Groundbreaking is today for 12 parking places in the island for the Welcome To Las Vegas sign, on the south strip. This is being done as a safety measure since it is very popular to get your picture taken near the sign. The parking places are supposed to be completed by November.

The sign was designed by Betty Willis who just recently moved from Las Vegas to northern Nevada. Her father was the first Clark County Assessor. Betty also designed signs for the Moulin Rouge and Stardust. She started her career drawing showgirls as advertisements for the shows here.

It's funny you mention this, JMT. On my last trip, everytime I drove by that sign, there were cars illegally parked on Las Vegas Blvd. from people who wanted to get their photo by the sign. My friends and I had mentioned how dangerous that looked.

That is good news I guess - will they have a light so cars can safely pull back into traffic?

I've crossed on foot, then stood on that island for quite some time before I felt I could safely make the dash to the other side. Didn't want to repeat that (but come to think of it, think I did with my brother one time...the things we do for family!)

Where are the parking spaces located? Will the parked cars end up in your Welcome to Vegas sign photo?

The new parking area opened today. It has 12 parking places, 2 for handicap parking, and 2 bus parking spots.

well at least that is one less place to hit tourists!

It looked like they where working on center barriers further out the strip, on my recent trip? Are they planning on putting up a frnce like they have at the Flamingo and Ceasars? That will help keep people safe from themselves as well if so!

A bit off topic here but speaking about PARKING.....

Has anyone enjoyed watching the airplanes land while parked at that little parking lot on Sunset right about in the middle (not the center) of the landing strip?

It's fascinating! And I highly recommend that you take a lunch and sit there in the comfort of your automobile and enjoy the beautiful way these phenominal commercial pilots make smooth landings regardless of the weather conditions from less than only a few yards away.

And while you are there please read the historical information that they offer on the other side of the fence.

Just be extremely careful pulling out of that lot back onto Sunset.

Sorry, JMT, but I had to butt in with this info.

25L/7R is the runway that is closed, that is the runway you see the planes land and take off from, sitting on sunset pull off.

There are tennis courts across the street on Sunset close to where that little parking lot is. I've played there a few times and could see the planes landing while I played. It was very loud but also fun to see.

ah-haaaaa! No wonder we sat there seeing nothing! Thanks, Lee!

So after seeing nothing, we left and went someplace to watch them feed the ducks!

We've been kind of mellow these last couple of visits to Las Vegas.