Red Rock visitors get new facility

U.S. Interior Secretary Dick Kempthorne, along with four members of the Nevada congressional delegation, participated in a Feb. 20 ceremonial groundbreaking for a new $23 million visitors' center at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The members of Congress in attendance were Senate Majority Leader Democrat Harry Reid, Republican Sen. John Ensign, Democratic Rep. Shelly Berkley and Republican Rep. Jon Porter.

The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of the Summerlin master-planned community that sits adjacent to the conservation area, was represented at the groundbreaking by Tom Warden, vice president of community and government relations. In addition to the groundbreaking, the event also featured the ceremonial signing of the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act Round 8 Approvals, valued at $78.6 million. These funds will be used for preservation and recreation projects throughout Nevada.

The new visitors' center, located just north of the existing one, is projected for completion in the fall of 2010.

Congress designated Red Rock Canyon as Nevada's first national conservation area in 1990. Even before that, The Howard Hughes Corp. played a significant role via a land exchange in which Hughes traded 5,032 acres of land inside the canyon for about 3,000 acres more suitable for development. The exchange was facilitated by The Nature Conservancy.

"Our goal was to help create both a gateway into and a buffer zone around the canyon itself," Warden said. "In doing so, we helped preserve the wonderful high desert experience that is Red Rock today."

"Red Rock Canyon is not only the most beautiful natural landmark in Southern Nevada, it has become a world-class outdoor recreational area for hikers, rock climbers, adventurers and cyclists," Warden said. "The Hughes organization is extremely proud of the role it played as a good neighbor to the conservation area and a steward of the environment."

In 2002, Hughes initiated a second exchange with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, in which almost 1,100 acres of high ground along Summerlin's western border was transferred into the adjacent Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Praised by environmental groups, the legislated exchange resulted in the creation of a 1,200-acre passive trails park that will eventually be developed by Clark County along Summerlin's southern boundary.

"Twenty years ago, Red Rock Canyon still felt like the Las Vegas Outback, a safe distance and world apart from the bustling and frenzied Las Vegas Strip," said Kathryn Landreth, director of The Nature Conservancy of Nevada. "Today, Red Rock Canyon not only frames the western valley, it has become an integral part of the recreational experiences for thousands of Southern Nevadans, especially those living in Summerlin right next door. We are grateful to Hughes for its initiative and vision. The Red Rock partnership has served as a model of public and private interests working together to balance economic and environmental needs."

Developed by The Howard Hughes Corp., an affiliate of General Growth Properties Inc., Summerlin began to take shape in 1990. Located along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin encompasses 22,500 acres with about 9,000 acres still remaining to accommodate future growth within the master plan, including the community's urban core of Summerlin Centre.

The community is home to more than 95,000 residents. Amenities available to residents include more than 100 neighborhood and village parks, more than 150 completed miles of the Summerlin trail system, nine golf courses, a dozen houses of worship, medical facilities, business parks, 22 public and private schools and more than 100 actively selling floor plans.

Homes are available in a variety of styles -- from single-family homes to townhomes, condominiums and lofts -- priced from the mid-$200,000s to more than $2 million.

Custom home sites in The Ridges are priced from the $500,000s. Luxury apartment homes offer monthly rents starting from the $900s.

For more information, visit summerlin.com or call 888-898-5015.