Clark County updates 20-year parks system plan, prioritizes acquisitions, trails and a new level-of-service approach

Clark County staff on Wednesday presented an update to the county's park system plan, saying the 20-year vision will integrate natural-area acquisition, a simplified regional trail network and a more comprehensive level-of-service methodology to guide future investments.

Jenny Coker, deputy director of Clark County Public Works, told the council the update aims to treat parks as infrastructure that delivers climate resilience, economic value and community health and that staff are aligning the vision with concurrent regional funding discussions led by division manager Ross Hoover.

Ross Hoover said the system plan is both a technical document and a community vision: it is renewed on a multi-year schedule for grant eligibility and is intended to guide how the county accommodates an estimated 180,000 additional residents over the next 20 years. "This work is about the future of our parks and natural areas and trails throughout the county," Hoover said, adding that staff want to "meaningfully coordinate and engage with community members and cities and partners throughout the county."

Lindy Wallach,…