Inspirada outlines plans for 30 acres of parks

Inspirada Builders LLC announced plans Thursday to begin construction on more than 30 acres of parks, including two community parks and one neighborhood park, at the southwest Henderson housing project.

The announcement came two days after the Henderson City Council approved a major modification to the development agreement for 1,600 acres of the project, which is emerging from bankruptcy.

According to a statement released Thursday by Inspirada Builders, the approval “represents a significant milestone for the community.” The new agreement defines future development plans for Inspirada and allows for more improvements.

The amended agreement applied only to the seven residential villages and did not include Inspirada Town Center, the 350-acre mixed-use commercial development. It also did not apply to the already-constructed portions of Villages One and Two.

Inspirada Builders will construct the parks at an estimated cost of more than $20 million and then donate them to the city of Henderson, which will operate and maintain them.

KB Home has a majority interest in Inspirada Builders, whose other members are Pardee Homes, Toll Brothers and Beazer Homes.

“This is a major step as we continue to build on the success of this premier master-planned community in a very land-constrained market,” said Robert McGibney, president of KB Home’s Las Vegas division, in the statement. “And, we are pleased to start on the construction of the new park complexes, even before the next phase of residential development begins, which will further add to the amenities offered at Inspirada and to the beauty of this community.”

Groundbreaking for the first of the new park projects is planned for this fall, with completion expected in summer 2014. The approximately 13-acre community park is located between Villages One and Two and will feature lighted multi-use fields, a one-acre dog park, basketball courts, tennis courts, a splash pad and play areas.

Construction also is expected to begin later this year on the approximately five-acre neighborhood park in Village Two with picnic areas, a skate plaza, basketball courts, a children’s play area and ramadas.

Construction on an approximately 20-acre community park across from Villages Three and Four should start in early 2014 and be completed that year.

The amended development plan also includes the addition of several miles of trails that will connect the parks and join existing trails. The maximum number of housing units for the seven villages — 8,500 — did not change. Inspirada currently has more than 2,500 residents.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.