Quebec Medians Landscape Transformation

Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) in partnership with Denver Water and the Colorado Water Conservation Board, has initiated the Quebec Medians Landscape Transformation project aimed at transforming water intensive, non-functional bluegrass to a native meadow landscape.

Through the Game Plan for a Healthy City, DPR is investing in the city's fight against climate change. From conserving water, transforming landscapes, and growing the urban canopy, we are doing our part – and keeping our promise – to make Denver more resilient for the future. We must. It’s In Denver's Nature.

Download the project sheet(PDF, 2MB)

 


About the Project

This project transforms 10-acres of water-intensive, non-functional bluegrass on four medians, between Smith Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, to a native prairie landscape that’s representative of traditional Colorado landscapes. The site will support pollinator species while enhancing the beauty of the space and conserving more than 8.5 million gallons of water annually after establishment.

Once the project is complete and the native vegetation is established after 2-3 years, mowing and maintenance requirements will also be significantly reduced. DPR has hired an ecological consultant team and landscape contractor to remove the turf and establish the native prairie seed in fall 2023. The project is funded in partnership with DPR, Denver Water, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Turf Removal Program funded by appropriation of Colorado General Assembly HB22-1151.

Water Consumption Statistics

The total water consumption has significantly decreased since the landscape transformation!

  • 2022 (Pre-Conversion): 10,642,000 gallons
  • 2023 (Seeding Year): 2,577,000 gallons
  • 2024 (First Year of Establishment): 500,714 gallons*

*Water consumption through June 30, 2024.