Glam water saving in arid Las Vegas
Landscape
Glam water saving in arid Las Vegas
As new Park makes water conservation a priority
he first park ever on the Las
TVegas strip recently opened – and received a water award.
When MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas recently opened The Park – located between New York-New York and the Monte Carlo resorts and new T-Mobile Arena – the development was presented with the prestigious 2016 Water Hero Award by the Southern Nevada Water Authority. This award recognizes businesses or individuals dedicated to water conservation and devoted to saving millions of gallons of water annually.
Indeed, when MGM Resorts set out to build The Park the company made water conservation a priority.
Las Vegas was once a green oasis with natural springs bubbling from the ground. The Park’ s two water features are inspired by this history. Around the world, water features are central to great gathering places, adding to The Park’ s intention of being a central gathering place on The Strip.
Designers were incredibly mindful of the city’ s fragile hydrology when planning The Park, taking measures to moderate the use of Las Vegas’ water supply. The double water wall feature, which people can walk through, spans 100 feet and reaches eight feet at its highest point. Besides being a beautiful feature, the water wall also creates a cooling effect to guests around it.
Additionally, the water is on a closedloop system and reused that captures, filters and reuses the water.
Desert landscaping
Envisioned as a microcosm of the beautiful Mojave Desert that surrounds it, The Park draws inspiration from this sensitive yet thriving ecosystem. To achieve a more cohesive natural environment, the overarching plans for The Park incorporated innovative operational and design approaches to water conservation, energy efficiency, waste recycling, material selection and other green building strategies. From investing in cutting-edge technology to employing eco-friendly construction measures, The Park weaves an intricate narrative of sustainability.
Here are 7 of the ways The Park has gone green:
• Smart-scaping: Envisioned as a slice of Las Vegas’ surrounding environment in the Mojave Desert, The Park will be lush with natural desert vegetation. Plant species such as agave and yucca, as well as the tree species of Palo Verde, Acacias and Mesquites, call the desert their home and are adept at conserving water in arid climates.
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SABI | JUNE / JULY 2016