A 150-acre eco-friendly theme park is being developed on the outskirts of Las Vegas.
"They don't look like anything found in nature, but these 10-story 'trees' are a signature feature of Senscity Paradise Universe, the eco-friendly theme park being developed on the outskirts of Las Vegas. Some of the alloy-and-fabric structures will act as giant coolers - water circulating through them will vaporize to create cold downdrafts that blanket the 150-acre complex; others will bristle with photovoltaic cells and wind turbines, potentially generating more than 20,000 megawatt-hours annually."
[Editor's note: The title of this summary is a play on Dr. Martin Krieger's article and subsequent book What's Wrong with Plastic Trees?]
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Trees of Paradise

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.

Seattle Transit Asked to Clarify Pet Policy
A major dog park near a new light rail stop is prompting calls to update and clarify rules for bringing pets on Seattle-area transit systems.

Oregon Bill Would End Bans on Manufactured Housing
The bill would prevent new developments from prohibiting mobile homes and modular housing.

Nashville Doesn’t Renew Bike Share Contract, Citing Lost Federal Funding
The city’s bike share system, operated by BCycle, could stop operating if the city doesn’t find a new source of funding.
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