School kids chat with councilman

     By Tina Allen
     View staff writer
      City officials went straight to the experts recently when they needed help designing a new public park. And the children at Rhodes Elementary School were more than happy to comply.
      The fourth- and fifth-graders helped plan the park via an online chat with Las Vegas City Councilman Michael Mack.
      "This online chat is an excellent educational opportunity for all of us," Mack said in a news release.
      "It will not only give the children a glimpse of the capabilities of the technology that is so vital to their future, but equally important, it will involve them in the development in their community."
      The 9-acre park will be located behind the school at Buffalo Drive, between Sunny Springs Lane and Golden Talon Avenue. It's scheduled to be completed by April.
      Matthew Werner, City Council liaison, said the reason the city sought input from the pupils is because they are the ones who will benefit most from the park.
      "They are the ones right next to the school," Werner said. "Parks next to schools have always been a wonderful fit, and there's no reason you shouldn't go to the professionals to find out what they want. In this case, the professionals are the students at Betsy Rhodes Elementary when it comes to using the facility."
      The nine children were selected by the school's principal to participate in the planning based on renderings they created in their art class.
      To help with the process, Donald Campbell, Rhodes' educational computing strategist, invited a landscape architect to visit the school to discuss the proper placement of trees to create shade and playground equipment to ensure safety, among other things.
      "He helped their thought process of really thinking about designing and being more realistic about their designs," said Campbell, who also assisted the children with the online chat. "I'm sure some kids will look at parks a little differently."
      Fifth-grader Elizabeth Agresta suggested the city install a skateboard park and bicycle course in the park, which she learned from Mack might be possible, only on a smaller scale.
      "It takes a long time to build a park and they need input from people to see what they want," Agresta said. "They can't just go putting stuff in not knowing what the public wants."
      Terry Prentice, 11, gave Mack some suggestions on naming the new facility. Rhodes Park or Betsy Springs were a couple of his ideas being considered.
      In addition, Prentice said he "thought it would be fun to have some slides and swings and basketball courts and places to play around in. Maybe if I walk home from school, I can stop by the park on my way home and play with my friends."
      In addition to a soccer field, 11-year-old Chelsey Jenkins was simply hoping for a lot of grass and shady trees under which to sit.
      Near the end of the online chat, one pupil asked Mack if all their ideas would be used.
      "Unfortunately we can't use them all," Mack replied, "but we would like to tally up all your favorites, along with the residents', and come up with a park for all."