Howard Hughes Corp. helps preserve Red Rock Canyon

More than 6,000 acres within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area once belonged to The Howard Hughes Corp., developer of the Summerlin master-planned community.

In two federal land exchanges, one in 1988 and the other in 2002, Hughes traded the acreage to the Bureau of Land Management for land inside the Las Vegas Valley.

"Red Rock Canyon is not only the most beautiful natural landmark in Southern Nevada, it has become a world-class outdoor recreational area for hikers, rock climbers, adventurers and cyclists," Tom Warden, a spokesman for Hughes, said. "The Hughes organization is extremely proud of the role it played in the creation of the conservation area and in its ongoing preservation."

The 1988 exchange, which involved 5,032 acres, was facilitated by The Nature Conservancy.

"This strategic partnership created a buffer zone around Red Rock Canyon, forever protecting it from development," Ame Hellman, director of the nonprofit agency's Nevada chapter, said. "This buffer zone, known today as Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, stands as a testament to the foresight of The Howard Hughes Corporation, which recognized the need to protect sensitive environmental land even before the explosive growth and development of the 1990s began to occur."

In 2002, Hughes initiated a second exchange with the BLM, in which more than 1,000 acres of sensitive high ground along Summerlin's western edge was added to the conservation area. This exchange will result in a 1,200-acre regional trails park to be developed by Clark County.

"Just sixteen years ago, Red Rock Canyon still felt like the Las Vegas outback, a safe distance and world apart from the bustling and frenzied Las Vegas Strip," Hellman said. "Today, Red Rock Canyon not only frames the western valley, it has become an integral part of the recreational experiences for thousands of Southern Nevadans. We are grateful to Hughes for its initiative and vision. The Red Rock partnership has served as a model of public and private interests working together to balance economic and environmental needs."

Summerlin is comprised of villages. It features golf courses, parks, trails, schools, houses of worship, shopping and business centers, medical facilities and cultural facilities.

Nearly 120 models showcase the available single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums. They are priced from the high $200,000s to more than $700,000. Custom-home sites in The Ridges village are priced from the $400,000s to more than $1 million. Monthly rent for apartments starts from the low $800s.

For more information, visit www.reviewjournal.com/real estate and click on the Summerlin link.

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