Mesa begins removing turf across city to help save water [Video]

MESA, Ariz. — Monday marked the beginning of crews in Mesa starting to remove grass from dozens of parks and retention basins in an effort to conserve water.

The City of Mesa is removing about five acres of turf throughout 54 parks and retention basins that are “non-functional,” meaning it may be close to walls where people aren’t using the turf for recreation. 

The city estimates it’ll save more than 5 million gallons of Colorado River water a year. To get an idea of what that’d look like, it’s about 15 football fields covered in a foot of water. 

“Just by taking out these small strips where we know people aren’t playing anyway, we’re able to save the water and focus our irrigation down where people enjoy it the most,” said Andrea Moore, director of the Mesa Parks, …