Ansan Sister City Park

Want to take photos with the weirdest statue in Vegas? I think I found it. Just behind the blue pagoda at this park is a statue that looks like a cross between a giant Frosted Flake, a child in a ghost costume, and the Hamburglar. I have no idea what it’s supposed to be (some sort of Korean character), because the plaque in front of it is in Chinese characters and the one English plaque is weathered to the point of being illegible. It’s a little weird, a little cute, a little kooky.
The park itself is larger than it seems– there’s a trail around the perimeter, two covered playground areas, and what used to be a sand volleyball court and is now just a giant cat litter box without any nets– ew.
I like how there’s a maintained grassy area instead of just all rock landscaping. The trails are limited but paved, and there’s a small (~15 spot) dedicated lot. Be aware that it’s located right behind a middle school and tends to get overrun with teens and tweens before and after school, so plan your outings accordingly.

Las Vegas is not Sin City. It is a City of love. Nations and cities throughout the World love this cosmopolitan city in Southern Nevada. Out of this love, a relationship has blossomed between Las Vegas and AnSan City in the Gyeonggi Province of South Korea. In 1988, The City of Las Vegas and AnSan City became sister cities. From one sister city to another, a unique park came to life in a bustling residential community just west of Buffalo Drive (the second traffic light south of Summerlin Parkway) along Ducharme Drive. I want to spread this love through sharing AnSan Sister City Park on Unilocal.
AnSan Sister City Park is a small park at 15 acres. It is a small park that has similar amenities of the city parks with a couple of unique monuments. First let me talk about the amenities. The majority of the amenities are near the Ducharme Drive parking lot. The paved parking lot is relatively small. From this viewpoint, you see the restrooms, playground, and structures that teenagers use for bicycle stunts. To the right is the jogging and fitness trail that winds through and around the 15 acre park surrounded by homes. The jogging and fitness trail is also a place to share open space with your four legged furry friends. It is canine friendly. The majority of the slightly hilly topography is golf course green grass with some xeroscaping in the south portion of the park. White streetlamps provide the streetlighting. Throughout the park are benches and a couple of picnic tables.
The heart and soul of AnSan Sister City Park are the monuments from AnSan City, South Korea. This is not your ordinary Vegas Park. When you step out of the parking lot, you are mentally transported across the Pacific to South Korea in a Photo Spot. Gracing the park is a blue pagoda from AnSan, South Korea. The Korean community has placed tremendous effort and resources into maintaining the pagoda and monuments. Recently, when the monuments were showing signs of wear and tear, members of the Korean Community worked with the City in refurbishing these precious works of art. Volunteers gave their time and talents fixing up the monuments. According to a YouTube video, money even poured in from South Korea to refurbish the monuments. It is more than pagoda that catches the eye. It is the charming statue draws you into the park. This statue is so charming, awesome, and unique. This statue cannot be duplicated. In my opinion the charming statue the wildcard that accelerates my rating to four stars. Unfortunately there is so little information on him. The only information I obtained from Google is that he is a popular children’s character in AnSan City, South Korea. Who knows if that is true. Regardless, the charming statue is to AnSan Sister City Park what Cinderella’s Castle is to the Magic Kingdom. Further from the monuments, green pagodas hang over picnic tables.
In a Las Vegas that is not Sin City but a City of Love, I would love to see people see AnSan Sister City Park for themselves if they are in this part of town. I recommend it as a stop on an adventure that might include the close by Angel Park Trail system, shopping, or breakfast at Bagel Café.