Lights are up for new park at Washington and Buffalo

Motorists traveling on Summerlin Parkway can't help notice tall stadium lights near Washington Avenue and Buffalo Drive. The lights are for a yet-to-be-named park which will have 23 tennis courts and 11 soccer fields.

Seven of those soccer fields will be covered with synthetic grass. The city is installing different types on each one.

"We're finding there are so many companies out there manufacturing synthetic turf, the only way to tell how good a product it is, is to see how it (holds up) under actual use," said John Chambers, leisure services manager for Las Vegas. "So we're testing them ourselves and comparing them."

With the amount of play anticipated and drought conditions a factor, the seven fields will not require maintenance like grass.

"Having synthetic grass, that in itself is wonderful from a water conservation point of view," said Las Vegas City Councilman Larry Brown. "But it also means we can maximize soccer time."

Right now, the city's demand for fields is high. That's partly due to the need to rest and re-seed the grass. Maintenance on fields -- like the 60-acre Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex-- puts them out of commission for the early part of the fall.

Four of the city-maintained soccer fields at the new park will be grass. Synthetic was not an option as those fields are in a designated water retention area.

The 115-acre park also will feature a center court arena for tennis matches. In March, the Amanda and Stacy Darling Memorial Foundation donated $1 million to the city for the maintenance and operations of the tennis complex. The Darling family, a longtime sponsor of youth activities, lost Stacy and her younger sister Amanda in an automobile accident in 1993. Both were avid tennis players.

The sunken center court will have bleachers and accommodate as many as 1,500 people. It will be used for regional and national events.

Other amenities for the $33 million park include a jogging path on the perimeter, a playground, restrooms and concession stands.

The city-operated park, which broke ground in January, is expected to have access off Durango Road as well as Washington Avenue.

Construction of the soccer fields should be finished by March 2005, with the tennis portion done in May. For safety reasons, the soccer portion will not open until all construction is complete.

"This is a great reflection on our city and speaks to our commitment to the recreational needs of our citizens," Brown said.

The next city park for the northwest, due to break ground soon at Hualapai Way and Gowan Road, will include 10 softball fields.


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