Henderson looks to 2015 parks, health, transportation projects

As the new year calls for changes, the Henderson View explores new projects that are expected throughout the community in 2015.

PARK IMPROVEMENTS ON THE WAY

The city of Henderson received a gold medal from the American Academy for Park & Recreation Administration in December for excellence in the field of park and recreation management.

A key component in earning the honor was the support from the city officials, including Mayor Andy Hafen and City Council members, said city spokeswoman Kim Becker.

“That level of support has helped to make parks, recreation, trails and open space truly the cornerstone of this community and, as a result, a major facet of our quality of life,” Becker said. “Mayor Hafen captures the spirit best when he says, ‘Henderson is synonymous with parks and recreation.’ ”

In addition, the city plans to develop a series of new parks throughout 2015.

Boulder Creek Park, near Boulder Highway and Equestrian Drive, is scheduled to be finished in January. Spanning 11 acres, the park is set to include basketball courts, a playground, a dog park, picnic areas and more. With a price tag of about $1.6 million, the project was built with funds from the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

Located near Greenway Road and Mission Drive, McCullough Vista Park is set to be completed in March. The 6-acre park is set to feature a playground, observation deck, basketball court, viewing area, bicycle rest stop and multi-use fields. The $6 million project is also built with funds from the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act.

Aventura Park, near Via Firenze and Pavilio Drive, is set to be constructed by Inspirada Builders and completed by this summer. The 20-acre park is slated to feature sports fields and courts, a playground, a dog park, a splash pad and picnic areas.

Located near Archer Glen Avenue and Horizon Ridge Parkway, Paradise Pointe Park is scheduled to be completed by July. Built with funds from Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act and the residential construction tax, the $3.1 million project sits at about 6 acres and is set to include a playground area, horseshoe pits, paths and trails, a basketball court, a skateboard element and more.

For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com/parks.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION

It may seem that road construction in the valley never ends, so it may not be a surprise that the city of Henderson plans major road projects for 2015.

Southern Nevada’s first diverging diamond interchange at Horizon Drive and U.S. Highway 95 is scheduled to open early in the year. Constructed with federal funds, the $2.3 million project is set to eliminate traditional left turns that cross incoming traffic by shifting drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to the left side of the road. The new design is set to improve traffic flow and efficiency and increase safety for cars, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The Stephanie Street bridge near U.S. 95 is scheduled to receive a makeover worth about $2 million thanks to funding from fuel revenue indexing, an ordinance that collects revenue each time motorists fuels their vehicles. The project is scheduled to widen the street by constructing a new two-lane bridge for northbound traffic while using the older bridge for southbound traffic. Stufflebeam Road is also set to be extended from Galleria Drive to Stephanie Street.

The city also plans to widen Volunteer Boulevard between Las Vegas Boulevard and Executive Airport Drive from two to four lanes and construct drainage facilities to carry storm flows underneath the roadway. Also funded by fuel revenue indexing, the $6.2 million project is set to improve Executive Airport Drive from Volunteer Boulevard to St. Rose Parkway by removing some of the tapers, transitions and lane shifts.

For more information, visit cityofhenderson.com or rtcsnv.com/fri/projects.

ST. ROSE DOMINICAN HOSPITALS

The St. Rose Dominican Hospitals Siena campus, 3001 St. Rose Parkway, plans to finish its $150 million expansion by the end of the year, according to CEO Brian Brannman.

The facility is set to increase its emergency department from 28 to 56 bays and add 107 hospital beds. The project is also set to include six new operating rooms and a bigger central sterile supply area.

“The campus opened in 2000, and the community has been rapidly growing around us,” Brannman said. “We’re bumping up along size constraints, so this expansion will give us the additional growth capacity that we need.”

The hospital is also looking at expanding its pediatric emergency department, increasing home care services and creating a heart institute.

“We’re focusing on transforming ourselves, not only as a series of hospitals but more as a health organization,” Brannman said.

For more information, visit dignityhealth.org/las-vegas.

UNION VILLAGE

Southern Nevada’s first full-scale health village found its home in Henderson near Galleria Drive and U.S. 95 in January 2014 when Union Village purchased 170 acres of land from the city.

Phase one of the project, known as Union Centre, broke ground in October 2014, and construction is set to run through the end of 2016. The project is set to include a 200-bed, acute-care hospital run by Valley Health System and a medical center, according to co-founder Craig Johnson.

“The project will bring in thousands of jobs that will last over 10 years during the construction phase,” Johnson said. “It will also bring in thousands of health care and retail jobs. Union Village will be a hub of medical tourism, so we’re hoping to bring in thousands more jobs for that segment of the business, as well.”

Union Village is set to cost about $1.1 billion and include medical offices, residential apartments, senior facilities, specialty retail center, a health club and more. For more information, visit unionvillage.net.

Contact Henderson View reporter Caitlyn Belcher at cbelcher@viewnews.com or 702-383-0403.