JWZ provided landscape architecture services to the Desert Shores community in their endeavor to convert nearly 1,000,000 square feet of turf into a more water-efficient, appealing, and interesting landscape design. The turf was gently removed in order to protect the root systems of the existing pines and other street trees. These areas were converted into a xeriscape, with southwestern desert-adapted plant material and a drip-irrigation system that allows for deep watering to especially benefit the mature trees that were preserved.

The decision was made to preserve some of the more active areas of turf near the fishing and boating lakes, to provide for easier recreation access near the water front. This project is saving thousands of gallons of water each year, while providing a more interesting landscape for the people who walk, jog, and play in this award-winning master-planned community.   Desert Shores has many times been voted the “Best Place To Go Walking in Las Vegas” in the “Best of Las Vegas” Readers Poll, conducted every year by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.   JWZ is very proud to have contributed to these awards with its landscape architecture design.