Park honors teenage girl who died from a rare cancer

Stephanie Lynn Craig would have turned 30 on Sept. 29.

But in 1998, when she was 15 years old, she died from a rare form of colon cancer.

The impact she had on her friends, family and community lives on in the city of Henderson through the Stephanie Lynn Craig Park, 1725 Galleria Drive.

“She was a popular and much-loved cheerleader and softball player who lived in Henderson,” said Kim Becker, a spokeswoman with the city of Henderson.

Craig was born in Houston in 1983 and moved to Henderson in 1996.

Becker said she attended Silverado High School, 1650 Silver Hawk Ave.

Debi Szymanski, a member of the Henderson Girls Softball Association, said Stephanie and her sister became a part of the team.

She died on Dec. 14, 1998.

“I understand that after her passing some of the teachers at Silverado High School and members of the Henderson Girls Softball Association contacted the city in the hopes of having a park dedicated in her honor,” Becker said. “That’s how the park got its name.”

Szymanski added that Stephanie’s former coach in the association, along with her father, Russell Craig, had a lot to do with the naming.

“She became ill and passed away right at the time the park was being planned,” she said. “Her former coach and family friend Julie Hatch as well as myself and several others petitioned the city to name the park after her.”

Becker said the park was already in existence before it received its name.

“The first phase of this park was very small and was originally called Thurman White Middle School Park because it happened to be next door,” Becker said. “It hadn’t been open very long before the second phase began. During that time is when the name was officially changed to Stephanie Lynn Craig Park. So the larger, expanded park opened to the public with the Craig name.”

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 702-387-5201.