See Water-Smart Landscaping in a Neighborhood Park
Acacia Demonstration Gardens is a free outdoor learning garden inside Acacia Park in Henderson. The landscape shows homeowners and gardeners how desert-adapted plants, mulch, rocks, irrigation, and thoughtful design can create an attractive yard while reducing water use.
The gardens are part of a larger public park with recreation areas for children, dogs, sports, picnics, and walking. Visitors looking for free outdoor attractions in Las Vegas can explore the landscaping examples without paying admission or joining a guided tour.
This is a working municipal park rather than a formal botanical museum. Plant displays, labels, seasonal flowers, pathways, turf areas, and surrounding park features may change as landscaping matures or the city completes conservation work.
Last reviewed: July 11, 2026. Park hours, splash-pad operation, dog-park closures, workshops, landscaping, maintenance, and amenity access can change. Check the official City of Henderson listing before making a special trip.
Acacia Demonstration Gardens Quick Facts
- Cost: Free to visit.
- Location: Acacia Park in Henderson.
- Address: 50 Casa Del Fuego Street, Henderson, NV 89012
- Park Hours: Open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- Phone: (702) 267-4000
- Reservations: Not required for an ordinary self-guided garden or park visit.
- Garden Focus: Water-efficient landscaping suited to Southern Nevada’s dry desert climate.
- Interpretation: Visitors can see landscaping examples and information about selected plants.
- Park Amenities: Ball field, barbecues, basketball court, dog park, multipurpose fields, open grass, picnic shelters, picnic tables, playground, restrooms, splash pad, and walking paths.
- Time Needed: About 30 to 60 minutes for the garden and a short walk. Allow longer when using recreational amenities.
- Best For: Gardeners, homeowners, families, dog owners, walkers, photographers, and visitors interested in desert landscaping.
- What May Cost Extra: Transportation, reserved picnic areas, organized programs, food, drinks, and other optional activities.
What to Expect at Acacia Park
The demonstration garden occupies part of a larger neighborhood park. Visitors move between landscaped planting areas, walking paths, recreational fields, picnic spaces, a playground, a splash pad, and fenced dog areas.
The garden is designed to provide practical ideas rather than present rare plants in a traditional museum setting. Look for examples of drought-tolerant trees, shrubs, flowering plants, ground covers, grasses, succulents, rocks, mulch, and irrigation strategies.
Some plants may be dormant, recently pruned, newly planted, or less colorful during certain seasons. Spring frequently brings more flowers, while summer visits provide a realistic look at plants surviving extreme heat.
The park remains an active community space. Expect sports activities, dogs, children, irrigation, landscaping work, maintenance equipment, and other visitors around the garden.
Learn from Real Desert Landscaping Examples
Acacia Demonstration Gardens was developed through a collaboration involving the City of Henderson, the Conservation District of Southern Nevada, and other community organizations.
The plantings demonstrate landscaping approaches appropriate for a dry climate. Instead of relying on large areas of thirsty decorative grass, visitors can see how plants, stone, mulch, shade, pathways, and irrigation can work together.
Plant information displayed around the garden can help visitors compare mature size, growth habits, foliage, flowers, texture, shade, and other characteristics before choosing plants for a home landscape.
Not every plant in a desert demonstration garden is necessarily native to the Mojave Desert. Some may come from other arid regions but perform well in Southern Nevada when planted and maintained appropriately.
Visitors should use the displays for ideas rather than assuming every plant will work in every yard. Sun exposure, soil, irrigation, drainage, pets, available space, and local regulations can affect landscaping choices.
See Henderson’s Water-Conservation Work
Acacia Park has undergone substantial water-conservation improvements. The City of Henderson reports that completed projects removed approximately 120,128 square feet of turf and converted another 41,000 square feet.
The city estimates that these changes save more than 7.4 million gallons of water each year. The work helps demonstrate how public parks can retain useful recreation areas while reducing nonfunctional grass and improving water efficiency.
Because of these changes, parts of the park may look different from older photographs, maps, reviews, or visitor videos. New trees and landscaping may also require time to mature.
Conservation does not mean replacing every living plant with bare gravel. Effective desert landscaping can include shade trees, flowering plants, habitat value, attractive design, and usable gathering areas while using water more deliberately.
Recreation Beyond the Demonstration Garden
Walking Paths
Visitors can walk through the garden and continue along paths around the surrounding park. Remain on established routes and avoid stepping into planting beds.
Playground
The public playground gives families another reason to spend time at the park. Adults should supervise children and check surfaces during hot weather.
Sports Areas
The park includes a ball field, basketball court, multipurpose fields, and open grass areas. Organized activities or maintenance may temporarily affect access.
Picnic Facilities
Barbecues, picnic tables, and shelters are available. Some areas may be reservable for groups, while others may be available on a first-come basis.
Restrooms
Public restrooms are listed as a park amenity. Temporary cleaning, repair, or maintenance closures remain possible.
The garden itself should remain calm and educational even when recreational areas are busy. Visitors seeking a quieter experience may prefer weekday mornings.
Acacia Park Splash Pad
Acacia Park includes a free public splash pad for seasonal water play. The City of Henderson’s current 2026 schedule lists splash-pad operation from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. through October 31, 2026.
Splash-pad dates and hours are seasonal and may change because of maintenance, weather, water restrictions, mechanical problems, or city operations. Confirm the current schedule before promising children that the water features will be running.
Children must be supervised at all times. Bring appropriate clothing, towels, sunscreen, drinking water, and dry footwear for leaving the splash area.
Do not allow children to drink splash-pad water, climb on equipment not intended for climbing, run recklessly on wet surfaces, or interfere with other families.
Using the Acacia Park Dog Areas
Acacia Park includes fenced dog-park areas where dogs may be off leash under current city rules. Dogs must remain leashed outside the designated fenced areas.
The west and east dog parks are currently scheduled to close for daytime irrigation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. Seasonal turf care or other maintenance can cause additional temporary closures.
Owners may bring no more than three dogs at one time. Children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and children younger than 5 are not allowed inside the fenced off-leash areas.
Bring waste bags, monitor dogs closely, obey posted size-area rules, and remove an animal that becomes aggressive, frightened, or disruptive.
Dogs should not enter the children’s splash pad. Keep pets away from planted garden beds and prevent digging, chewing, or damage to irrigation equipment.
Seasonal Landscaping Workshops
The City of Henderson says Acacia Demonstration Gardens hosts a variety of workshops during spring and fall. Programs may address desert plants, irrigation, landscape care, conservation, pruning, gardening, or related topics.
Workshop dates are not part of the park’s everyday operating schedule. Some classes may require registration even when attendance is free.
Check the current Henderson Happenings program listings before planning around a workshop. Event dates, capacity, subject matter, instructors, and registration requirements can change.
Tips Before You Go
Use the current park hours:
Acacia Park now closes at 10:00 p.m. The old midnight closing time should not be used.
Visit during cooler hours:
Morning and late afternoon are more comfortable during hot months. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during extreme heat.
Bring drinking water:
Do not rely on the splash pad or irrigation systems as drinking-water sources.
Expect seasonal changes:
Desert plants can look dramatically different depending on temperature, rainfall, pruning, dormancy, and flowering cycles.
Read plant labels carefully:
Photograph the plant name and information rather than relying only on appearance when researching it later.
Stay out of planting beds:
Do not step across edging, climb rocks, pick flowers, remove seeds, damage irrigation, or collect plant material.
Protect children and pets from heat:
Check pavement, playground equipment, rocks, and other surfaces before contact. Never leave a person or animal in a parked vehicle.
Check facility closures:
Splash pads, dog areas, restrooms, sports fields, and picnic spaces can close temporarily for maintenance or reserved activities.
Leave wildlife alone:
Do not feed, touch, chase, capture, or disturb birds, insects, reptiles, or other animals using the landscape.
Other Desert Gardens and Nature Stops
UNLV Desert Xeriscape Garden
The Donald H. Baepler Xeric Garden outside the Marjorie Barrick Museum provides another free look at low-water plants and irrigation ideas. Review the UNLV Desert Xeriscape Garden guide.
Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
Visitors interested in plants, water, and wildlife can explore ponds and walking paths at the preserve. Use the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve guide.
Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden
The free three-acre garden at Ethel M Chocolates contains hundreds of desert-plant species and can be paired with the factory viewing aisle. See the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and Cactus Garden guide.
Acacia Demonstration Gardens FAQ
Q: Is Acacia Demonstration Gardens free?
A: Yes. Visitors can explore the public garden and ordinary park amenities without paying admission. Reserved facilities, organized programs, transportation, and other optional activities may cost extra.
Q: What are the current park hours?
A: Acacia Park is currently open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Q: Is the park still open until midnight?
A: No. The current City of Henderson listing gives a closing time of 10:00 p.m.
Q: What will visitors learn in the garden?
A: The garden provides examples of water-efficient landscaping and information about plants suited to Southern Nevada’s dry climate.
Q: Does the garden contain exactly 100 plant species?
A: The current official city page does not publish a plant-species count. Visitors should expect a varied collection, but an exact total should not be promised.
Q: Is the entire park a botanical garden?
A: No. The demonstration garden is one part of Acacia Park, which also includes sports areas, a playground, picnic facilities, a dog park, a splash pad, restrooms, and walking paths.
Q: When is the splash pad open?
A: The current 2026 city schedule lists splash-pad hours from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. through October 31. Seasonal schedules can change.
Q: Does the dog park ever close during park hours?
A: Yes. The west and east dog areas are currently scheduled to close for irrigation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, with other maintenance closures possible.
Q: Are landscaping workshops offered?
A: The city says workshops are offered during spring and fall. Check Henderson Happenings for current dates, topics, and registration instructions.
Q: How long should visitors spend here?
A: About 30 to 60 minutes is enough for the garden and a short walk. Families using the playground, splash pad, picnic areas, dog park, or sports facilities may stay longer.
Q: Is the garden worth making a special trip?
A: It can be worthwhile for homeowners, gardeners, and visitors interested in desert landscaping. Casual tourists may prefer to combine it with another Henderson attraction.
