Recently opened Charlie Frias Park seeing residents enjoying the fall weather

Charlie Frias Park, 4801 S. Decatur Blvd., opened Oct. 8 on the northwest corner of Tropicana Avenue and Decatur Boulevard.

The park consists of nearly 80 acres, including about 40 acres of amenities. A 12-acre neighborhood park is nestled on a bluff overlooking 14 acres of sports fields. A separate plaza, playground and maintenance facility on the south side of the park occupy 13 acres. Other acreage consists of a Regional Flood Control detention basin and 14 acres of natural conservation areas.

Amenities include four soccer/multiuse sports fields, three playgrounds, a splash pad, two tennis courts, basketball courts, a dog park, picnic pavilions, restrooms, walking paths, open turf areas, an exercise equipment area, and a horseshoe pit. The design of the park also includes a butterfly garden and several scenic overlooks that preserve the natural contours of terrain shaped by the Flamingo Wash. A conservation area to preserve native Las Vegas buckwheat plants was set aside in the park.

Officials broke ground on the $23 million project in October 2010. Funding sources included $15 million from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act and $7 million from the Regional Flood Control District for the detention basin. The Frias family donated $1 million to the park to honor businessman and philanthropist Charlie Frias, who died in 2006. Frias was active in several organizations throughout the community. His wife Phyllis will attend Monday's festivities.