LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Seventeen parks across Las Vegas are set to see changes in the coming months as the city removes certain areas of grass as part of its water conservation efforts.
Bronson Mack of the Southern Nevada Water Authority said the grass removal at 17 parks qualifies the city for the Water Efficient Technologies Program.
“So we’ll be able to help provide some rebates upwards of about $4 million to help support these upgrades, and in return, these upgrades are going to be saving 82 million gallons of water every single year,” Mack said.
Mack also emphasized the region’s broader conservation push, saying, “There is no other community that has been doing water conservation to the level we have here.” He added, “Everybody is really in the same boat, rowing in the same direction, that’s what’s made our water conservation so successful.”
The city said it “has worked to not remove grass that is appropriate and used by the community. Grass that is not used can be replaced with water-smart landscaping without an impact on residents and recreational opportunities.”
At Lorenzi Park, the city installed a pickleball court, removing what officials determined was unused grass.
“Most of the areas that the park is doing, this is grass that is ultimately functional, but it’s underutilized,” Mack said.
He adds that water savings can add up quickly. A single square foot of grass requires 73 gallons of water per year.
“So in areas of the park where grass is being replaced with something like a pickleball court, well, that’s got zero water usage associated with it, so the water savings can be immense,” he said.
The city said seven parks have already been completed: Cragin, Lorenzi, Police Memorial Park, Bruce Trent, Rainbow Family Park, Firefighters Memorial and Veterans Memorial Park, which features a new pool.
Ten additional parks are scheduled for grass removal in the coming months, with design plans still under discussion. Those include Heers Park, Essex Circle Park, Mirabelli Park, Cameron Community Park, Heritage Park, Rafael Rivera Park, Darling Tennis Center, Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex, and various medians in design.
During a council presentation Wednesday morning, officials said certain areas of unused grass at the Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex will feature new artificial turf fields, while the rest of the unused grass will be removed.
The City of Las Vegas sent a statement to News 3:
“The city works closely with the Southern Nevada Water Authority to balance water conservation with ensuring residents have beautiful parks, fields and recreation amenities in Las Vegas. The city has worked to not remove grass that is appropriate and used by the community. Grass that is not used can be replaced with water smart landscaping without an impact on residents and recreational opportunities. Other examples of the city being water smart include our roadway medians where art installations have replaced grass, planting drought tolerant tree species and stormwater infrastructure that helps precipitation travel back to Lake Mead. The city still offers plenty of open space with grass, sports fields, splash pads and pools, and our commitment to sustainability allows for the city to continue to provide these amenities.”