Burst of warm weather draws crowds at parks

By Kyle B. Hansen

Saturday, April 2, 2011 | 7:33 p.m.

After Friday’s record-tying high temperature of 92 degrees, Saturday’s quick drop to a high of 88 with strong winds and cloudy skies may have been a reminder that summer isn’t quite here yet. But even with the blustery weather, many Las Vegans were determined to get out and about.

Celeb Rogers and her three children visited the Desert Breeze Water Park on Saturday afternoon, despite the changing weather.

“We wish we would have come yesterday,” Rogers said. “I promised yesterday that we would come today, because it was hot then and I thought it would be hot today.”

The Minnesota-native said she loves the hot summers in Las Vegas and that the family would be returning to the pool often. “We just need more sun,” she said, looking up at the mostly cloudy skies.

Temperatures are expected to fall again Sunday, with an expected low of 67 degrees overnight and a high of 80 degrees.

Alissa Chalmers also had her family at the pool Saturday, their first trip to the county water park since August.

“We kept promising our kids we’d go,” she said. “Now it is really nice.”

Across town in Henderson, Discovery Park was nearly full Saturday afternoon. Young children explored the playground, while the older kids were busy with the soccer and T-ball games. Adults, meanwhile, played with Frisbees, jogged and walked their dogs around the park.

Fran and Dan Castillo were eating lunch at a picnic table between attending a soccer game for 10-year-old Grace and a football game for 7-year-old Nolan.

“It’s a little early for the heat,” Fran Castillo said. “I’m a little worried about summer, since it’s hot so early.”

But the kids are glad to see the sun return.

“I’m happy it’s summer,” 9-year-old nephew Justin said.

On the other side of the park, the Rose family was also eating lunch, but only after getting dessert.

Mya, 7, and Taijah, 9, were barely out of the car before barreling toward an ice cream truck in the parking lot. After eating their treats, they settled down on a blanket under a tree, even though a picnic table was just 10 feet away.

Maya’s first-grade teacher at Gibson Elementary suggested the children have a picnic lunch with their families because the weather was nice. So, that’s exactly what they did, bringing chips and sandwiches from Port of Subs.

“It’s the first time this year” to visit the park, the girls’ mother, Angela Rose, said. “When it gets hot, we probably won’t come as much. But this weather is perfect.”