Community meeting on Kellogg Park slated for Monday

Though the Pahrump Town Board’s governance became null and void this week, at least one project the board started still appears to be moving forward.

The development of Kellogg Park on the valley’s far south end of town has been on the town’s radar for several years when board members first agreed to support the idea. Residents who live in the south end of town have no real choice but to drive north into town if they want to enjoy community park facilities.

As such, members of the still intact Pahrump Park and Recreation Advisory Board want to hear from area residents regarding the project. The board planned at least two meetings to listen to the concerns and suggestions from the community.

The first meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday at Sanders Family Winery at 3730 Kellogg Road from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A second meeting is scheduled for Jan. 19 from 6-to-8 p.m. at the Bob Ruud Community Center at Highway 160 and Basin.

Advisory Board Chairman Gene Frank said the 80-acre parcel of land is essentially a blank canvas with great potential for the area.

“The park will have a walking trail that will be about a half mile in length,” he said. “It will allow particularly seniors to commune with the desert nature. We’ll have desert landscaping, native plants and benches for people just to sit and enjoy the scenery.”

Aside from the benefits for area residents, Frank said their pets can also take part in the frivolity the park would afford.

“There will be three dog parks for large, medium and small dogs,” he said. “There will also be a picnic and barbeque area for families and nearby playgrounds for young children so the parents can watch their children. There will be a large grassy area for the older children to run and play ball.”

Frank said members of the advisory board will make a presentation Monday on the multi-phase project, followed by discussions.

“The presentation will allow people to see what the first phase will look like,” he said. “We’ll be asking for their support and seek their comments and input on what they would like to see at the park. With the completion of this first phase which is around 19 acres, there will still be 60 acres to develop. The potential is huge.”

Early last year, Pahrump Town Board members voted to approve a grant submittal plan to the Nevada Division of State Parks for the proposed Kellogg Park project after the state entity announced the availability of more than $270,000 in federal funds for local parks.

At that time, when asked by the board roughly how many people may use the park once completed, Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Matt Luis said an exact figure would be hard to determine, but he noted that he regularly sees residents around town who want to know when the project might be completed.

“I run into to people all the time who ask me about Kellogg Park,” Luis said. “One of the biggest requests out there is the dog park and the walking trails among the mesquite trees that make it a nice quiet area. If you go by Ian Deutch Park, you see every morning how many people are walking around there and this would just be a beautiful setting for residents on the south end of the community,” he said.

In August, the town board voted to approve an request for proposal by Gary Guy Wilson for a waterline installation at the site not to exceed $74,800. Frank said much of the work has since been completed.

“My understanding is that we’ll eventually have restroom facilities put in,” he said. “There’s also the possibility that we may have a wading pool, which could be a pool of shallow water and water sprinklers so that in the summer months, kids can go running and frolicking in the cool water. Because of the shallowness, it shouldn’t require lifeguards.”

Additionally, Frank said once the community lends its supports to the project, it may spur additional support from county officials.

“Through the community, I think we can get the support from the county commissioners,” he said. “Commissioner Schinhofen and Commissioner Borasky are both supportive of Kellogg Park. I haven’t spoken to any of the other commissioners as of yet.”

A time frame for the actual groundbreaking for the park remains uncertain.