Troubled Las Vegas city park reopens with reduced hours

There were no announcements by Las Vegas city officials, no press releases and no scheduled events.

But on Thursday, Huntridge Circle Park quietly reopened more than four years after being closed by the city.

Some residents found out after seeing brown and white "Park Open" signs crop up near the park on Maryland Parkway near Charleston Boulevard.

News of the reopening came as a surprise to many, including Lance Kirk, president of the West Huntridge Neighborhood Association.

"It's questionable," he said. "This is a surprise. I guess I would have expected more of an outreach to neighborhood association leaders. Poof! It just opens?"

City officials closed the park in 2006 amid ongoing safety issues involving the homeless that culminated with the fatal stabbing of a homeless man. Neighborhood activists have pleaded with city officials for years to reopen the park.

The park will be open on a trial basis from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, city spokesman Jace Radke said.

"The city decided to try it out and see how it goes," he said. "We'll evaluate it as we go."

It was unknown how long the trial period will last. Las Vegas marshals will patrol the area during that time.

It wasn't clear who opened the park. When asked who made the decision, Radke said, "The city."

Opening the park is good for the neighborhood, but residents need to exercise caution, Kirk said.

"Yes it's good to open the park," he said. "But opening it doesn't necessarily mean things that happened before won't happen again, knowing the challenges it has had."

The park has been a debate topic for Ward 3 candidates Bob Coffin and Adriana Martinez. Both pledged to reopen the park should they be elected to office.

Now, it seems, someone has stolen their thunder.

A Huntridge Circle Park Facebook page buzzed with speculation about who opened the park and whether it was politically motivated. Most of the comments expressed concern for a lack of communication by the city to residents.

Others were busy planning a Saturday picnic.

Contact Downtown and North Las Vegas View reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@viewnews.com or 383-0492.