Public Spaces

Tree Planting to Mark Arbor Day for Students

Submitted by Adam Candee, 8 News NOW

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013, 1:00pm

City of Las Vegas officials will join a third-grade class from Kay Carl Elementary School and their principal Dr. Robert Bennett to plant a Raywood ash tree.

The ceremony will starti at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 20 in Polly Gonzalez Memorial Park in honor of Arbor Day. The park is located next to the school at 5425 Corbett St., at the corner of West El Campo Grande and North Bradley Road.

Laura Eisenberg, a community forester with the Nevada Division of Forestry, will present the city with a Tree City USA flag. This is the 21st year Las Vegas has earned this recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation because of the city’s program to care for trees.

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Open House to Educate on Wildfire Risk

Submitted by Adam Candee, 8 News NOW

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013, 1:14pm

The Bureau of Land Management and other federal agencies are hosting a wildfire awareness day from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Red Rock National Conservation Area Visitors Center.

People are invited to learn about how to be wildfire prepared. Volunteer fire stations and citizen advisory groups also have scheduled cleanups from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18 at Mountain Springs near Highway 160 and mile marker 19, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 8 on Mount Charleston on June 8.

Wildfire Awareness Week runs through May 11 this year in Nevada, but cleaning up dry debris and brush is encouraged throughout the warmest months to reduce fire-burning fuels.

Tips include:

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Group Launches Park Clean Up Effort

Submitted by Natalie Cullen, Online Editor

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013, 4:16pm

Volunteers launched an effort to clean up parks in the northwest part of the valley Wednesday.

About 100 Starbucks volunteers gathered at Patriot Community Park, near Alexander Road and Decatur Boulevard, Wednesday to clean up the area.

The effort is sponsored by Keep Las Vegas Beautiful, a coalition of groups devoted to improving southern Nevada's outdoor spaces. It was part of Earth Day observances and a national cleanup campaign.

"We have noticed that when parks and trails are cleaner, people feel like they are a lot safer," said Rae Lathrop Director of Programs, Outside Las Vegas Foundation, which is part of Keep Las Vegas Beautiful. "The less trash, the less glass, the less cigarette butts. It is just a better environment for the community."

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Second Phase of Raptor Play Park Opens Saturday

Submitted by Natalie Cullen, Online Editor

Tuesday, February 12th, 2013, 4:37pm

Second Phase of Raptor Play Park Opens Saturday

The grand opening of the second phase of the Raptor Play Park is set for this weekend at Tropical Parkway and Durango Drive.

The opening party will start at 10 a.m. Saturday. Light refreshments will be offered while supplies last.

The park is part of the 10-acre Thunderbird Family Sports Complex. The main feature is a one-quarter scale replica of an F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter. The fighter was selected because of its use by the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base.

The sports complex is dedicated to the United States Air Force and all the military families in the Las Vegas valley.

Construction on the second phase of the park started in July. The $1.1 million project is now finished and includes landscaping, lighted sidewalks, a picnic shade shelter, benches, tables, and street improvements.

The first phase included a restroom, turf, covered playground area, fitness exercise area and a splash pad water feature.

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Event to Celebrate Improvements at Raptor Play Park

Submitted by Adam Candee, 8 News NOW

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013, 12:40pm

Event to Celebrate Improvements at Raptor Play Park

The grand opening of phase two of the Raptor Play Park in the Thunderbird Family Sports Complex will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.

The 10-acre sports complex is located at 6105 N. Durango Drive, at the northwest corner of Tropical Parkway and Durango. Some light refreshments will be available.

The F-22 Raptor is the centerpiece of the park, appearing to fly above a monument plaza with contrail-shaped curved steel beams anchored in a concrete base providing support. The Raptor was selected due to its use in the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base. The Thunderbird Family Sports Complex pays tribute to the United States Air Force and all military families in the valley.

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Free Entrance at Red Rock for MLK Holiday

Submitted by Adam Candee, 8 News NOW

Wednesday, January 16th, 2013, 12:28pm

Free Entrance at Red Rock for MLK Holiday

The Bureau of Land Management will honor the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday by waiving most fees at Red Rock National Conservation Area.

BLM will waive recreation-related fees January 21. Daily entrance fees normally are as follows:

Cars/trucks: $7
Pedestrians/motorcycles/bicyclists: $3

Annual passes are available for $30. The canyon features a visitor center, a 13-mile scenic driving loop, miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, road biking, picnic areas and nature-observing opportunities.

Other fees, such as overnight camping and group day use, will remain in effect.

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Forest Service Looks for Snow Hosts for Mt. Charleston

Submitted by Natalie Cullen, Online Editor

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012, 3:26pm

Forest Service Looks for Snow Hosts for Mt. Charleston

People who look forward to winter and playing in the snow on Mt. Charleston will be interested in volunteer positions through the forest service.

The U.S. Forest Service is looking for Snow Hosts for the Mt. Charleston area of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area. The hosts will show people places on the mountain to play in the snow and how to be safe. They’ll also be able to take part in the fun while talking to people at snow play sites.

Volunteers need to be at least 18 years old and able to work outside in cold conditions. They’ll be working weekends and holidays. An average shift will be between three and six hours. The minimum commitment is two shifts per month, of course, anyone wanting to work more hours can. Volunteers will be needed now through March.

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