Everyone Invited To Raptor Play Park Grand Opening Feb. 16
See The F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Replica In Thunderbird Family Sports Complex
Join Las Vegas Ward 6 Councilman Steve Ross for the grand opening of phase two of the Raptor Play Park in the Thunderbird Family Sports Complex Saturday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. Light refreshments will be offered while supplies last. The 10-acre sports complex is located at 6105 N. Durango Drive, at the northwest corner of Tropical Parkway and Durango.
“Bring the family out to enjoy the free grand opening of this new phase to the park,” Councilman Ross said. “We’ve added landscaping, lighted sidewalks, a picnic shade shelter, benches, tables, street improvements and a one-quarter scale F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter aircraft exhibit.”
The F-22 Raptor is the visual centerpiece of the park, appearing to fly above a monument plaza with contrail-shaped curved steel beams anchored in a concrete base providing support. The Raptor was selected due to its use in the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base.
Construction of phase two of the Raptor Play Park began in July 2012. The $1.1 million project included completion of four acres of the site. Phase two off-site improvements included roadway paving, street lights, storm drains and sidewalks for the north side of Tropical Parkway from Durango Drive to North Bonita Vista Street. Median landscaping and a trail walkway were added to portions of Durango Drive adjacent to the park. Funding for the project was made possible through the Residential Construction Tax that is collected during development of homes in the area. Monies from the Residential Construction Tax must be spent in the ward in which they were generated and must fund neighborhood parks and recreation projects.
Pace Construction was the park contractor; Stanley Consultants and Southwick Landscape Architects were consultants. Digital Design Group provided the F-22 Raptor aircraft.
The Thunderbird Family Sports Complex pays tribute to the United States Air Force and all military families in the Las Vegas valley. Phase one amenities included parking, a picnic shade shelter, restroom, covered tot lot play areas, turf, landscaping, lighted sidewalks, a fitness exercise area, splash pad water feature and off-site improvements along Bonita Vista Street. The complex also offers two synthetic turf lacrosse fields.