Archive for the ‘Community Parks and Places’ Category
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Oct
03
Posted by Mark Clawson
Las Vegas Community Events – Age of Chivalry – Sunset Park
Are you ready for a little chivalry? For the 16th year, a medieval kingdom will take over Sunset Park with lavishly costumed knights, knaves, fine ladies and wenches as CBS Radio, Miller Lite and Clark County Parks and Recreation present the annual Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival, Oct. 9-11.
At the 2007 event Christopher Biro’s Pirate’s Parrot Show was pretty astonishing. Biro is a well known advocate of bird free-flight and a highly regarded trainer. He has over seventy parrots in his menagrie many of which are rescue birds. I’m not sure if he is scheduled in this year?
Rough looking group.
This brings you back to the days of yore. The kids loved this stuff.
Several stages will feature entertainment with costumed performers presenting more than 50 shows per day along with historical re-enactments, jousting tournaments, medieval pageantry and more than 100 artisans – including blacksmiths, stained glass designers, jewelers, wood workers, toy makers, perfume blenders, stone carvers and sword, dagger and armor craftsman — to demonstrate and sell their wares. Authentic food, from fish and chips to an English feast, also will be available as well as beer and ales for adults with proper identification.
Concerts all weekend will feature local acts with nationally known acts as well as a royal parade with kings, queens, warriors and peasants, takes place on Saturday and Sunday. The festival offers full-contact jousting tournaments; no-holds-barred gladiator battles; black powder demonstrations, strolling minstrels, contortionists, magicians, storytellers, jokers, jugglers, flame eaters, belly dancers, trained parrots and pirates. Additional attractions include rides, bow and arrow and axe target games, medieval barber and surgeon demonstrations and Renaissance guilds.
Even a pirate ship.
For all that you need to know about the event you can click here.
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Jun
30
Posted by Mark Clawson
Las Vegas is getting hot again; so where can you go to cool off?
Here are two great community centers that provide relief from the heat.
The Centennial Hills Community Center is operated by the YMCA of Southern Nevada. The monthly and annual fees are reasonable given the amenities that are found at the center. At the YMCA, no one is turned away because of an inablity to pay. Program and membership assistance are available to those that complete the application and qualify.
The Community Center is lots of fun with tremendous facilities. You’ll find full court basketball, indoor pools, aerobics studios, a weight room, computer lounges and many other activities. They have a number of programs for “Itty Bitty” three to five year olds. Swimming Lesson are available for all ages starting at three months.This is not just for the kids, the YMCA offers FREE childcare. So work out to your hearts content.
You can view their website by clicking here.
On the other side of town you have the Henderson Multigenerational Center/Aquatic Complex.
The facility is multigenerational and you will find activities for everyone. They have a rock climbing wall, jogging track, an adult lounge and dance room. The facility accommodates a wide array of activities, interests and community services.
The 84,120-square-foot state-of-the-art facility also features an aquatic complex, including indoor and outdoor pools for casual and serious swimmers of all ages.
Click here to visit their website.
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Jun
27
Posted by Mark Clawson
Floyd Lamb State Park has been in the news lately; they are renovating one of the historic buildings on the site. The building will become the new Visitors Center. I wrote an article about the park about 2 years ago and I thought the timing might be right to expose you to the park once again.
At first blush there doesn’t seem to be much going on here, not many visitors. However, this park has a very interesting history attached to it. Water was the key attraction at Tule Springs. The native Indian population made use of the springs, as did the local propectors. In 1941, Jacob Foumond carved out a working ranch and he took advantage of the divorce laws in Nevada and created a dude ranch for prospective divorcees.
The ranch could accomodate 10-12 guests waiting out their six-weeks residency requirement. Life on the dude ranch was glamorized in newspapers and made famous by the many movie stars who came to obtain a divorce. Tule Springs was also a self-supporting ranch where alfapha was planted and Brangus cattle were bred and raised. In 1964 the City of Las Vegas purchased the property and renamed it in the honor of State Senator Floyd Lamb. In 1977 the State acquired the property only to transfer it back to the city of Las Vegas in July of this year (2007). Eons ago, when Tule Springs was much cooler and wetter than today, large mammals, simliar to those in Africa today, lived in the canyons and lush valleys of the area.
The lakes are stocked with fish monthly and it’s a great place to catch catfish and other varieties of fish. The fee is $6 daily per car. You can walk, bike or ride a horse into the park for just $1 a day.
This is really a fine place to take the kids and have a BBQ. You will need a Nevada State fishing license to fish the Lakes. Group reservations start at $50 (plus a $25 Refundable Deposit) for group of 100 people.
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Oct
25
Posted by Mark Clawson
Summmerlin is known for their 150 miles of trails that connect the communities and provide a safe and beautiful environment for exercise or just for having fun with the family.
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Oct
11
Posted by Mark Clawson
Here is a look at the Centennial Hills Community Center and Park. The Community Center is lots of fun with tremendous facilities. You’ll find full court basketball, indoor pools, aerobics studios, a weight room, computer lounges and many other activities. Swimming Lesson are available for all ages starting at three months.This is not just for the kids, the YMCA offers FREE childcare. So work out to your hearts content. You can even book a private party at the water park which has flume slides and aqua play zones.
The Centennial Hills Park is just around the corner and is an American Instute of Architecture award winner. There are great picnic areas with plenty of shade and a great water-play area for the little ones. Outdoor lighted soccer and volleyball courts will really serve the community well. 
We welcome any comments that you have to make, just click on Comments and let us know what you would like to post. We are looking for articles from students at the local schools and newspapers. This site is for the community and I hope you all can get involved.
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Oct
01
Posted by Mark Clawson
One of the really fun activities at The Springs Preserve is the Nature Exchange. I’m a volunteer at the Nature Exchange and I work with a wonderful associate, Melissa, a student at Bonanza High School. Melissa is a wonderful volunteer who has a very natural way with children. She puts smiles on their faces and has a real knack for getting the kids involved.
The program was established in order to get children involved in nature. Here kids can trade their own shells, stones, insects (that have passed away naturally), and other artifacts.
When the kids bring an item to the Nature Exchange they receive points. The points received are based on what they bring in and how much knowledge they have. An account is established and they are now Traders. The children can then accumulate points and use those points to select items at the exchange.
This is a very interactive experience and the time spent at Springs Preserve helps to educate our young ones about the value of thinking green. Recycling, water conservation, and the use of alternative building materials needs to be learned early in life.
Participating in these programs and getting your kids involved with the Springs Preserve is a small, but, important step to a better world and a better environment.
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Sep
10
Posted by Mark Clawson
Friday, I took a drive out of town to the Toiyabe National Forest. This is the home to Mount Charleston and it’s truly unique Alpine Community. Quite a bit of diversity in homes out here You have anything from small cottages to very spectacular homes built into the mountainside. The Mount Charleston Wilderness contains 18,000 acres of bristlecone pine, the most extensive stand of these ancient trees in the Intermountain Region. This is an oasis in the desert. The community is just a short 25 minute drive from the northwestern edge of Las Vegas. Mount Charleston stands at 11,918 feet above sea level and you’ll love the tree lined mountain roads and smell of pine. They tell me that the temperature is 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the city, so in the summer what a great getaway!
I have decided to give you a picture tour. Enjoy.
The Hotel on Mt. Charleston
Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort
Mount Charleston Lodge
A Part of History that is for sale, I think the price was $175,000.
Mt. Charleston Baptist Church
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Aug
20
Posted by Mark Clawson
Las Vegas has a new addition to it’s park facilities, welcome to Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs. At first blush there doesn’t seem to be much going on here. I did stop by on a hot summer afternoon and that can keep people away. However, this park has a very interesting history attached to it. Water was the key attraction at Tule Springs. The native Indian population made use of the springs, as did the local propectors. In 1941, Jacob Foumond carved out a working ranch and he took advantage of the divorce laws in Nevada and created a dude ranch for prospective divorcees. The ranch could accomodate 10-12 guests waiting out their six-weeks residency requirement. Life on the dude ranch was glamorized in newspapers and made famous by the many movie stars who came to obtain a divorce. Tule Springs was also a self-supporting ranch where alfapha was planted and Brangus cattle were bred and raised. In 1964 the City of Las Vegas purchased the property and renamed it in the honor of State Senator Floyd Lamb. In 1977 the State acquired the property only to transfer it back to the city of Las Vegas in July of this year. Eons ago, when Tule Springs was much cooler and wetter than today, large mammals, simliar to those in Africa today, lived in the canyons and lush valleys of the area.
The lakes are stocked with fish monthly and it’s a great place to catch catfish and other varieties of fish. The fee is $6 daily per car. You can walk, bike or ride a horse into the park for just $1 a day.
This is really a fine place to take the kids and have a BBQ. You will need a Nevada State fishing license to fish the Lakes. Group reservations start at $50 (plus a $25 Refundable Deposit) for group of 100 people.
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Aug
09
Posted by Mark Clawson
You now have a new Centennial Hills Community Center and Park. The Community Center is operated by the YMCA of Southern Nevada. The monthly and annual fees are reasonable given the amenities that are found at the center. At the YMCA, no one is turned away because of an inablity to pay. Program and membership assistance are available to those that complete the application and qualify. The Community Center is lots of fun with tremendous facilities. You’ll find full court basketball, indoor pools, aerobics studios, a weight room, computer lounges and many other activities. They have a number of programs for “Itty Bitty” three to five year olds. Swimming Lesson are available for all ages starting at three months.This is not just for the kids, the YMCA offers FREE childcare. So work out to your hearts content. You can even book a private party at the water park which has flume slides and aqua play zones. 
The Centennial Hills Park is just around the corner and is an American Instute of Architecture award winner. There are great picnic areas with plenty of shade and a great water-play area for the little ones. Outdoor lighted soccer and volleyball courts will really serve the community well.
We welcome any comments that you have to make, just click on Comments and let us know what you would like to post. We are looking for articles from students at the local schools and newspapers. This site is for the community and I hope you all can get involved.
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Jul
28
Posted by Mark Clawson
I was exploring the neighborhood of Anthem Hills this week and found the Revere Golf Club. The staff at the Club were very cordial and invited me to take a golf cart onto the course so I could get a few pictures and a feel for their golf course. You’ll find that the course offers plenty of challenges. There are two courses, The Concord and The Lexington, both are laid out through rough desert canyons. The well maintained fairways and greens provide a sharp contrast to the desert canyons that run through the course. You will also find many changes in elevation that compliment the city and mountain views that are so prevalent. The course designers were Billy Casper and Greg Nash an architect.
Inside the clubhouse you’ll find Buckman’s Grille. They have used floor to ceiling glass and the views of the course and the city provide a great backdrop. The Chef is Scott McMahan and you might want to call about the “Dinner with a View”.
