WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration on Thursday gave its blessing to a federal land donation that will add eight acres to Ed Fountain Park in Las Vegas.
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The property next to the 32-acre park at Vegas Drive and Decatur Boulevard once held offices for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Both agencies relocated several years ago to North Torrey Pines Drive, leaving the property vacant.
"Because the property is no longer used by the department, we think it appropriate it be treated as a public benefit transfer to the city of Las Vegas for use as public parkland," Fish and Wildlife Service regional director Charles Wooley told the House fisheries subcommittee at a hearing.
The subcommittee was reviewing a bill from Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., to carry out the land transfer. The land would be free of charge as long as the city uses the property as a park.
Las Vegas Councilman Lawrence Weekly told lawmakers that the city plans to build a community recreation center.
The donation would "answer the calls from the community to expand and improve the offering of Ed Fountain Park," Weekly said. The park hosts youth sports leagues and has a bike track and picnic areas.
