FROM OUR READERS Preserving the preserveThis is a worthwhile community endeavor

Over the past several weeks there have been many questions asked regarding the existence and costs associated with the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. In this painful period of our community's history it is not only understandable but appropriate that all expenditures be examined and evaluated.

The Preserve sits on 180 acres that have belonged to the Las Vegas Valley Water District since its inception in the 1950s. It is still an active well field site with reservoirs, pump stations and large diameter pipes. In fact, it is the hub for water service to the downtown area. At the same time it is one of the most significant historical sites in Southern Nevada, having been placed on the National Historic Register decades ago. It is the birthplace of Las Vegas with both the Spanish Trail and the Mormon trail running through it.

When the Preserve was conceived by a community group of longtime Southern Nevada families, Las Vegas had been exploding in sheer numbers, and the need to create community attractions and open space for those who have chosen Las Vegas as their home was mounting. So dipping into their own pockets, with help from Southern Nevada Public Lands Act proceeds, Question 1 approved by the voters of Nevada, private donors and District dollars, the Springs Preserve was built -- a unique central park and museum complex that combines education, entertainment and culture.

While there is a perception that the Springs Preserve was built as a tourist attraction, in truth, it was built for the residents of Southern Nevada. The financial model envisions that the costs will be offset by a small percentage of our annual visitors finding their way to the Preserve and by renting out the facility for meetings, community events and social gatherings such as weddings. Needless to say no one ever envisioned that, in the second year of operation, the economy would crater and the tourist numbers would shrink the way they have.

On a positive note the number of weddings, meetings and community events has increased. The contract with Wolfgang Puck Catering is an essential part of attracting these revenue-generating events. Wolfgang Puck is spending extra time and effort to work with us in partnership to analyze and implement efficiencies that will improve the bottom line.

So in these difficult times, the water district provides financial support while the Preserve is still establishing itself. The cost of operation is paid exclusively by our very large water users. More than 90 percent of our residential customers and more than 80 percent of all our customers do not contribute to the cost of the Preserve. Instead, almost 60,000 school children with their teachers and chaperones have entered at no cost and every local resident has had his ticket price subsidized; it is cheaper to go to the Preserve for the day than it is to go to a movie. In fact, to make these trips available to the children who have been one of the groups most affected by the economic downturn, we have secured gifts and grants from organizations like Cox Communications, Wal-Mart, and other private donors to pay for busing.

Finally, we are implementing improvements to the operations of the Springs Preserve that will increase revenues and reduce costs.

During these unprecedented economic times, venues such as the Preserve become more important as families forgo vacations and other family excursions. If the Preserve is a valuable community asset and we want to continue to make it available at an affordable price, then some level of public funding is going to be essential until the economy recovers. So why not continue to allow the very large water-using customers to support the operations while the Preserve has time to establish itself? Other public funds are so strained they are unable to adequately support even the most essential human services. What will define us as a community is not what we looked like going into this economic catastrophe, but what we look like coming out of it. I encourage you to visit the Preserve and judge for yourself.

Pat Mulroy is general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District..