City Hall Conservation Garden

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About the Project

  • Through this project, the City is leading by example in water-wise landscape choices, including removal of four acres of high-water-use turf grass, resulting in an estimated 1.5 million gallons of water saved annually. 
  • This project will improve pedestrian access to, and circulation within, the North Lawn. 
  • The project is intended to educate patrons on water conservation and the City’s desire to foster a more sustainable city.  Plant identification information will be made available on-site and through the City’s website.   
  • The project includes 16,500 square feet of planting beds, 39 new trees, and more than 90,000 square feet of irrigated and unirrigated shortgrass prairie native grass. 
  • Staff have connected with partners at the ADCO CSU extension office (Master Gardeners), Plant Select, Butterfly Pavilion and Denver Botanic Gardens.  
  • Three dedicated locations within the garden will support public art via the City’s ‘Sculpture on Loan' program. 
  • Per City Code, the City Hall complex is designated as parkland--this project aims to activate the north lawn as a space for residents to engage with sustainable landscape education. 

City Council Study Session Presentation 

  • The City team (Public Works & Utilities Dept. and Parks, Recreation, & Libraries Dept.) partnered with Western Resource Advocates to participate as a pilot community “Enabling the Large-Scale Replacement of Non-Essential Turf” project under a grant funded by the Colorado Water Conservation Board and others.   
  • City Council directed Staff to continue work on the City Hall North Lawn Transformation Project (CHNLTP) but capped the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the project at $500,000. City Council encouraged Staff to find additional funding to the complete the project. 
  • Parks Irrigation Renovation funding (2022 POST Debt) was identified to renovate the irrigation system within the project area 
  • The project team applied for and was recently awarded a $225,000 Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Water Plan Grant for the project. The grant will enable the project team to create a robust and interactive educational component for the new garden.  

View the Presentation: City Hall North Lawn Study Session Presentation(PDF)

Estimated Project Schedule 

  • Project was approved as part of POST Debt Irrigation contract amendments on June 9, 2025 (second reading).  
  • Mobilization is expected to take place on June 17, 2025.
  • The entire project area will be fenced off for the duration. 
  • The project timeline is anticipated to be 10 weeks.   
  • Planting targeted for early Fall 2025. 

View the Construction Map (PDF)

Project FAQs 

  • Why is the City investing so much money in City Hall? 
    • City Code defines the City Hall complex as “Parkland.” However, much of the 8+ acres of green space surrounding City Hall is currently inaccessible to the public. As a result, the area serves primarily an aesthetic purpose rather than a functional one. The investment aims to transform this underutilized space into something more accessible, useful, and beneficial for the community.
  • What is the return on investment (ROI) on this project? 
    • The direct financial ROI is estimated at approximately 30 years. However, the true value of the project lies in its broader impact—particularly in promoting education and awareness around conservation. This indirect return is what makes the project especially meaningful and worthwhile.
  • How much water will this project save? 
    • The project is expected to save approximately 1.5 million gallons of water annually—enough to supply 12 Westminster households for an entire year.
  • When is the project expected to be completed? 
    • The project is currently on track for completion in the third quarter of 2025.
  • How can I learn about the plants in the garden? 
    • As construction progresses, the project team is developing educational materials that will be available both in the garden and online, allowing visitors to engage with and learn about the plant life in multiple ways.