SUN EDITORIAL:
Hailing a new park
Henderson makes good use of Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act funding
Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.
A nearly 6-acre area of Henderson that for years had been used, illegally, by off-road riders and by people who found it a convenient place to dump garbage is now a nature park.
Opened at the end of September after several years of planning and restorative work, the park features interconnected and multi-use trails, a natural brook, native vegetation and interpretive centers.
Three of the park’s seven trails are accessible to people who use wheelchairs.
The Whitney Mesa Nature Preserve, at 1990 Galleria Drive (at Russell Road), also provides habitat for birds, rabbits and other desert animals.
The transformation of this land has been remarkable. During its reconstruction, for example, Henderson city crews had to haul out 14 abandoned cars. Now the land is a haven for families, walkers, joggers, bicyclists, dog walkers — anyone interested in experiencing an oasis in the desert.
In a story by Jeremy Twitchell that ran last week on the Las Vegas Sun’s Web page, Kim Becker, Henderson’s Parks and Recreation spokeswoman, noted the new park’s distinctiveness. “It is off the beaten path. It’s more about the outdoors and education. This offers a different type of enjoyment than what you do in a traditional park,” she said.
This park, which cost $1.7 million, is an example of why the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act, strongly supported by Nevada’s congressional delegation, was such an important piece of federal legislation. The act, which became law in 1998, provided the funding for this project.
The law was passed to provide Nevada and area local governments with some compensation for the large amount of federally owned land here, land that cannot be converted into tax-producing homes and businesses. The act requires that proceeds from sales of federal land in the Las Vegas area be shared with the state and local governments for specific purposes, including the building of parks, trails and nature areas.
Henderson made good use of the funding in building the Whitney Mesa Nature Preserve.
Discussion: 2 comments so far…
Post a comment
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Franchione potential early candidate for UNLV football post
- Police: 3 arrested in officer’s death have gang ties
- Big fight headed for a New Frontier?
- Hotels rein in risque advertising campaigns
- Las Vegas condo hotels remain a tough sell — just ask Trump
- $60 million to stabilize neighborhoods buys five homes
- MGM Mirage (finally) makes George Strait show official
- Reserve Rebels didn’t have time to panic
- Funny Face: Carrot Top’s stage act a mask of contradictions
- LV companies in denial about problem gambling
Blogs
Elsewhere
Sands China raises $2.5 billion in Hong Kong IPO
Marquardt v. Sonnen scheduled for UFC 109
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity
Will a fourth consecutive title by Jimmie Johnson be good or bad for NASCAR? (2 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: And then there were four
Top Chef Episode 12: On keeping it simple
Miech Again
Chilly start for Chace, but Stanback says he'll warm up (1 Comment)
Elsewhere
Harvard Poker Pro: Texas Hold 'Em skills can help traders
- Live chat
- Tuesday, noon PST
- Chat with Krista Creelman
- Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question
Calendar »
- 21 Sat
- 22 Sun
- 23 Mon
- 24 Tue
- 25 Wed
-
UFC 106 at Mandalay Bay Events Center
Mandalay Bay Events Center | 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Julio Iglesias at the Las Vegas Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
Natasha Wicks hosts at Hawaiian Tropic Zone
Hawaiian Tropic Zone | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Tito Ortiz hosts at Tao
Tao | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Hiroshima at Santa Fe Station
Santa Fe Station
-
Frank Mir hosts at LAX
LAX Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
The Four Tops at The Orleans Showroom
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Amir Sadollah hosts at Prive
Prive | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati










we don't have rabbits, they are hares
I hope the 4x4s run them over so the coyotes don't have to work so hard for dinner
I hope ATV riders who run over the rabbits break their necks!