Western half of Lorenzi Park almost ready to reopen

Las Vegas is completing renovation work on the historic west side of Lorenzi Park at 3333 W. Washington Ave. A grand opening is expected this summer. The western half of the 60-acre park has been closed since March 2012 to make way for the $15 million improvement project.

The lake and islands have been completely reconstructed. The renovated lakes, which will be restocked for fishing by the Nevada Wildlife Department, have new irrigation equipment and a PVC liner to conserve water. A dirt layer covers the watertight liner to protect it from damage.

A reconstruction of the original 1930s bandshell and a picnic shelter have been added to the south island, as well as a pedestrian access bridge. The north island will remain a bird sanctuary.

New basketball courts, a historic interpretive loop trail, new playground and water play areas, restrooms and additional picnic shelters have been added. The rose garden has been moved to the northwest corner of the park. The park’s old overhead power and phone lines were replaced with underground installations.

Many dead, diseased and unsafe trees were removed, as well as trees that were in the way of the renovations. More new trees have been planted than were removed. Any trees that died over the recent winter will be removed next winter, as migratory birds are nesting in them.

The Derfelt Senior Center and Las Vegas Adaptive Recreation Center, long located in the historic park buildings, are expected to reopen in the coming months. Funding for the project was provided primarily by the Bureau of Land Management through the sale of public lands as authorized by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.

Park programming and reservation information are available by contacting the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department at 702-229-6718 or by visiting www.lasvegasnevada.gov/reserveapark.