Las Vegas City Wire

Las Vegas' historic west side now has a new park thanks to a partnership between the city and Clark County to serve that neighborhood and remember those who came before.

Historic Westside Legacy Park at 1600 Mount Mariah Drive, and Lake Mead and Martin Luther King boulevards, had its grand opening Saturday, Dec. 4, with tributes to past and future leaders in the Historic Westside community. Local officials, residents and visitors attended to witness the opening ceremonies.

Some of the tributes at Historic Westside Legacy Park to neighborhood leaders over the years | twitter.com/ClarkCountyNV/

"A great day for west Las #Vegas," Clark County said in a Twitter post later in the day. "Today marks the grand opening of the Historic Westside Legacy Park. The joint #ClarkCounty, @CityOfLasVegas  project is a tribute to community leaders who've led the Historic Westside over the years."

Speakers at the grand opening included Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who described the park and its formation as "wonderful" and recalled those who helped shaped the neighborhood.

"They laid the groundwork," Goodman said, 8 News Now reported. "And our younger generation has to understand this. You owe the grandparents and the great-grandparents and everybody that's no longer with us, but maybe in a better place, to make this community shine like it never has before."

The park is in the district of Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy II, who also spoke during the grand opening ceremonies.

Drone footage of the park is included on the park's page at the city's website.

"As the Historic Westside continues to grow and change, as all things do, it becomes immensely important for us to learn about — respect — and engage with the stories and experiences of those who came before us," the city said on its website. "To remember and celebrate those who laid the foundation and tended to the soil that will allow this community to grow well into the future. 

"The Westside now has a cemented monument to celebrate and honor the legacy of a historic and proud community. The park includes plaques with historic information on honorees, as well as public art throughout. There is also a playground, benches and seating areas."

A statue of former President Barack Obama with three books by his side now is on display near the park's entrance.

The park includes an interpretive walking trail, public art and a play area.

The park also includes tributes to members of the community who have been important to the development of the city's Westside and Las Vegas is looking for nominations to add to the tributes. Nominations for next year will be accepted through Sunday, Dec. 19, and those selected by the Historic Legacy Park Committee will be announced at the African American Trailblazer Awards on Feb. 1.

Anyone who would like to submit a nomination may do so here.