Public airs fears about park

A standing-room-only crowd of nearly 70 valley residents packed a meeting room Wednesday night to voice concerns and suggestions regarding future development of Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

They were relieved when state officials dispelled rumors that the 600-acre park just south of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area was to be closed or that parts of it would be sold.

"Rumors fly faster than the truth, it seems," said Phyllis Noblitt of Las Vegas, who came to the meeting to try to ensure that the park and its theater weren't going to disappear. "I'm just delighted that so many people are here. I'm glad people aren't just saying, 'Let government take care of it.' Instead, they are saying, 'We need to get involved.'

"It is such a wonderful place you don't want to come home when you're out there," she said.

Park officials met with community members to discuss updating to the park's master plan. The master plan has not been revisited in 19 years, even though the Nevada Division of State Parks tries to re-evaluate park plans every 15 years to meet the needs of a changing population and environment, officials said. Park Manager Rick Keller said there were 206,000 visitors to the park last year, up 11,000 from the attendance in 2000.

Park planners proposed to community members the addition of a 1-acre play field and a new shaded area for events and group activities. Three 40-foot-by-40-foot connected shade structures would be placed about 200 yards east of the stage used for Super Summer Theatre performances. The new shaded area would accommodate about 320 people.

The spot was picked because it is already a heavily disturbed area of bare ground. "We did not want to create a large new plot, and if we're going to do it, this would be the best place," said Steve Warner, chief of planning and development for the Nevada Division of State Parks.

The new shaded area would meet the increasing demand for more group space at the park. Youth organizations could use it for day and short overnight trips, for example. The structure also could be used for weddings, Warner said, noting that Valley of Fire State Park fields about 80 wedding requests a month.

The proposal also includes the construction of additional bathroom facilities and a 110-space paved parking lot adjacent to the current parking area. Planners hope to pave the entry road to the theater, as well, to keep dust down.

"Most of the original plan was done in 1988, so it's almost 20 years old," said Jenny Scanland, parks and recreation program manager for the Nevada Division of State Parks. "Everything here is growing so fast, we needed to meet to figure out how to keep up with the growing number of visitors and their needs and wants."

The visitor center currently is being updated to comply with requirements of the American with Disabilities Act. Officials said they also are making efforts to update many of the park's trail systems, making pathways more safe and sustainable.

Las Vegas residents Shannon Phillips, 24, and David Romano, 28, went to the park about 15 miles outside of the city for the first time Wednesday afternoon. They were accompanied by Romano's relatives who were visiting from New York.

After stopping to look at the burros grazing near the park's entrance, Phillips couldn't wait to start hiking and see more of the park's nature.

"It's neat to be able to see wildlife and how things used to look. It's history. It shows what it was like before," she said.

Participants at Wednesday's meeting also offered ideas on how to preserve the park's historical and geographical significance. Suggestions were made to reintroduce livestock and fruit orchards to the park to show visitors what it used to be like. Several people said the park needs more signs explaining the park's history, and they should use several languages, not just English.

Park planners were given the opportunity at the meeting to network with members of different community organizations willing to volunteer at the park.

Eliminating the amount of litter and vandalism was also a priority. People suggested more environmental education, more trash bins, and the possibility of providing incentive to park visitors who bring litter out of the park.

After the two-hour brainstorming session, Scanland was elated. "This was fabulous, that's the only word for it," she said. "I learned that people love this park. Yes, there are issues to be changed, but we knew that there were. We just wanted to hear from them, the people who use the park."

Those interested in sharing ideas for park renovations can e-mail Scanland at jscanland@parks.nv.gov or send comments to Nevada Division of State Parks, Attn.: Planning, 901 S. Stewart St., Suite 5005, Carson City, NV 89071.