Open Space

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.”
— Laura Ingalls Wilder

Naturally Thornton

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A creating sustainable landscapes sign in the foreground of the Thornton Police Department surrounded by native grass.

Croke Lake at City Hall

Thornton manages over 140 miles of trails and more than 2,500 acres of parks and open space for residents to enjoy — aesthetically and personally. Planning for the future of these spaces is closely tied to daily operations and maintenance. In 2019, the city developed a long-term plan to transition low-use spaces from traditional, water-intensive turfgrass into sustainable, Colorado-friendly, water-wise landscapes.

What is Naturally Thornton?

Naturally Thornton is a city-wide sustainability effort focused, but not limited to, the reduction of water consumption and environmental enhancement. A sustainable landscape is an attractive environment that is in balance with the local climate and requires minimal resource inputs, such as fertilizer, pesticides, gasoline, staff time, and water.

Benefits of a sustainable landscape include:

  • Water conservation
  • Reducing our carbon footprint with fewer chemicals and gasoline
  • Enhancing native and resilient vegetation
  • Increasing biodiversity of plants, pollinators, and other wildlife
  • Providing a landscape that is more sustainable for the ecosystem in the long term
  • Staff time redirection and fiscal savings
  • Find which projects are taking place near you by visiting our projects map link 
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Thornton Police Training Facility with native grass in the foreground.

Police Training Facility

Thornton is "Walking the Talk"

Since 2007, Thornton Water customers have been learning how to save more water at home. Our water efficiency campaign has continued to promote both indoor and outdoor water efficiency, including the H2Overhaul Program, which helps residents convert part of their yards into water-wise landscapes. In addition to Thornton's demonstration gardens, we are applying these practices throughout the city in our parks and open spaces. Thornton is "walking the talk" by transitioning to more Colorado-friendly landscapes in our parks and open spaces.

Why is water efficiency important?

  • Thornton Water is leading by example to demonstrate that converting high-water turf into water-wise landscapes can create an aesthetically pleasing outdoor space. 
  • Water efficiency may look different for parks and open spaces than it does for residential customers. For example, daily irrigation system audits on public property and watering recreational sports turf require a systematic cycle that may include watering during the day, which is not recommended for Thornton Water customers. 
  • Thornton Water's H2Overhaul Kit provides water customers with step-by-step instructions for transitioning a portion of their yard into water-wise landscaping, which can increase curb appeal, promote biodiversity, and attract wildlife, while also saving water on their monthly bills.

Projects

Naturally Thornton Projects

This approach is the beginning of a long-term plan to transition selected low-use areas from traditional water-intensive turf, into sustainable grasses and water-wise landscape.

Naturally Thornton Plan

Naturally Thornton: Our H2Overhaul for Sustainable Landscapes Presentation

Native & Sustainable Grasses

Cool Season Grasses

Learn more about cool season grasses.

Warm Season Grasses

Learn more about warm season grasses.

Learn More