Reimagining 2000 Acres of Turf as Landscape Learning Labs

Across Denver Public Schools’ (DPS) 2,000+ acres, turf is the default. Most of it isn’t used for sports, play, or recreation—it’s just there, using water and demanding maintenance. As Colorado phases out non-functional turf under Senate Bill 24-005, and as climate pressures mount, there’s an opportunity to rethink what school landscapes can actually do.

The DPS Sustainable Landscapes Plan

The DPS Sustainable Landscapes Plan is a blueprint for that transformation. Developed by Superbloom with Biohabitats, Denver Botanic Gardens, and HydroSystems KDI, it provides a roadmap for converting underused turf into ecologically rich, water-wise landscapes, while preserving functional areas for athletics and active play.

The work starts with 30 case study sites and three pilot projects, including one already funded and underway. These pilots will test how regionally adapted plantings perform on school campuses, establishing a model that can scale across the district.

But this is more than just a landscape shift. It’s a cultural one. The plan redefines the relationship between sustainable schoolyards and student learning, positioning landscapes as essential infrastructure that supports science education, environmental literacy, and climate resilience. Soil health is central to this approach, recognizing that thriving landscapes start underground, where living soils cycle nutrients, store carbon, and sustain plant communities over time. 

Sustainable Landscapes for the Future 

Aligned with the DPS Climate Action Plan and developed with the district’s Landscape Task Force, the plan includes practical implementation tools: planting palettes, cost estimates, irrigation guidance, and metrics for water savings and performance.

The goal isn’t just prettier schoolyards. It’s landscapes that work harder, cost less over time, and teach something worth knowing.

Developed in support of the DPS Climate Action Plan and in alignment with Senate Bill 24-005.

• Location (City, State): Denver, CO 
• Year: 2025
• Services provided: Landscape Architecture
• Client: Denver Public Schools 
• Collaborators: Biohabitats, Denver Botanic Gardens, Hydrosystems