News
Henderson's Open Space And Trails Plan Receives Planning Award
First plan of its kind in the Las Vegas valley to address whole jurisdiction and the
future infrastructure needed to sustain plan goals
October 4, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE
PLEASE CONTACT CINDY HERMAN, (702) 267-2051
Henderson, Nev. – The city of Henderson's Open Space and Trails Plan was awarded the 2006 DeBoer Award for Excellence in Planning for "Outstanding Cultural and Environmental Plan" at this year's American Planning Association (APA), Nevada Chapter state conference. The award was presented to Mayor James B. Gibson and Henderson City Council at the October 3 Henderson City Council meeting.
As one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation, the city proactively sought to protect its natural resources while increasing off-street trail connectivity with the first comprehensive Open Space and Trails Plan in southern Nevada. The Plan also identifies the natural infrastructure to accommodate trails, greenways, natural washes and open space during development. Developed with an extensive public outreach process, the Plan was adopted by the Henderson City Council on December 6, 2005. Participants represented a broad range of interest groups and stakeholders, including Henderson residents, the Sierra Club, the Bureau of Land Management, American Nevada Corporation, Outside Las Vegas, and Clark County.
"We've been diligent in working to protect our vital natural resources and we're certainly honored to be recognized for what we've done," said Henderson Mayor James B. Gibson. "We pride ourselves on our quality of life and a big part of that is making sure we have ample open spaces, trails and parks. We know we have to be conscientious of our natural resources in our planning though, so we take special care to make the best use of our desert environment in that process and it's nice to be recognized for our efforts."
The Plan was recognized for contributing to Nevada's heritage and quality of life through management, enhancement, preservation, or restoration of important resources. Award judges stated the plan is "an excellent document...contains a clear set of strategies and recommendations...very transferable and a major community resource." The city of Henderson competed against other government agencies and private firms in the state to earn a fifth DeBoer award for excellence in planning.
Open space affords passive recreational opportunities and conserves wildlife habitat and scenic areas. The purpose of the Open Space and Trails Plan is to take advantage of clear opportunities to protect special places, provide accessible trails, and conserve natural resources while maintaining the city's vibrant economy. The Plan serves as an important policy document to guide the city of Henderson in its recreation, public facilities, and community planning.
"The Plan is an excellent tool to preserve our environmental heritage for future generations to enjoy," City Manager Phil Speight said. "We have already seen the benefits of this collaboration with our community by the protection of open space within several of the landmark project areas identified in the Plan, such as the Black Mountain Nature Preserve site."
The city of Henderson is currently in the process of developing specific standards and policies to guide development at sensitive locations, such as the "desert edge," or interface between the urban environment and key resource areas, such as the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA). To view a copy of the Open Space and Trails Plan, visit www.cityofhenderson.com and select the link under the Land Use Plan section of the Community Development Department page.
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