Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas is running out of water. Imagine that, we’re in the middle of a desert and running out of water. So where is all the water going? More than half of it is going to grass. Sod. Bermuda or Rye or St. Augustine. Now, given the law of conservation of energy, I don’t think the water is permanently gone. Rather, I think that our city is a little on the dumb side for even allowing grass outside of public parks. But that’s just my opinion.

The much advertised - often confusingly so - Springs Preserve has finally opened in Vegas. A cornucopia of kids naturey hands on kind of stuff.

The only reason they open stuff like this is that one of the biggest complaints from locals in Vegas is a lack of kid related activities. The city, overall, isn’t terribly kid friendly. It’s not meant to be, in fact.

“Ideally, this represents to Las Vegas what Central Park represents to New York City,” preserve spokesman Jesse Davis said, expressing a theme as carefully crafted as the faux rock canyons and the centerpiece five-building Desert Living Center.

And of course, the city will make some money on it too. I’m not sure the Central Park theme is spot on. I imagine Central Park might be uncomfortable in the summer but the Springs Preserve will make you feel like your skin is on fire here. Which is why it will be swamped with elementary school kids next month and the months following. I am going to wait to take my kids next spring. That will be the best possible time to do it.