Kathleen and Tim Harney moved to the John S. Park neighborhood in 1975, about ten years after relocating from Ohio to Las Vegas, where teaching jobs paid more and the education system was more innovative. The Midwestern ambiance of John S. Park was attractive large trees and older homes among the outstanding features. In this interview, Kathleen laments the neighborhood changes that may be part of a normal aging cycle of any neighborhood as being more acute because of commercial changes on the Strip. Of the years they lived there, Kathleen speaks glowingly of the neighborhood's diversity—diverse in work schedules as much as in religion. She lists the various restaurants and describes the activities that drew the community together. It was a wonderful place to raise their girls who each graduated from Las Vegas High School. . As a passionate educator, she also speaks about the importance of schools, after school programs no matter what neighborhood one raises their children. And while the Harneys moved from John S. Park, she fondly recalls it as the place where she "really became a Las Vegas." It was the place where her family grew up and a place that "needs a little love" at this time. Special Note: Tim Harney, Kathleen's husband, and Kimberly Harney-Moore, their eldest daughter, are also participants in the Voices of the Historic John S. Park Neighborhood oral history project.

The historic J. Kell Houssells home rests on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus after its move from 6th Street and Charleston.

The historic key used in 1868 for Panaca Co-op in Nevada.

In 1964, Kim Bavington's parents moved to Las Vegas when she was six months old. Her father was an industrial designer and mother was an art instructor. In this interview she speaks of growing up in Las Vegas and the various locations where she lived over the course of years, including: eighteen years in Francisco Park, an apartment in Spring Valley, a first house in Green Valley and eventually a home that she and husband Tim Bavington, an artist, own in John S. Park. Kim earned a Fine Art degree from UNLV and worked at a sundry of jobs to support herself. She reflects on this and on how living in Paris, where she took art classes at Sorbonne for six months, dramatically altered her perspective of Las Vegas. Eventually a neighbor situation further changed her feelings about living in a gated community and she knew she wanted to move to what she calls "an old fashion neighborhood." The house search lead her and future husband Tim to John S. Park Neighborhood and a once "super Mid-Century Modem ranch" house. Their large five-bedroom house was built in 1963, has been restored to its original state and is furnished with 1950s furniture.

Cindy Funkhouser grew up in the Midwest where she developed an early interest in "old stuff' as she refers to it. Her self-education in antiques spawned her business, Funk House, which she opened in 2001. Cindy is one of the forces behind the Downtown's arts movement and the development of First Friday, which was inspired by her observations of a similar event in Portland, OR. Cindy moved to Las Vegas around 1980. Her parents had moved to the valley in the late 1970s. When not working as a cocktail waitress at the Four Queens—a downtown casino where she was employed for 14 years—she pursued her interest in vintage items as a part-time business. Today others look to Cindy as a motivator for First Friday and the Las Vegas art movement that is deeply rooted in the John S. Park Neighborhood's sense of community.

Tim Harney begins his reminiscences with an overview of his Irish-Catholic upbringing in Duluth, Minnesota. He recalls being smitten with the sunny west and moving to Las Vegas in 1965 to take a teaching position at Rancho High School. By 1973, the Harney family was calling the John S. Park Neighborhood home. He describes the attraction to the green trees and sprawling lawns and to affordable home prices. It was a close knit neighborhood where everyone had the same gardener, knew the local policeman by name, and where his daughters worked at the Luv-It Frozen Custard shop. Around 1987, Tim decided to move out of the John S. Park Neighborhood. He sensed a change—having been broken into by the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, watching drifters and homeless people sleeping in the yard, and seizing an opportunity to move to a new development. Nevertheless, Tim notes hopes for the neighborhood and reminds us that "It takes a village."

In 1944, Robert Forbuss' mother bought a home in a new tract development called Huntridge, adjacent to the John S. Park Neighborhood. She was a single woman who had managed to put together the down payment from her earnings as a cocktail waitress. A couple years later John S. Park Elementary School was built nearby. Through any ups and downs, Marjorie Forbuss refused to live anywhere else for the rest of life, even when Robert encouraged her to move. For this interview, Robert intersperse Las Vegas history while sharing childhood memories of the neighborhood. He graduated from Bishop Gorman High School, the private Catholic prep school, in the mid-1960s. A few years later, Robert returned there as a teacher from 1973 - 1981, teaching kids with familiar last names in the neighborhood he had grown up in. During that time he lived in the John S. Park Neighborhood. He details the charm of the neighborhood, cruising the Downtown area, shopping on Fremont Street and much more. When Robert left teaching, he became the general manger of Mercy Ambulance and Medical Supply, which he ultimately owned until about 2003. During this time, he was a successful business leader and an active community member.