Mayor Mike Johnston
Denver is confronting record-breaking heat by expanding green infrastructure. By December 2026, the city will transform at least 50 acres of pavement and thirsty bluegrass into nature-based, resilience-building landscapes. At the historic City & County Building, Denver Parks & Recreation is replacing Kentucky bluegrass with drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly native plantings. The $400,000 project, funded by the Parks Legacy Fund, will cut irrigation use by 44%, saving roughly 530,000 gallons a year.