Park shortage forcing squeeze play

      The cry for more parks has resurfaced in Southern Nevada with the start of Little League baseball just around the corner.
      Nineteen leagues throughout Southern Nevada are in the process of, or have finished, conducting sign-ups and the main concern of most league presidents is lack of fields.
      "There is always a need for parks," said Bob Flemming, district administrator for local Little Leagues. "As we keep growing, the problem persists."
      Since 1986, Little League has grown from nearly 3,500 players in six leagues, to a projected 17,000 participants and 19 leagues for 1998.
      According to city of Las Vegas officials, there are 28 fields available, plus 23 schools with fields for Little League use. Clark County numbers show a total of 24 fields and 37 elementary schools in unincorporated areas of the valley.
      "I'm very well aware ... the public wants additional fields closer to their homes that are available at the time that the kids need and want to play," said Clark County Parks and Recreation Director Glenn Trowbridge. "From the county standpoint, we've got on the drawing boards six fields that are currently funded and in some stage of the construction process. We expect those fields to be completed and ready for play by the end of the summer."
      North Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Director Eric Dabney said he has been in contact with Cheyenne Little League officials and will allocate fields after sign-ups. Dabney said he also anticipates working closely with officials from Marty Barrett Little League.
      City of Henderson Recreation Coordinator Lenore Budyach identified 20 fields and eight elementary schools available to Legacy, Henderson and Green Valley Little Leagues.
      Henderson and the Clark County School District have a joint-use agreement, which stipulates the district maintain the outfields at the schools' ballfields and the city maintain the infields.
      Budyach said Henderson's league presidents are content with the number of ballfields. She said the only thing the city lacks is a youth softball field, which is currently in the planning stages.
      Upon availability, local parks and recreation officials allocate specific fields to Flemming, who then designates those fields to the leagues which need them most.
      "They've (local government bodies) provided the leagues with what they can," said Flemming, who's in his 11th year as district administrator. "It's not like they get stingy with them, they're not. We deal with what we have."
      Flemming said some league presidents, who he said raise good points, must remain patient for now.
      "It's hard because the Hidden Palms fields are not lit and the neighbors will never allow it to be," said Debbie Martinez, president of Silverado Little League. "It makes me wonder whether I should apply political pressure or sit back and be quiet for fear that they won't give us anything."
      Flemming acknowledged Martinez's concerns by placing her league at the top of the list when it comes to lack of Little League facilities.
      Not only is Hidden Palms' two Little League fields inaccessible for night games, Martinez said, but it has no restroom facilities and can only be used by kids ages 10 and under.
      Consequently, Flemming said, Silverado Little League will have to share fields with Paradise Valley's American and National Little Leagues at Sunset Park this year.
      Martinez projects nearly 650 players for Silverado's third year of competition.
      "I don't want our kids to go without fields forever," Martinez said. "The parents ask the same question each year: `Are we gonna get new fields this year?' "
      Martinez is hoping rumors of new ballfields near Wigwam and Maryland will come true in the near future.
      Mountain Ridge Little League, in its inaugural year as a spin-off of Lone Mountain Little League, is another alliance that will have to share facilities with neighboring leagues.
      "There is a definite concern," said Dennis Gradillas, president of Mountain Ridge. "I have a problem with families that don't want a place for their kids to play. And not just for a baseball aspect, but from the aspect that children need a place to play."
      Mountain Ridge and Lone Mountain officials have been trying to iron the wrinkles at Children's Memorial Park, which has five Little League fields.
      Gradillas said he is hoping to get cooperation from several elementary schools, including Deskin, Eisenberg, Kahre and Allen.
      "It's a growing concern," said Kerry Lawrence, of Lone Mountain Little League. "Our league had over 1,300-plus kids last year and we just split (with Mountain Ridge). We're still looking at over 1,000 (players) and we don't have anywhere to play these kids."
      Lee Pringle, a recreation leader for the city of Las Vegas, said "the problem with the lack of fields at this time ... is our greatest concern."
      Pringle said the city has remained active with five- and 10-year master plans, as far as looking at that growth period. He also said city officials have tried to remain receptive to residents who object to having athletic-field lights shine in their yards.
      "That's how we're trying to solve the problem at this time, is to look into area's that may look like they're an open area right now," he said. "But in three or four years there will be a lot of growth. If we can get a park in there when the homes are in there at the same time, then I think people are more comfortable if they move into an area and the lights are already up. They're aware of a recreational facility ... it doesn't create the problem of all of a sudden throwing some lights up at a location where they didn't think there were going to be lights."
      Many residents also complain about non-utilized lit fields, which Pringle said can happen on occasion, but at time can also be construed as a safety issue.
      "We want the parents and players to get to their cars safely following games," he said. "We try to insure if the lights are on that people are out there."
      Many of the lights being installed are telephone-programmable and shut off at certain times.
      The approximate cost to build one field with telephone-programmable lights is about $300,000, according to the city's parks and leisure activities department. Without lights, the price tag is generally cut in half.
      The most recent Little League baseball field built was at Rafael Rivera Park at Rafael Rivera Community Center, which included a full-size soccer field without lights, tennis courts, a playground and restroom facilities.
      "Sometimes the cost overrides the needs," said Las Vegas City Councilman Gary Reese, whose Ward 3 encompasses Rafael Rivera Park. "We have to be very creative in our financing needs for baseball and soccer facilities. At the same time we also have to recognize these facilities are needed throughout the valley."
      Reese said when it comes to parks, his fellow councilmen and Mayor Jan Jones have kept the issue at the top of their priority list.
      "The city recognizes that the community is growing faster than we can build parks," said Barbara Darling, an administrator with the city's parks and leisure activities. "Our park construction program has been accelerated and we're focusing more on the construction of playing fields each season."
      Added Lawrence: "It seems like with (Ward 4 Councilman) Larry Brown in here, we're at least getting some answers and he's trying. Before, we were beating our heads against a wall."