"Ch-ch-changes..."
What a difference a year makes since we were last on Las Vegas' Strip. We remember walking along S Las Vegas Blvd between the Monte Carlo and New York New York casinos seeing huge construction dust barriers and being shoved off the sidewalks by crowds and wondered what was going on. But, as our ride share drove us to the entrance of the Monte Carlo resort, we were surprised to see The Strip's FIRST Park.
The Park is an outdoor entertainment/restaurant extension of the MGM's New York New York property with dining spots such as Shake Shack, Bruxie, California Pizza, Beerhaus and Sake Rok. It's punctuated by Marco Cochrane's enormous and graceful sculpture "Bliss Dance" and the new T-Mobile Arena. Across the street at the Monte Carlo is the Park Theater which headlines major musical artists such as Cher, Bruno Mars and Ricky Martin.
So, this Park is not a green space for picnicking or lazing under the shade of trees or grassy areas but it is working its way to becoming The Strip's new Amusement Center.