Join us at the upcoming Denver Resilient Landscape Symposium
Join us for our upcoming Denver Resilient Landscapes Symposium on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Confluence Theater on the CSU Spur Campus. Stop by any time to get free resources including rebates, seeds, and other expert advice to help transform your landscapes. Provide feedback on the draft recommendations for new development landscaping including new tree preservation requirements and turfgrass limitations.
Coffee and snacks will be provided. All ages are welcome. We are happy to provide any language interpretation or accessibility accommodation such as CART services upon request. Please email Michelle.Corl@denvergov.org with any questions or requests.
RSVP: THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT!
We are grateful for the overwhelming response to this event and will be posting information about future events soon. All resources and materials from the event will be posted on the website, make sure to check back next week.
Date: Saturday, April 25
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: CSU Spur, Hydro building, Confluence Theater, 4777 National Western Dr, Denver, CO 80216
Additional details available on event flyer(PDF, 6MB)
Programs and incentives
Schedule of Events
- 9:30 a.m. Professionals Coffee & Networking
- 10:00 a.m. Event Start
- Tabling and resource open house begins
- 10:15 a.m. Welcome
- Introduction from Councilman Kashmann
- Denver Resilient Landscape highlights
- 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Expert Talks
- Check out the open house or sit in to listen to experts share out recent success stories related to landscape transformations & reconnecting with native landscapes.
- Denver Resilient Landscapes Project Highlights
- Resource Central Garden in a Box
- Denver Parks and Recreation Landscape Transformations
- Division of Green Infrastructure
- 12:00 p.m. Event ends
What agencies and resources will be available?
- Community Planning and Development – Denver Resilient Landscapes draft code for review
- Colorado State University
- Denver Department of Health and Environment – Graywater and Urban Agriculture
- Denver Parks and Recreation – Landscape Transformations in Public Parks
- Denver Water – Landscape Transformation Rebates and Seeds
- Department of Transportation and Infrastructure -Division of Gren infrastructure
- Groundwork Denver
- Office of the City Forester – Urban Forest Strategic Plan & Tree Planting Resources
- Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency – Free and Reduced Tree giveaways, watering bags
- One Water Leaders – Collaborative
- People and Pollinators – Supporting Pollinators
- State Department of Natural Resources – Colorado Water Conservation Board
- SuperTrees
- The Park People
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where do I park for this event? This event is located at the CSU Spur campus at 4777 National Western Dr., where a new paid parking system has been installed. Please be sure to look in your email for your parking code prior to arriving. Parking is located in several lots on the site, we recommend the lot just north of the building as shown on this map below.
- Don’t want to drive? The Regional Transportation District (RTD) 48th Ave/Brighton Blvd (also known as the National Western Center station) train station is less than a 30-minute walk from the event.
- Will this event be accessible? Yes! The entire facility is ADA compliant and easy to maneuver with a mobility device.
- Can I request ASL or CART Services? Yes. Please reach out to Michelle.Corl@denvergov.org by Wednesday, April 22 to ensure accommodations.
- Do I need to be there for the whole two hours? No. You can stop by at any time to check out the resources or listen to any session.
- Can I bring my children? Yes. We encourage people of all ages to come and join us.
- I have dietary restrictions, will there be food I can eat? Yes. An assortment of food ranging from vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, dairy free and other will be provided to attendees. We plan to have Maria Empanadas, fruit, snacks, coffee, and tea on site.
- Is the event indoor or outdoor? The event is primarily indoors. If there is good weather on the day of the event, we will have some tables outside near the demonstration garden and tours of the plants all morning.
- I do not want to RSVP through Eventbrite, can I still come? Yes, you are still able to come. We encourage everyone to sign up ahead of time to ensure we can provide you a free parking code (this will avoid the $15 parking fee) and get a better estimate on food needed. If you are having issues signing up but still want to, reach out to Christina@Superbloom.net who can assist you in this.
In partnership with other city agencies, Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) is working on potential updates to landscape requirements to increase and promote a more climate resilient city. Climate resilient landscapes are designed to use less water, can survive during times of drought, help to reduce heat in the city, and support pollinators, among many other benefits. This process will consider potential amendments to the Denver Zoning Code, along with all other applicable codes, rules, regulations and policies with the intent of creating clear guidance for new development projects and also come into compliance with a new state law. City Councilmember Paul Kashmann is sponsoring the project in partnership with CPD.
The project will focus on landscaping requirements for all new development and some redevelopment projects only. Existing landscaping around homes or businesses will not be affected by any potential new requirements. The project team will engage the public, development community, industry professionals, and many others to ensure any new landscape requirements meet the goals and vision of the community.
This project is collaboratively funded with support from the Colorado Water Plan grant, Community Planning and Development, Denver Parks and Recreation, and the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency and the Climate Protection Fund.
Background
Many developments in Denver use non-functional turf, defined as ornamental grass in an area that does not get public use. Nonfunctional turfgrass uses a lot of water and does not serve a recreation or civic purpose. This type of turf can be found in areas along roadways, in medians and in parking lots. Instead of nonfunctional turf in new development and some redevelopment, the city may require a mix of native grasses, shrubs and trees or other landscape design that focus on species that are successful in Denver's climate.
In 2024, the State of Colorado passed a bill (SB 24-005) that prohibits new non-functional turf and artificial turf in commercial, industrial, and institutional development in Colorado. This project will address the requirements of this bill and go beyond to look at the future of all landscape to ensure it meets the vision of the Denver community.
Download a project overview(PDF, 702KB)
Project Team
Agency Partners and Related Initiatives
The community advisory committee will help lead Denver Resilient Landscapes, meeting regularly throughout the life of the project. Members will share ideas and feedback with the project team on proposed changes to landscaping requirements for development, best practices, and community engagement activities. Committee meetings do not involve public participation, but anyone interested in staying up-to-date on the project is welcome to attend and observe. Live Spanish interpretation will be provided upon request.
Upcoming Meetings
Meeting information will be shared ahead of time, as meetings are scheduled, and materials will be posted in the Project Materials section after the fact.
The next advisory committee meeting is on March 31 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Microsoft Teams Meeting Link
Committee Members
| Name |
Affiliation |
| Victoria Bloom |
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment |
| Elise Bupp |
City Council aide, District 6 |
| Brenda Carrasco |
Denver Urban Gardens |
| Sarah Cawrse |
Denver Planning Board |
| Deryn Davidson |
Colorado State University |
| Joshua Eldridge |
Matrix Design Group |
| Nicholas Emenhiser |
Affordable housing development |
| Greg Fisher |
Denver Water |
| Anna Gray Anderson |
People & Pollinators Action Network |
| Melissa Horn |
City Council aide, District 1 |
| Brandon Johnson |
Urban Villages |
| Haley Schroeder |
Colorado Parks and Wildlife |
| Suzanne Serna |
Stantec |
| Christopher Woodburn |
Denver Public Schools |
What is the Denver Resilient Landscape project?
An update to landscape requirements in the Denver Zoning Code and other citywide codes, rules, regulations and policies to promote more climate resilient landscapes and prohibit new non-functional turfgrass.
What is the timeline for this project?
We expect the process to take about a year, with final review and approval by City Council in 2026.
What is a "climate resilient landscape"?
Plants and surrounding landscaping material designed to survive periods of drought, extreme heat, and cloud burst rain events that we get in Denver. The goal is that the landscape can survive on less water and will still provide the benefits of a healthy landscape, such as cooling the area, providing cleaner air, promoting biodiversity and supporting pollinators, providing water quality and helping to address stormwater.
What is non-functional turf?
Cool-season, bluegrass turf such as kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass that requires a lot of water to maintain its appearance. Bluegrass turf is considered non-functional when planted in areas that do not serve a recreation or civic function, such as grass on a median, along a roadway, or around a parking lot. Functional grass covers parks, playing fields and lawns used for events.
Read more about the city’s current turfgrass policy for parks and recreation
Why is Denver banning non-functional turf?
The State of Colorado passed a bill in 2024 that prohibits new non-functional turf throughout the state. SB 24-005 requires cities to update their codes and enact this requirement by January 2026. In addition, updating landscape requirements within the city to promote water-wise landscape, reduce turfgrass, support pollinators, and increase urban tree canopy are all goals identified as community priorities in the city’s adopted plans, including Denver’s Comprehensive Plan 2040, Blueprint Denver, Denver’s Game Plan for a Healthy City, Denver One Water, Denver Moves Everyone, and the Urban Forest Strategic Plan.
Where would new landscape rules apply?
Any new landscape requirements would apply to all new development, including what will be within the right of way and on private property. This includes all use types, including industrial, commercial and residential. This could potentially also apply to some re-development projects. What that threshold might look like is one of the questions the process will consider.
Does this mean I will have to change my lawn?
No. Landscape rules that are under consideration would apply to new development and some redevelopment sites only. Denver residents who are interested in changing their landscape will have access to project resources, including a planned Programs & Incentives report, but this will not be a requirement for existing property.
Are there open spaces where I can see native plants in Denver?
Yes! Denver Parks and Recreation has several sites where you can see a mix of native species in Denver. Check out It’s in Denver’s Nature for more information.
What other resources are there to learn about Colorado native and climate adaptive species?
There are tons of resources out there! A few that we suggest starting with include:
Keep an eye out for our upcoming Programs & Incentives Report, which will be posted in spring 2026 and will include resources to help you change your landscape.
Will this affect city-owned land like parks and medians?
This will impact medians as they are considered ‘non-functional’ spaces that will no longer be allowed to have new turfgrass. This will not impact parks as parks are a ‘functional’ space that may benefit from having turfgrass for fields and community purposes.
Will this project require more landscape in areas such as downtown with limited space?
This process will involve evaluating and balancing differing needs across the city. That is a balance we will need to evaluate through this process. Any new or adjusted regulations that come out of the process may not look the same across the city. What landscape looks like downtown is very different from what it looks like in more suburban areas, so context-sensitive requirements will be important.
How can you ensure this doesn’t add more time to the permit review process?
Currently, landscape-related requirements live in 11 different buckets throughout the city. This project will streamline requirements into one central location to improve efficiency and likely save time. In addition, this project will also focus on making rules easier to understand and apply.
How will you implement and enforce these new requirements?
One of the project tasks is to create an implementation plan for successful review, inspection and enforcement for all new sites.