Henderson's New 3.5-Acre Greenbow Park Opened on the Old Three Kids Mine Site

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

Greenbow Park opened in late October in the Aries community in Henderson. FOX5 Vegas reporter KaiBrina Parkman covered the opening in a story titled "New 3.5-acre park opens at former mine site in Henderson." The Las Vegas Review-Journal also took a look, in a story by Casey Harrison titled "A look at the new park at a former mine site in Henderson."

Here is what the park has, per FOX5:

3.5 acres of park space
Pickleball courts
Playgrounds
Shaded gathering areas
More than 3,000 feet of trails
Trail views of the Las Vegas skyline

The park is the first public amenity to open in Aries, the master-planned community being built on the old mine land. Aries is planned for more than 3,000 homes spread across 24 residential neighborhoods. That makes it one of the largest new-home communities on Henderson's east side.

Some details were not in the reporting. The cost of the park was NOT FOUND. The FOX5 story also did not name the developer, the builders, or give a date for when the first homes near the park will be finished. The story did not include park hours. If you plan to visit, check the community's own website or signs at the park before you go.

FOX5 noted that the property produced manganese for decades and went through environmental cleanup before it was redeveloped. That cleanup is the reason this park could open at all, and it is a big part of why this story caught people's attention.

A colorful playground with slides and climbing structures, like the new play areas at Greenbow Park in Henderson's Aries community

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

Parks shape neighborhoods. When families shop for a home, a park within walking distance is often near the top of the wish list. Greenbow Park is the first sign that Aries is moving from a dirt site to a real place where people will live. For buyers watching east Henderson, it is a signal that the community is getting built out, not just planned.

Pickleball is a big deal here too. It is one of the most popular ways for Las Vegas locals to stay active, and courts in many parks fill up fast in the cooler months. New courts on the east side give players another option. The 3,000-plus feet of trails also matter. A short walk with a view of the Strip skyline is the kind of thing that makes a neighborhood feel like home.

It also matters for how people see this part of Henderson. For many longtime locals, "Three Kids Mine" meant an old, polluted site you drove past near Lake Mead Parkway. A park with playgrounds on that same land changes the picture. Seeing kids on swings where there used to be mine waste is a big shift.

And there is the scale. More than 3,000 new homes is a lot of new households. That means more traffic on Lake Mead Parkway and nearby roads, more students for local schools, and more shoppers for nearby stores. It also means more housing choices on a side of the valley that does not see as much new building as Summerlin or the southwest. How quickly those homes come online will shape what this corner of Henderson feels like over the next several years.

Where Aries Sits on the Map

Aries is on Henderson's east side, near where Lake Mead Parkway meets Lake Las Vegas Parkway. If you know the area, that puts it on the way out toward Lake Las Vegas and Lake Mead. For people who love the outdoors, that is a big plus. Boating, hiking and biking at Lake Mead National Recreation Area are a short drive away, and the Lake Las Vegas area offers dining and water views close by.

The tradeoff is distance. From the east side of Henderson, the drive to the Strip, the airport or Summerlin is longer than from the middle of the valley. That is not a dealbreaker for most people, but it is worth testing. Before you buy anywhere, drive your real commute at the real time of day. Do it more than once. A drive that feels easy on a Sunday can feel very different at 7:30 on a weekday morning.

What We Know and What We Do Not Know Yet

Here is a simple scorecard from this week's reporting.

Known: Greenbow Park is open, it is 3.5 acres, and it has pickleball courts, playgrounds, shaded areas and more than 3,000 feet of trails with skyline views (FOX5 Vegas).
Known: Aries is planned for more than 3,000 homes in 24 neighborhoods (FOX5 Vegas).
Known: The site produced manganese for decades and went through environmental cleanup before redevelopment (FOX5 Vegas).
Not found: what the park cost, its hours, and who will maintain it long term.
Not found: a full build-out schedule for all 24 neighborhoods.
Not found: the current status of cleanup across the entire former mine site.

We keep a list like this on purpose. In real estate, the gaps matter as much as the headlines. If you are making a decision about a home here, those open questions are exactly what you should ask the builder and the city about.

Background and History

The Three Kids Mine was a manganese mine in Henderson. It closed in 1961 and left behind a polluted site. In a report from 2023, 8 News Now said the site covered nearly 1,200 acres of undeveloped land, and that contamination included manganese, lead and arsenic. That report, by John Langeler and Greg Haas, was titled "Three Kids Mine site cleanup set to begin in 2024 as vote nears on plan for 3,000 homes."

That same report said the cleanup was expected to cost about $250 million, mostly for moving dirt, and that the state had approved the plan. It also said a deal with the Bureau of Land Management required work to start by a set deadline, or a federal act that authorized the project would expire. The report quoted developer Mindy Unger-Wadkins, who said, "It's just taken 20 years." She also said, "We know that what is out here, we can handle cleaning up, and taking care of … and absolutely containing."

A dirt path winding through a desert canyon, similar to the rugged land around the old Three Kids Mine in east Henderson

So the path to Greenbow Park was long. It took a federal law, a land deal, state approval of a cleanup plan, city approval of a 3,000-home plan, and then years of dirt work. FOX5's report confirms that the property went through environmental cleanup before redevelopment. Where exactly the cleanup stands today across the whole site was NOT FOUND in this week's reporting.

If you want to know more about the homes planned in Aries, we covered the community before. Our earlier posts on the Pulte Aries Henderson community and Aries floorplans and prices walk through what buyers can expect.

What Happens Next

Greenbow Park is the first piece. The bigger story is the build-out of more than 3,000 homes across 24 neighborhoods. As new neighborhoods open, expect more model homes, more construction traffic, and more people using the park. A full build-out timeline was NOT FOUND in the reporting, so we will keep watching and share updates as builders release new phases.

Watch for a few things in the months ahead. First, new phases and price lists from the builders in Aries. Second, any new public amenities, since master-planned communities often add parks and trails as they grow. Third, road work on Lake Mead Parkway and Lake Las Vegas Parkway, since thousands of new homes will need good access. And fourth, any updates on cleanup from the state, since that is the question many buyers will ask first.

It is also worth watching how the city of Henderson handles growth on this side of town. A community of more than 3,000 homes needs schools, fire and police coverage, and road capacity. Those decisions usually come up at public meetings, and residents can weigh in. If you live in nearby neighborhoods, keep an eye on Henderson City Council and Planning Commission agendas for items tied to Aries.

If you are planning to visit, late fall is a great time. Cooler weather makes the trails and courts much more pleasant than in summer. Bring water and sun protection anyway, since there is little natural shade in the desert outside the park's shaded areas.

Ryan's Take

I love seeing a park open before most of the homes. It tells buyers that the community is real and that amenities are coming, not just promised in a brochure. In my experience, a finished park helps people picture their life there: a morning walk with the dog, a quick pickleball game after work, kids at the playground on a Saturday.

That said, I always tell buyers to do their homework on a site like this. The Three Kids Mine had real contamination, and cleanup took years and a lot of money. If you are thinking about buying in Aries, ask questions. Ask the builder for the environmental disclosures. Read them. Ask what was cleaned up, how, and who signed off. A good builder will answer clearly. If you get vague answers, slow down. A new home is a big purchase, and you deserve to feel fully comfortable with the land under it. I am glad to help you sort through those documents.

A man playing pickleball on an outdoor court, the kind of everyday activity Greenbow Park brings to east Henderson

A Buyer's Checklist for Homes on Former Industrial Land

Aries is not the only Las Vegas community built on land that once had another use. Old mines, gravel pits and industrial sites have been turned into neighborhoods across the country. That can work out great, as long as buyers go in with eyes open. Here is the checklist I walk through with clients in a situation like this:

Read the disclosures. Ask for every environmental disclosure tied to the lot and the community, and read them before you sign a purchase contract.
Ask who signed off. Find out which state or local agency reviewed the cleanup for the area where your home sits.
Ask about limits. Some former industrial sites come with rules on things like digging, wells or gardening. Ask whether any apply to your lot.
Think about resale. Future buyers will ask the same questions you are asking. Keep copies of everything you receive.
Get your own inspection. A new home still deserves an independent inspection, before closing and again before your builder warranty runs out.

None of this means a home in Aries is a bad choice. It just means you should buy with the full picture.

What You Can Do

Go see it for yourself. Greenbow Park is in the Aries community near Lake Mead Parkway and Lake Las Vegas Parkway in Henderson. Walk the trails, check out the Strip skyline view, and see how the courts and playgrounds feel. A visit tells you more about a neighborhood than any brochure.

If you are shopping for a new home in east Henderson, make a short list of questions before you visit any model home in Aries:

What are the current prices and incentives for each neighborhood?
What HOA fees apply, and what do they cover?
What environmental disclosures come with the home, and can I read them before I sign?
Which schools are zoned for this address?
What is the timeline for nearby phases and amenities?

One more tip: if you plan to buy a new home, bring your own agent on your very first visit to the sales office. Many builders require your agent to be there or registered at the first visit for that agent to represent you. Your own agent gives you someone in your corner who is not working for the builder. Ask the builder about their agent policy, and how agent pay is handled, before you go.

A dirt trail leading toward a large desert rock formation, like the walking trails with skyline views in Henderson's Aries community

Quick Answers

Where is Greenbow Park? In the new Aries community in Henderson, on the former Three Kids Mine site near Lake Mead Parkway and Lake Las Vegas Parkway.

How big is it? 3.5 acres, with more than 3,000 feet of trails, per FOX5 Vegas.

What can you do there? Play pickleball, let the kids use the playgrounds, gather in the shaded areas and walk trails with views of the Las Vegas skyline.

How many homes are planned in Aries? More than 3,000 homes across 24 neighborhoods.

What was mined there? Manganese. The mine closed in 1961, and the site went through environmental cleanup before redevelopment.

How much did the park cost? NOT FOUND in this week's reporting.

And if you just want to enjoy a new park, go enjoy it. It is not every day a former mine site turns into a place for kids to play.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime.

Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com

Sources

FOX5 Vegas, "New 3.5-acre park opens at former mine site in Henderson," by KaiBrina Parkman

Las Vegas Review-Journal, "A look at the new park at a former mine site in Henderson," by Casey Harrison

8 News Now (KLAS), "Three Kids Mine site cleanup set to begin in 2024 as vote nears on plan for 3,000 homes," by John Langeler and Greg Haas (background)