Springs Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Springs Preserve |
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Springs Preserve, May 2019
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| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Area | 180 acres (73 ha) |
| Operated by | Las Vegas Valley Water District |
| Status | Open Year-round |
The Las Vegas Springs Preserve is a special place in Las Vegas, Nevada. It covers about 180 acres and is all about nature and learning. The Preserve is owned and run by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. It's located about three miles west of downtown Las Vegas.
This amazing preserve is built around the original water source for Las Vegas, called the Las Vegas Springs. It has beautiful desert botanical gardens, fun museum galleries, and places for outdoor concerts. There's also an indoor theater, a historic photo gallery, and walking trails. These trails wind through a wetland habitat, which is a watery area.
The gardens at the Preserve are known as The Gardens at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. They used to be called the Desert Demonstration Gardens and opened in 1980 at a different spot. Now, these gardens cover about 8 acres inside the Springs Preserve.
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Discovering the Springs Preserve
The Springs Preserve officially opened its doors on June 8, 2007. Before that, construction began in 2005. A special sound wall was built earlier to separate the site from U.S. Route 95. Over the years, a lot of work was done to keep the springs, water systems, and other important parts of the area in good shape.
Eco-Friendly Design
The Preserve teaches people how to live well in a desert environment. It shows how to use what's available in smart ways. For example, the parking area is actually the roof of a large reservoir that holds water. Also, many of the shade structures around the site are made of photovoltaic cells. These cells capture sunlight to create electricity for the Preserve.
The gardens also use special hydrogen-powered vehicles. These vehicles are refueled right there at the Preserve. The fueling station itself is powered by solar power, making it even more eco-friendly.
Exciting Exhibits and Trails
The Springs Preserve has many cool exhibits and areas to explore. Each one offers a unique way to learn about the desert and Las Vegas.
- Origen Experience is made up of three interactive exhibits. They tell stories about the Las Vegas Valley, showing how things have changed from the past to today.
- Desert Living Center has buildings that are designed to be very eco-friendly. This center has interactive galleries, learning opportunities, and a design lab. It shows people in Las Vegas how to save water and live in a way that helps the desert environment. The center won an award in 2007 for being the Best Public Green Building Project in Nevada.
- Trails – You can walk on four different themed trails that cover more than 1.8 miles. These trails lead you through beautiful landscapes to a special watery area called a cienega.
- Springs Preserve amphitheater is an outdoor stage in Las Vegas. It's a cozy place for concerts and events, surrounded by museums and gardens.
- Nevada State Museum has exhibits that show how Las Vegas grew over time. It also teaches about the natural history of the area.
- Nature Exchange is a small exhibit inside the Desert Living Center. It's great for kids but also fun for adults. In the Nature Exchange, you can trade natural items you've found, like cool rocks or interesting leaves. You also share information about what you found. You get points based on how rare or big your item is. Just remember, you can't trade items from national parks, state parks, or the Springs Preserve itself.
- Butterfly Habitat – Step into this unique Butterfly Habitat and watch free-flying butterflies. You'll see how they interact with the plants that feed them. You'll also learn about their important job as pollinators in nature.
Images for kids
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Springs Preserve, May 2019
See also
In Spanish: Las Vegas Springs Preserve para niños
