On any given day, once a class is dismissed, the sidewalks north of the University Center are filled with University of Northern Colorado (UNC)  students navigating to and from Central and West Campus. Students walking single file often fill the concrete pathways that wrap around the center point of campus, rarely stepping on the gently sloping 3.4 acres of Kentucky bluegrass nearby.  

“This is one of the most visible areas on campus that is perfect to create a showcase space that demonstrates thoughtful design and sustainable practice,” Chris Bowers said.  

Bowers was hired in 2022 as the university’s first-ever Energy and Sustainability manager. His job is to advocate for and implement environmentally friendly practices on campus. His latest project, with the help from the state, City of Greeley and UNC students, is to transform the underutilized grass area near the 20th Street and 11th Avenue intersection, also known as the UC hill, into an accessible public park that will benefit around 22,000 people, including students and the neighboring community. 

Related: UNC is sprouting a new look on the north side of the University Center

The transformation, which will increase social interaction, enhance the ecosystem and improve mental health, will be achieved by converting the existing bluegrass into natural grass, installing water-efficient irrigation and creating more walkways, seating areas, hammock spots and student art display areas.  

“What excites me most is seeing this space transformed into a vibrant, functional area for the campus community,” Bowers said. “I am really looking forward to enjoying a picnic with my family on the new terrace, surrounded by natural plants, a hammock grove, gathering areas and improved walkways.” 

While converting the area into natural grass will not only bring purpose to the landscape, Bowers says it will also have huge water conservation benefits. 

“Right now, the site requires high amounts of water to keep the existing bluegrass green,” Bowers said. “With the slope of the hill, the high sunlight exposure and the older irrigation system, UNC is watering at a rate equal to a golf course.” 

The conversion from bluegrass to drought-resistant grasses is estimated to reduce water use by 86%, saving approximately 2,626,890 gallons per year. To put it into perspective, according to the City of Greeley, that is enough water to provide 67 households in Greeley with water for a full year.  

“Water resources are precious,” Dena Egenhoff, the water conservation manager with the City of Greeley, said. “In general, 40% of Greeley’s water comes from the Colorado River, which is facing scarcity due to basin water shortage, so it’s a resource we can’t overuse. We have our checks and balances and implementing more water-resilient landscapes is one way we can do that.” 

The idea to re-turf the landscape near the University Center (UC) first came about through the City of Greeley. Egenhoff was approached by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, which collaborates with Western Resource Advocates and Water Now Alliance, to see if a large-scale turf replacement project could be implemented in Greeley. 

“Knowing that we have a really good relationship with UNC, I approached Sarah Boyd [UNC Landscaping and Grounds manager] and Chris Bowers,” Egenhoff said. “I suggested collaborating to identify properties within UNC to showcase what large-scale turf replacement can look like.” 

Boyd and Bowers were quick to agree to a project and helped identify the underutilized green space near the UC. As for funding, the pair worked with Egenhoff and enlisted student involvement to score a $630,105 grant from the City of Greeley.

Resilient landscaping already exists on campus, including the Xeric Garden along 17th Avenue. This area was converted to natural grasses in 2021 with funding coming from the Student LEAF organization:

Lessons Learned in the Field 

Each year, students enrolled in ENST 364 Leadership and Community Building, one of the classes offered every other year through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Environmental Sustainability program, are tasked with a community-engaged project as part of their final assignment. In the spring of 2022, the opportunity to create a more drought-friendly environment on the west side of campus became the perfect choice. 

“Sarah Boyd and Chris Bowers had talked to me about doing a water conservation project, so I brought it up to my students,” said Chelsie Romulo, Ph.D., professor of Geography, GIS and Sustainability and the instructor for ENST 364 at the time. “The students were interested in a project that would convert bluegrass into something else, but wanted to make sure that what was replacing the landscape would meet community needs.” 

To find the answer, the students developed a survey and feedback-ranking method for the proposed project near the UC to see what fellow Bears thought would be the best way to transform the space. 

“We put on an event where we could ask students to fill out the survey and share what they would like the area to look like to help make their experience better,” said Sydnee Klug, ‘24, an alumna who was part of the original class project.  

Sixty-seven people participated in the survey, 80% of whom were students. Students were also able to have in-depth conversations with community members and incorporated ideas mentioned like hammock stations and seating areas that made it into today’s design. 

“It’s the students that are going to use the space the most, so getting input from them is the most valuable and really held weight when we were putting together the application for grant funding,” Egenhoff said. 

Not only were the students able to assist in designing the landscape, but they also received first-hand experience of how long a project like this can take. They attended council meetings where they presented their findings, and their discoveries influenced the grant application that secured the funding. 

“I had to tell them that we weren’t going to convert any lawns during that semester, it was just the first step in a long process that we have to keep pushing for,” Romulo said. “They were a big part of the design process but also got to see the grant process and now they’ll be able to see the physical process of installing the natural grass.” 

Being at the physical installation point, Klug is excited to see what her classmates’ hard work will turn out to be since working on the design was the highlight of her college career. 

“It’s very cool to say that I was a part of the group that started this project, helped plan it,” Klug said. “I wish I was still in school to use the space as a student, but I’m glad the university is taking steps to listen to its students.” 

Though it’s already been two years since Klug and her classmates first started working on the project, the completed vision is still a couple more years out. 

Taking Time to Bloom 

The process of growing natural plants takes time. Like a first-year student arriving at UNC’s campus ready to embark on a multi-year college experience, establishing roots isn’t instantaneous. Before flourishing with a college degree, that student will need to learn about their new environment, attach themselves to a new community and adapt to each course load.

The drought-resistant grass will go through a similar journey.

“You have stages and phases with anything that’s developing, and these natural grasses, they do develop, but it does take that two-to-three-year time frame to make it look luscious and as an established landscape,” Egenhoff said. 

Work on the project starts this month when the slope of the hill behind the iconic Northern Vision bear statue will be flattened and a new pathway will be created. Concrete will be poured throughout winter, and a new irrigation system will be installed. In the spring, herbicides will be sprayed to kill the bluegrass then the drought-resistant grass will be planted, which will take a year to germinate. The first two years after seeding in spring 2025 will be a growing period, where the new grass will act as first-year and sophomore students, still navigating the college lay of the land.

“The taproot system of natural grasses is much deeper than other types of grass,” Egenhoff said. “Kentucky bluegrass tends to have very shallow roots, while drought-resistant grasses have deeper roots, so it takes them longer to form.” 

Then, in 2027, the water-wise grasses will hit their stride as the landscape becomes its organic, vibrant and natural self. Similar to a senior reaching their higher education goal. 

Project leaders say the wait will be worth it. Along with combating drought, revamping the area will improve lighting along pathways, promote physical activity and social interactions to improve student health and it will enhance the ecosystem by planting regionally appropriate plantings, grasses and trees that attract pollinators, birds and other wildlife.  

“I am so happy with the project,” senior Lorayne Aguinaldo said.  

Aguinaldo is the president of Student Leadership for Environmental Action Fund (LEAF), which strives to transform the campus community toward a more sustainable culture.  

“The project will not only connect the corner that is the City of Greeley’s to the university to create a more welcoming campus, but also improve the health of the landscape,” Aguinaldo said. “Once it’s fully grown, that area will look great year-round.” 

Aguinaldo, an Environmental and Sustainability major, is passionate about making campus more environmentally friendly. Seeing this project come to life and knowing that former Bears helped make it happen fills her with school pride and motivation to keep the progress going.  

“UNC is improving the health of the campus, which is amazing,” Aguinaldo said. “One of the main reasons I chose to go to UNC is because I knew I could put what I believe is important into practice here.”