In an effort to move to more sustainable maintenance practices, the Metro District, with support from Centennial Water & Sanitation District and South Metro Fire Rescue, is exploring options for converting areas of bluegrass along the parkways to more drought tolerant, lower maintenance landscaping.

If you have any questions about the project, contact Dirk Ambrose at dambrose@highlandsranch.org or 720-240-5907.

Goals and Objectives of the Parkway Landscape Conversion Program:

• Reduce overall water and maintenance needs by providing a more sustainable landscape program.
• Maintain and enhance the existing aesthetics and experience of the streetscape.
• Educate the community in the value of landscape conversions.
• Create a realistic plan that prioritizes areas for conversion.

Project Update

As of early 2024, multiple locations totaling more than 177,000 square feet of Metro District parkways have been converted to more sustainable landscaping. The program is advancing and locations of future conversions include:

• COMPLETED - East side of Broadway near Southpark Road
• East side of Venneford Ranch Road near Dolton Way
• Either side of Highlands Ranch Parkway near Boardwalk Drive
• Median on Gateway Drive, east of Broadway

The Metro District continues to experiment with low water use, low maintenance plant material.  In 2023, two plots of struggling bluegrass along the parkway system were converted to a Bermuda grass blend called Tahoma 31. This grass is relatively new to our region and promises to greatly reduce water consumption as well as maintenance such as mowing. The Metro District will continue to study the grass’ performance to see if it might be a viable, sustainable option for our community. 

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Notable Projects

Below are a few examples of noteworthy conversions that have occurred during the last few years.

Location	Details	RESULT
Fairview Parkway	Alternative grass blend
AMC slope on Plaza Drive	Native grass blend
University Boulevard slope at Cresthill Lane	Alternative grass blend
Highlands Ranch Parkway and White Oak	Cobblestone, mulch and ornamental grasses

Frequently Asked Questions

Project Background

The Metro District maintains more than 285 acres of landscape along the community’s major roads. Some of these parkway areas are almost 40 years old and were designed at a time when maintenance costs and water conservation were not as big of a concern.

Establishing conversion areas to their full potential could take multiple growing seasons. This is a Major Repair Fund project, and the intent is to reduce future operations costs.

Resident feedback

During the 2019 Citizen Survey, strong majorities of voters supported the Metro District’s plans to create more sustainable parkway landscape and convert some bluegrass to native and alternative plants along the parkways. In both scenarios, the proportions of voters in strong support of the initiatives far exceeded those in strong opposition.

Survey question 17

The Metro District maintains 57 miles (285 acres) of parkway landscape along the major roads consisting of irrigated bluegrass, a wide variety of trees and shrub beds. How much would you support or oppose a community goal to gradually create more sustainable parkway landscape (e.g., less maintenance and water usage)?

Response:

Survey question 18

Currently, the Metro District is considering a plan to convert some of the large areas of bluegrass to native and alternative plants and grasses to help conserve maintenance costs and water. Converting 95 acres of the parkway landscape would have an estimated total cost of $400,000 per year for the next 20 years. Funding would come from existing revenue sources without having to increase property taxes. The potential payback is 7 to 9 years. How much would you support or oppose this plan to convert some of the bluegrass areas along major roads?

Response:

If you have questions about this project, please contact Dirk Ambrose at dambrose@highlandsranch.org or 720-240-5907.