North Las Vegas applies for funds to pay for parks

North Las Vegas plans to ask for nearly $50 million in Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act funds to help pay for eight community projects, including the conversion of the 132-acre Craig Ranch Golf Course into a sprawling regional park.

The land act takes proceeds from the sale of federal land in the Las Vegas Valley and uses it to build parks and trails, restore habitat, and otherwise foster conservation and outdoor recreation in the region.

The City Council on Wednesday approved an application for the funds, which would include $10 million toward development of Craig Ranch Regional Park.

The city plans to turn the Craig Ranch Golf Course at 628 W. Craig Road into one of the city's crown jewels: a large park where families can stroll, picnic and play together.

North Las Vegas acquired the property two years ago after negotiations with the Bureau of Land Management and golf course owners.

The city has already secured about $52 million under the land act to buy the course, and another $20 million to convert it to a park. The city says it needs about $75 million more to complete the project.

Councilman William Robinson pointed out that there is no guarantee the city will receive all of the funds for which it applies.

"I can pretty much guarantee we won't get the amount we're asking for," Mayor Michael Montandon said. "But that doesn't keep us from asking."

Other projects for which the city is applying for funds include:

• $10.5 million for the Neighborhood Recreation Center at 1638 N. Bruce St. The entire center would be demolished and reconstructed.

• $10 million for the Cheyenne Sports Park. The money would go toward renovating the existing 40-acre multiuse sports facility adjacent to the Community College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne Campus to include youth sports fields, tennis and basketball courts and a play area.

• $9 million for the Centennial/Statz Community Park. The money would pay for the first phase of design and construction of a 40-acre community park near Centennial Parkway and Statz Street. The city estimates it will need a total of $65 million to complete the project.

• $4.5 million to design and construct a 3-acre park next to the city's public utilities building at 2829 Fort Sumter Drive, near Civic Center Drive and Cheyenne Avenue.

• $3.6 million to design and construct three pedestrian bridges along the Las Vegas Wash Regional Trail.

• $2 million to acquire 2.3 acres of land at Lake Mead Boulevard and Tonopah Drive for a future community garden and recreational center.

If approved, the city should receive the funds in mid-2008. North Las Vegas has to date received more than $146 million in SNPLMA funds for parks trails.