Big little city hall on the prairie: Denver to replace thirsty turf with a garden of native plants
Colorado Sun
Denver will transform the landscape around its iconic City and County Building into a waterwise shortgrass prairie, tearing out thirsty bluegrass turf and creating a demonstration showcase for conservation.
The rip-out-and-replace project, scheduled for completion by next fall, will slash 44% of water use on the traditional bluegrass lawn surrounding City Hall, dropping water use in that area from 1.2 million gallons a year to 670,000 gallons.
The 1932 neoclassical building has historic landmark designation, but the grounds do not, so Denver Parks and Recreation is free to design and build the $400,000 project, parks spokesperson Stephanie Figueroa said. The money will come from the Parks Legacy Fund, created by a special sales tax Denver voters approved in 2018 for open space acquisition and renovation.
“Transforming the landscape around the City and County Building is not just about beautification; it’s about creating a more resilient ecosystem that benefits our community and the environment,” Denver Parks executive director Jolon Clark said in a release. “This project demonstrates our dedication to resiliency in one of our city’s most visible spaces and will hopefully inspire a ripple effect of ecological stewardship throughout our city.”
Colorado’s growing Front Range cities get a good portion of their water through tunnels tapping basins and rivers on the western side of the Continental Divide — water that would otherwise flow into the Colorado River. All water users in Colorado are under heavy pressure to conserve, as long-term drought and climate change have threatened annual surface water available from snow, runoff and rain.
Agriculture in Colorado uses 80% to 85% of available annual precipitation, while cities use up to 8%. Of that city use, about half goes to watering outdoor landscape, and many water agencies now encourage ripping out turf grass in favor of waterwise plants or restrict the amount of traditional turf in new development.
Denver will plant native grass and wildflowers around the City and County Building, after replacing aging irrigation pipes with more efficient systems.
“We’re excited to see our city partners bring ‘ColoradoScaping’ to such a high-profile location. Visitors will get a close look at just how vibrant, eye-catching and sustainable a landscape of native, drought-tolerant plants and grasses can be,” Denver Water Manager Alan Salazar said.