Strategic Plan to Address Growth in Southern Nevada

PARKS AND RECREATION

Parks and other recreation areas are necessary features of any community that strives to achieve the vision articulated by the Authority. A dynamic, healthy environment that offers a variety of recreational and cultural opportunities must include parks and open space. Few would question that recreation enhances the quality of life.

The Authority has found that the provision of parks and recreation facilities has not kept pace with the growth of the Las Vegas Valley. Standards used elsewhere in the nation for the development of parks and recreation facilities were reviewed and found to be not applicable for this region, in part due to the abundance of surrounding federal lands designated for parks and open space. Consequently, the Authority has set a standard of 2.5 acres of programmable park space per 1,000 population as a target for local communities to meet. Based on this standard an additional 3,826 to 5,129 acres of parks will be needed over the next 20 years. Specific activity areas, such as recreation centers, golf courses, fairgrounds, equestrian arenas and other facilities associated with specialized recreation and leisure pursuits, were not included in the standard. Provision of these facilities would be over and above the standard.

A key concern is how to fund the need for new parks and recreation facilities. Presently, Southern Nevada entities rely heavily on the residential construction tax. The Authority finds that this revenue source is not sufficient and is too restricted in its use geographically to meet the need the Authority has identified. In addition, the Authority finds that the current practice of Southern Nevada jurisdictions is to develop parks and recreation facilities as funding becomes available does not and will not meet the need for parks and recreation facilities. Therefore, the Authority recommends that long-term financing of parks and recreation facilities be undertaken in order to accelerate park development. This strategy requires stable sources of funding be identified and dedicated.

Goal 1: Provide parks and recreation facilities sufficient to meet the needs of Southern Nevada residents and visitors.

OBJECTIVES	STRATEGIES
A. Adopt a regional standard acreage for development of parks and recreation facilities.	1. Recommend a minimum standard for developed programmable park space of 2.5 acres per 1,000 residents, to be adopted by local jurisdictions.
B. Pursue long-term, stable sources of funding for construction of park sites.	1. Establish a bondable revenue source for parks so that funds can be borrowed to accelerate park development. 2. Study the feasibility and advisability of establishing a Southern Nevada community bond bank to coordinate debt structuring opportunities for local governmental borrowing for infrastructure needs. 3. Encourage local governments to pursue other sources of revenue to supplement the residential construction tax to construct, operate and maintain parks in a balanced way throughout the community, not just in new neighborhoods. 4. Work with the homebuilding industry to continue to update the charge per square foot for the residential construction tax for parks to keep pace with the actual cost of construction. 5. Promote public/private partnerships for development and maintenance of parks and recreation facilities.
C. Locate parks and recreation facilities so that they are accessible to all age groups.	1. Develop a regional parks plan that allocates parks and recreation facilities at the neighborhood, community and regional levels throughout the metropolitan area. 2. Expand and improve upon the existing partnerships with the Clark County School District.
D. Maximize use of available federal lands.	1. Establish a 20-year plan for parks and open space that optimizes the use of federal lands.

Goal 2: Provide open space where people can enjoy the natural environment.

OBJECTIVES	STRATEGIES
A. Integrate open space planning into existing land use plans and parks and recreation master plans.	1. Develop and implement a regional open space inventory data base for access by all appropriate local, federal and state jurisdictions. 2. Encourage all local master plans to include the preservation of open space. 3. Encourage local entities to integrate their parks and open space plans with those of the state and federal governments.
B. Develop an integrated, region-wide trails system that connects parks and other recreational facilities, neighborhoods, and open space.	1. Reach consensus on a lead agency for a regional trails master plan development. 2. Develop a regional trails master plan. 3. Appropriately utilize access roads, washes and related natural facilities for trails. 4. Encourage all local master plans to include trails development. 5. Recommend that the local entities encourage trails in master planned communities and large developments.
C. Promote collaboration among local, regional, state and federal agencies and the private sector to identify partnership opportunities for trail development.	1. Identify mechanisms for regional collaboration. 2. Promote public/private partnerships for trail development and maintenance. 3. Encourage the use of proceeds from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998 for recreational and trails opportunities in Southern Nevada.

Goal 3: Preserve the cultural and historical heritage of Southern Nevada.

OBJECTIVES	STRATEGIES
A. Preserve examples of cultural and historical locations and facilities in the Southern Nevada region	1. Develop a regional public outreach program to stimulate public awareness and provide education about the culture and history of Southern Nevada. 2. Promote public/private partnerships for the preservation of existing historical features.
B. Increase cultural activities and facilities.	1. Encourage local service providers to expand cultural and leisure activities. 2. Promote public/private partnerships for the development and maintenance of cultural facilities. 3. Maximize the use of existing public facilities.