Shuttle crewman honored at park

Plaque, field's name memorialize Willie McCool

North Las Vegas named the city's model airplane park the Willie McCool Memorial Air Field during a dedication ceremony, Oct. 23.

The 4400 Horse Drive air field, called McCool Regional Park for short, was named for the pilot who was killed along with his seven-person crew on the Space Shuttle Columbia in February, 2003.

McCool's parents, Audrey and Barry McCool, are professors at UNLV.

The Oct. 23 dedication ceremony included the unveiling of a memorial sign donated by model airplane-flying groups.

The park eventually will include sports fields, picnic sites, playgrounds and park lighting.

Park design is scheduled to begin in 2006 and work should be completed a couple years later.

The $25 million in improvements will be paid for through proceeds via the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.

The North Las Vegas City Council in December of last year approved naming the 160-acre park to honor McCool.


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