Wasson Park
Seven-acres of the periphery of a public park was converted to a low-water native grass mixture in 2013.
Creating a Resilient Groundcover
In 2013, Colorado Springs City Parks converted seven acres of Kentucky bluegrass to a native grass mixture with the support of Colorado Springs Utilities’ Turf to Native Grass Rebate.
Due to a major reduction in tax revenues during the Great Recession, Parks had not been able to provide the turf grass with sufficient irrigation to maintain its quality. Thinning and weeds resulted.
Restoring native grasses in low-use peripheral areas of the park helped reduce water use, lower maintenance costs, and improve the park’s appearance and long-term sustainability.
Balancing Turf Grass and Native Grass
Turfgrass was kept in the active recreation areas, like the ballfield and next to the playground.
By lowering water use in the native grass areas, the sports field areas can now be watered enough to ensure it can quickly recover from use by visitors, kids, and dogs. The park’s overall water use is sustainable.
Valuing recreation
An overhead view shows how turf grass was preserved in the ball field and around the playground. The native grass mixture enhanced low-use areas.
Benefits
Compared to traditional turfgrass, the native grasses used in Wasson Park:
- Need half the amount of irrigation water.
- Receive half the amount of fertilizer.
- Are mowed three times per year, not twenty-six.
A resilient mixture
A mixture of common native prairie grasses ensured good soil coverage and much fewer weeds over the large area. The variety of species thrived at different times of year, creating beauty throughout the year.