Las Vegas Springs Preserve consists of dedicated to nature walks and displays and is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. The Preserve is located approximately three miles west of downtown

Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a landlocked state in the Western United States. It borders Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the seventh-most extensive, th ...

. The Preserve is built around the original water source for Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Springs. The Springs Preserve includes colorful

desert A desert is a landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions create unique biomes and ecosystems. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About one-third of the la ...

botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...

s, museum galleries, outdoor concert and event venues, an indoor theater, historic photo gallery and a series of walking trails that meander through a wetland habitat. The Gardens at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, previously known as the Desert Demonstration Gardens opened in 1980 at another location. The gardens now occupy within the Springs Preserve site.

History

While construction on the preserve began in 2005, the custom designed sound wall separating the site from

U.S. Route 95 U.S. Route 95 (US 95) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway System, United States Highway in the western United States. It travels through the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho, staying inland ...

had been erected earlier. There also was work over the years to maintain and restore the springs, the

waterworks Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. Thes ...

and infrastructure of the springs. The Preserve opened on June 8, 2007.

Green building efforts

The Preserve shows people how to live in the desert environment and how to take advantage of what is available. Part of this project showcases a dual-use concept. For example, the parking area is actually the roof of the

reservoir A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation. Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...

, and the shade structures in various areas are

photovoltaic cells A solar cell, also known as a photovoltaic cell (PV cell), is an electronic device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by means of the photovoltaic effect.

used to generate power for the site. The gardens also use a fleet of

hydrogen Hydrogen is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol H and atomic number 1. It is the lightest and abundance of the chemical elements, most abundant chemical element in the universe, constituting about 75% of all baryon, normal matter ...

powered

utility vehicle A utility vehicle (UV) is a vehicle, generally motorized, that is designed to carry out a specific task with more efficacy than a passenger vehicle. It sometimes refers to a small truck with low sides. Types of utility vehicles Military ...

s. The vehicles are refueled on site by a

solar power Solar power, also known as solar electricity, is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly using concentrated solar power. Solar panels use the photovoltaic effect to c ...

ed hydrogen fueling station.

Major exhibits

*Origen Experience is composed of three interactive exhibits. Each exhibit is filled with stories about the Las Vegas Valley, following a natural progression from the past to the present. *Desert Living Center is a campus of

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a Green building certification systems, green building certification program used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating ...

(LEED) buildings and features interactive galleries, educational opportunities, a design lab, and a technical training center. The Center leads by example, using sustainable architecture, interactive exhibits, and programming to show Las Vegas residents how to conserve water and live sustainably in the desert. With exhibits designed by AldrichPears Associates, architecture by Lucchesi Galati Architects, and landscape architecture by Deneen Powell Atelier, the Center won the award for Best Public Green Building Project in Nevada in 2007. *Trails – Walk four uniquely themed trails that encompass more than of picturesque landscapes leading to a cienega. *Springs Preserve amphitheater is Las Vegas' only intimate outdoor venue surrounded by museums and gardens. *

Nevada State Museum Nevada State Museum may refer to: * Nevada State Museum, Carson City * Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas {{disambig ...

features exhibits describing the development of Las Vegas and the natural history of the area. * Nature Exchange is a small exhibit located in the desert living center. This exhibit is aimed towards children but encourages adults to participate. The Nature Exchange is a unique learning environment that relies on the personal "trading" of found natural items and information about them, to motivate interest and understanding. The trader receives points depending on the rarity and size of the object offered for trading. (One can not exchange objects from national parks, state parks, or the Springs Preserve.) *Butterfly Habitat – Wander through our unique Butterfly Habitat and witness the fascinating dance between free-flying butterflies, the plants that sustain them, and their important role as pollinators in the ecosystem.

References

External links

*
Official State of Nevada Tourism SiteLas Vegas Springs Preserve
on ''Living in Las Vegas Podcast'' {{authority control Museums in Las Vegas Natural history museums in Nevada Parks in Clark County, Nevada Urban public parks Tourist attractions in the Las Vegas Valley