North Las Vegas use disc golf fees, other measures to fund park upkeep

North Las Vegas Parks and Recreation officials hope new offerings at city parks will net more fans and cash to cover costs.

Craig Ranch Regional Park has become a valley favorite among residents, but that distinction comes at a price. The $130 million park, which opened in 2013, was built with grant funds, but the city, which was badly scarred by the recession, pays $2.3 million a year for its upkeep.

To handle park costs citywide, the city installed a fee-based disc golf course, switched to Ticketmaster for amphitheater ticket sales, and planned bigger events at its crown jewel, including a major feast.

While walking her dog Friday afternoon at Craig Ranch, Katelynn Cecilia Ross, 21, said she wasn’t concerned about the park’s ability to cover costs.

“There are a lot of things here I wish I had as a kid,” Ross said. She added that she hasn’t attended any of the events yet and mostly uses the park to walk her dog.

A new disc golf course at the city-operated municipal golf course Par 3 is expected to make about $15,000 to $20,000 a year, according to city officials. The fee is $6 a round, but another course at Craig Ranch scheduled to open this summer will be free. Installation costs for both courses is $23,000, according to Tracey Farage, city recreation supervisor.

City-run disc golf courses in Clark County, Henderson and Las Vegas are free, but none co-exist on a municipal golf course, which is the case with North Las Vegas.

The only other golf course in Southern Nevada that also offers disc golf is the Wildhorse golf course in Henderson, said Cass Palmer, North Las Vegas neighborhood and leisure services director. That course is owned by the city of Henderson but is privately run. Rounds there are $10 apiece.

“The decision to charge fees was modeled on similar golf courses in California and Colorado,” Palmer said. “More and more courses throughout the nation are looking towards disc golf as an additional revenue stream for golf course maintenance and other associated costs.”

Palmer said the intertwined courses won’t interfere with one another because paid disc golf will be available only at night under a lit course.

When the Craig Ranch amphitheater debuted in the fall, it made $2,500 in profit from four shows, Palmer said. He added that the shows, which included a Beatles Tribute band and War, were mostly intended to test the venue. Exact figures on how much was made and spent were not provided to the Review-Journal by press time.

A new agreement with Ticketmaster will better promote events and allow people to buy tickets faster, Palmer said.

In the most recent capital improvement plan, the City Council approved $480,000 in grant funds for add-ons to the amphitheater that include a bigger fence, permanent seats, a permanent beverage station, and a four-window ticket booth. Work is expected to be completed by early 2017.

The amphitheater, which had a soft opening in October, seats up to 10,000 people on its stone steps and lawn, which are uncovered.

Farage said the amphitheater’s goal is to generate gross revenue of $500,000 by the third full year.

Craig Ranch will hold its biggest event yet, the San Gennaro Feast, in May. The five-day Italian food and music festival is expected to draw between 30,000 and 60,000 people and generate between $30,000 and $60,000 in net revenue, Palmer said.

Contact Alexander S. Corey at acorey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0270. Find @acoreynews on Twitter.