Riverside Cemetery Plans Landscape Transformation With Water-Wise Strategy
Riverside Cemetery in Denver is planning a landscape transformation, collaborating with Denver Water and Matrix Design Group to implement native plants and strategies that require no irrigation, moving away from traditional manicured grounds.
Denver, CO, September 3, 2026 — Riverside Cemetery in Denver is embarking on a significant landscape transformation, aiming to replace traditional manicured grounds with a water-wise approach utilizing native plants. This initiative is a collaboration involving key partners: Denver Water and Matrix Design Group.
The planned changes focus on implementing strategies that require no irrigation. This shift represents a move away from conventional landscape maintenance practices often associated with cemeteries. The core of the transformation will involve the introduction of native plant species suited to the local climate, which are naturally drought-tolerant and require minimal to no supplemental watering once established.
The collaboration with Denver Water suggests an emphasis on water conservation, a growing priority for municipalities and public spaces. Matrix Design Group, presumably contributing its expertise in landscape architecture or design, will play a role in developing and implementing the new ecological landscaping plan. Specific details regarding the timeline for this transformation or the exact scope of the plant species to be introduced were not provided.
This project signifies a broader trend in urban landscaping towards sustainability and reduced environmental impact. By transitioning to native, non-irrigated landscapes, Riverside Cemetery aims to conserve water resources, support local biodiversity, and potentially reduce long-term maintenance costs associated with high-water-use vegetation.
Story summarized from the original created by Kevin Simpson on coloradosun.com, see more information here.
