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| - At a mere six acres Esselmont Park is joined to a world of hiking trails. Situated up in the Anthem Highlands it is a short walk to the line in the sand where the Las Vegas metropolis merges with the Mojave Desert. That line in the sand is the Nevada Power Trail. From Esselmont Park it is a short walk south alongside Anthem Highlands Drive across a newly installed traffic signal at Democracy Drive onto a small picturesque neighborhood trail that leads to the Nevada Power Trail. In this world of hiking trails, Nevada Power Trail connects to backcountry trails leading into the majestic open spaces of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area desert. It is a world where you can climb higher than the Stratosphere on a 3.51 mile hike on the Nevada Power Trail that leads to the Black Mountain Trail that reaches the summit of Black Mountain. In the other direction, a short walk west of Esselmont Park leads to the windy trail system of the new Inspirada Master planned community. A relatively short walk north ends up at the Albertson's-anchored shopping center that includes Starbuck's and Subway. Twice in the last few years, Esselmont Park was a stop in its orbiting world of hiking trails.
In the Fall of 2014, I used the Esselmont Park parking lot as trailhead on a hike that took me onto the Nevada Power Trail. I felt confident leaving my car here. The park is clean and graffiti free. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, Esselmont Park was a rest stop on a longer round trip hike from the Albertson's-anchored shopping center, onto an Inspirada trail, and the Nevada Power Trail to the starting point of the Black Mountain and Anthem East Trails.
Both times, I spent some time relaxing in this laid back park. When I visited on weekend days it was sparsely populated with visitors. The few people that I saw were parents with their children at the playground, neighborhood friends on the cement trail by the rest rooms, and puppy parents with their fur balls in the dog park. In the cooler months of Autumn, the action at the splash pads, barbecue grills, and basketball courts was on hiatus. Additionally the action to the immediate west on the Inspirada border was on hiatus. That action is construction workers expanding Esselmont Park. During my latest visit, a construction vehicle along with a few signs along a temporary fence advertised Henderson tax dollars being put to work. This expansion will include a contiguous trail to the Inspirada trail system.
When I review parks, some of the attributes I take into consideration are the amenities, the way it is maintained (does it have graffiti?), landscaping, safety, and connection to nearby trails and parks. I give it a solid rating on amenities and landscaping. I rate it very good on safety and the way it is maintained. I give it outstanding on its connection to parks and hiking trails. Based on these ratings, I would not drive out of my way to solely visit Esselmont Park. It is truly a neighborhood park geared for the local residents. However, I would drive far to use it as a trailhead to the nearby backcountry trails of the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, the Nevada Power Trail, and Inspirada trail system.
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