According to volunteer economic development coordinator Al Balloqui, the town's proposed fairgrounds have a new name: the Pahrump Arts and Recreational Complex, or PARC.

Balloqui explained the new name to the Pahrump Town Board at its regularly scheduled meeting last Tuesday during a presentation of some of the ideas for the proposed fairgrounds.

The proposed plans for PARC now include a Field of Dreams Sports Village, an enclosed arena for equestrian and rodeo events, a proposed water park, and a proposed Western Heritage Theme Park.

Other ideas include an enclosed convention center facility, a multi-screen movie theater, a performing arts center, and a park and ride transit system for Las Vegas commuters.

Balloqui also urged the town to acknowledge and work with a committee known as the Pahrump Authority for Economic Development, or PAVED, to achieve some of PARC's goals.

Harley Kulkin, a long-time resident who has consistently touted the idea of the town having an alien theme park, voiced his dissent.

Kulkin stressed the importance of the town retaining ownership of any facility that is built (he seemed to take issue with the fact that the BLM gave the town the land for the specific use as a fairground).

Kulkin then asked who would pay for the project if it doesn't generate revenue.

Furthermore, Kulkin said the ideas would bring in only low-paying jobs and that the town would not benefit from them.

"You're offering hundreds of jobs, and many thousands, those jobs are seasonal and low-wage jobs that we don't need," Kulkin said. "At this point, I'm just going to tell it like is. That's the last thing we need, is a bunch of losers, more losers, moving into town for a bunch of low-wage jobs. We need quality jobs."

Then Kulkin moved on to the water park idea, which he said "was for kids."

In addition, Kulkin claimed that people here wouldn't be able to afford to go to the PARC.

Not done yet, the resident then reminded the board that Pahrump had movie theaters in the past and they went out of business.

"People can't afford entertainment in this valley," Kulkin said. "This valley is dying."

Ironically, Kulkin suggested to the board that it "think big" and get the rights to Star Trek characters and build an even larger-scale theme park, which are usually even more expensive to get in to and require far more start up capital.

"What's going to bring this community success is a terrific theme park that's going to rival Disneyland," Kulkin said. "If we really gear this towards Star Trek and aliens and so forth, we could be the mightiest thing on the West coast."

When his three minutes were up, Kulkin petulantly told the board it could call the sheriff if they wanted him to leave the podium.

"You're the one trying to steal my idea and turn it into some stupid little thing," Kulkin said to Chairman Laurayne Murray.

Finally, however, Kulkin sat down and allowed other residents to speak.

Dave Stevens said he supported the idea because "I'm tired of cutting out paper dolls because there's nothing to do around here."

Paula Glidden, of the Tourism Advisory Board, reiterated the advisory board's support of the idea.

"We see the economic development that can come from this," Glidden said. "This is an opportunity that is so huge we can't even wrap our arms around it, really."

Glidden addressed Kulkin's remarks about having an even larger theme park by reminding the board that all great plans must be tempered by reality.

"I agree with Harley (Kulkin), we would love to be the diamond in the rough out here, but we have to start small," Glidden said. "This is our opportunity I believe."