The Public Lands Advisory Board is working on a number of projects to benefit the town, not the least of which includes Last Chance Park, a 1,520-acre recreation area featuring everything from hiking and equestrian trails to an all-terrain vehicle area.

The advisory board suffered a brief hiatus after the town board removed its former chairman, Jim Petell, and the resignation of several members.

Since then, however, Al Balloqui, the board's new chairman, has been working with several new members to negotiate with the ubiquitous Bureau of Land Management and improve Pahrump.

Last Chance Park, slated to be located north of Simkins Road near the area of Bannavitch Street and Woodchips Road, is one of the main projects on which the board is working.

A master plan developed by WillDan Engineering shows 32,791 feet of hiking and equestrian trails and a 160-acre area in the south of the park specifically for ATV use.

The areas will be supplemented with areas for group and individual picnics, a "cool down" area for equestrian users, barbecue units, and unisex bathrooms.

In addition to general parking, separate parking for equestrian and ATV users will be available.

Although some of the area is too rugged for hiking use, it will be part of a beautiful scenic backdrop park users can enjoy.

In the meantime, however, the board has been hard at work greasing the wheels of bureaucracy in an effort to acquire or preserve the BLM land.

At its Feb. 7 meeting, the board agreed to have WillDan revise the proposed master plan with two sets of boundaries for a possible recreational and public purpose lease with the BLM.

Mary Ellen Giampoali, environmental consultant, will coordinate with the town to update the regional master plan to include the BLM property.

Giampaoli will also update a memorandum of understanding between the town and the BLM to possibly allow a joint selection proposal (under which the town can deny the sale of nominated disposable BLM land).

The board is also working on possible future improvements to the Spring Mountain trails by applying for a license plate grant.

Continuing to serve its intended purpose, the board is also working on acquiring disposable BLM land to create a buffer zone around the proposed Pahrump Valley Airport, Great Basin College, and create two affordable housing sites.

Balloqui said he would like to expand the advisory board's membership in the future to accommodate two members per ongoing project.

He described the board as "resurrecting and expanding."