park to be too concerned.

“I think we really like it as a community,” he said. “The school takes away from it; with that huge undeveloped turf area, it would have been nice to have some ball fields. But at the same time, we’re grateful just to have a park there.”

Reunion Trails will be a highly stylized park, with sculptures and artistic embellishments based on the work of famed graphic artist MC Escher. It will also have a water play area and traditional park amenities such as a picnic area, playground and basketball court.

“It’s going to be very unique,” Henderson Park Planner Patricia Ayala said. “We try to have each park be a little bit different, and (the designer) has really pushed the envelope with this one.”

Though the final public meeting only drew five residents, Ayala said, Reunion Trails has drawn more public interest during the planning process than nearly any other park she can remember. The first public meeting, held on the park site more than a year ago, drew more than 100 interested residents, and Ayala said she receives at least five phone calls a week about the park. She said she welcomes that level of involvement.

“The community has been really good on this one,” she said. “They didn’t let up. But it really is easier for us when the community is involved. People end up with the amenities that they want.”

Reunion Trails has a $13 million budget, which is funded by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. The act allows Southern Nevada counties and cities to use a portion of the proceeds of federal land auctions for building parks and trails.