LOVELAND, Colorado – Centerra, a community in Loveland, has nearly 500 acres of community space, and maintaining it is no easy task!

Chapungu Park at Centerra features a large, well-maintained green lawn. The community also features natural areas with hardy plants native to Colorado.

Natural landscaping is much less expensive to install and maintain than manicured areas. Natural landscaping typically costs one-third the cost of manicured landscaping to install. Maintenance costs about half the cost of manicured landscaping, and utility costs are about one-twelfth the cost!

Centerra uses roadside test plots to conduct necessary research and make incremental changes over large areas. Grasses planted along roadsides often face particularly difficult conditions – long periods without rain in the summer, surrounded by concrete, and cold, dry conditions in the winter.

Thirteen different grass species were planted in test plots along an intersection between two major highways in the Centerra Chapungu Sculpture Park. From buffalo grass to salt grass, all seeds were studied for two years to determine which grass species could withstand the excessive spray of the de-icing and salt treatments used in winter snow removal. Ultimately, buffalo grass and dog tuff grass performed best, requiring very little water and mowing.

Climate change is affecting the way these areas are managed. Centerra’s design guidelines require that a majority of community landscapes be naturally planted to reduce water use and maintenance, and limit the amount of grass on individual residential lots.

Centerra is in talks to convert its lawn mowers and maintenance equipment to electric, including charging infrastructure. Officials said Centerra will continue to explore how it can support sustainability now and in the future.