Park pays tribute to Las Vegas Jaycees and former Supreme Court justice

If former Nevada Supreme Court Justice Myron Leavitt were still alive, he would have told the city of Las Vegas not to name a park in his honor, according to family members.

Clark County District Judge Michelle Leavitt, one of Myron Leavitt's 11 children, said the family had to go behind his back to get the local middle school named for him in 2002.

"That's just the kind of guy he was - very humble," she said.

So after more than eight years since his death, the city of Las Vegas held a ceremony Nov. 20 to dedicate the renamed park, on the southeast corner of Eastern and St. Louis avenues The new name is the Justice Myron E. Leavitt and Jaycee Community Park.

"What we have is an opportunity to recognize all of the great things done by the Leavitt family," Las Vegas City Councilman Bob Coffin said during the ceremony. "The Leavitt family has made its mark on Las Vegas for 70 years and will continue to make their mark."

Myron Leavitt held six elective offices in Nevada since 1961, including Clark County commissioner, lieutenant governor and chief justice of the Nevada Supreme Court.

"Justice Leavitt was a fixture in this city," Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said during the ceremony.

Those close to Leavitt said he was a fixture at the park.

"Our family was here every weekend for sports or picnics," Michelle Leavitt said. "He always coached our teams."

Sue Leavitt, another of Leavitt's daughters, recalled playing softball at the park with her siblings - five boys and five girls .

"It was always the boys against the girls, and our father always pitched to both teams," Sue Leavitt said. "He would make sure the girls would win, but these games would go on for hours. He loved it so much."

When the park was built in 1966, it was on the outskirts of town and was the only one in the area.

"I couldn't have imagined growing up in this neighborhood without the park," Sue Leavitt said. "It has been so important for this community."

Tom Leavitt, one of Leavitt's sons, said his father would be happy to know that the park is still a community staple.

"It really is a family park," he said. "Every weekend it's packed. The community takes advantage of it. He would've loved to see that."

The land was originally a landfill. After being decommissioned, St. Viator Catholic Community built a church on the property.

Barbara Givens is a longtime Las Vegas resident and had attended Sunday services at the church.

"We had heard that the ground was unsafe, and one day we were sitting in the pews and heard a loud popping overhead," she said. "The beams were cracking, and the large glass windows were breaking. The priest simply said, 'This is as good a place as any to die.' "

The St. Viator Catholic Community has since moved to 2461 E. Flamingo Road . The property was taken over by the Las Vegas Jaycees, or junior chamber of commerce, and construction of the park began in 1960.

"The Jaycees were instrumental in getting this city moving," Goodman said during the ceremony.

Greg Toussaint was a Jaycees member from 1966 to 1976 and served as treasurer. At the time Toussaint joined, the park was nearing completion.

"We had our entire families out here helping," he said. "We put in fencing, trees and an irrigation system."

Larry Sheeler, 72, president of the Jaycees from 1972 to 1973 , said the organization has produced "some of the finest men this city has seen," but when it came to building playground equipment, they could have used some help.

"We were sent a geodesic dome for the playground, but it was sent in pieces," Sheeler said. "We stood out there for four hours, and no one could figure out how to put it together."

But when the park was finished, he said, they had left a lasting legacy.

Toussaint agreed.

"Every Jaycee who drives by the park and sees all of the kids on swings or playing football has to have a sense of pride," he said.

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Nolan Lister at nlister@viewnews.com or 702-383-0492.