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Arapahoe County to seek $265,000 state grant to cut fairgrounds water use by half
Summary
County staff will apply to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for $265,000 (50% match required) to convert remaining fairgrounds turf to Tahoma 31 Bermuda and install smart irrigation, after a pilot showed about 50% water savings.
Arapahoe County commissioners approved pursuing a $265,000 Colorado Water Conservation Board grant, with a required 50% local match, to convert remaining fairgrounds turf to drought-tolerant Tahoma 31 Bermuda and to install smart irrigation controllers.
Dan Payson, open-space parks and trails manager, said a pilot quadrant conversion saved roughly 50% of water use: the fairgrounds used about 2.11 acre-feet last year and the project team estimates post-conversion use will fall to approximately 1.06–1.09 acre-feet (staff called that a conservative estimate). Payson said the conversion also reduced mowing, pesticide use and maintenance time (the pilot required only two mows in a season), though the grass is newer to Colorado and staff will monitor cold-hardiness.
Under the grant plan, the CWCB would fund the new sod for three quadrants and Arapahoe County would provide match via removing existing turf strips, establishing xeric plantings and installing irrigation upgrades. Staff said they are coordinating outreach and education with the county communications office and the CWCB.
Why it matters: the project aims to reduce water consumption, lower maintenance costs and demonstrate a scalable approach for county-managed event grounds. Staff cautioned that the state’s budget climate could affect award decisions, but commissioners gave a thumbs up to proceed with the application.
