Las Vegas Springs Preserve

Master Plan and Program, Las Vegas, Nevada

Known as “Origens,” the Las Vegas Springs Preserve project encompasses 160 acres within Las Vegas, owned and operated by the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Underground it is a maze of large and small pipes conducting water to and from areas of the city; above ground it is an historic Spring Mound site that contains, in addition to the spring mound, cauldron pools and the easy-to-flood Las Vegas Creek, remnants of occupation by Patayan, Anasazi and Southern Paiute people, structures left by Mormons and other settlers, relict plant communities, and a resident coyote. The primary water hole for people crossing the desert or living nearby, this oasis hosted the Spanish Trail and the Mormon Trail.

Today, it houses three museums, a botanic garden, a large cienega for storm water retention, interpretive trails, wayside ramadas, an underground reservoir and parking. Jan Coleman participated in the project planning from the beginning, attending monthly meetings at the Water District, making public presentations and soliciting public response – falling in love with Las Vegas Valley. Jan crafted the storylines and distributed them across the site, conceived of exhibits for the two museums, and co-authored the massive final report that documented the Programming and Concepts phase.