ST. GEORGE — Kermit the Frog said it best: It isn't easy being green. Especially if you're trying to keep a large, sloping lawn at City Hall looking lush during a drought.
That's one reason city leaders decided to yank the grass and start over.
"Obviously we're in the desert. On top of that we're in a drought," said St. George parks superintendent Lynne Scott. "The lawn didn't meet good principles of landscaping for this area. The grass didn't serve a practical purpose, either, since it's just on a steep slope."
The giant lawn has been a real water guzzler in a city that recently revised its water conservation plan and asked residents to voluntarily cut back on water usage.
"We estimate the lawn used up 1.5 million gallons of water a year," said Scott. "We'd like to reduce that amount by at least two-thirds."
Ripping out the lawn and putting in a desert-themed landscape won't be cheap, however.
"I think the council had some sticker shock when we first showed them our estimate," said Scott, who figured it would cost at least $100,000.
Three local landscaping companies presented their sketches and plans to the council at a special meeting on Thursday. Prices for the projects ranged from $86,000 to more than $157,000, and there's not a blade of grass in any of them .
"People have been asking, "When are you going to get something going up there?' and I want to get something going," said St. George Mayor Dan McArthur after listening to the presentations. "It will be nice to see people coming up to City Hall to get their pictures taken for weddings and graduations. This will be a real showcase."
Drought-tolerant plant species in a variety of colors and sizes will mix with giant boulders, local sandstone, dry stream beds with a waterfall, and sculpted terraces, making the space a "model landscape," said Jeff Norton, whose firm submitted the highest bid.
"Maybe the water feature in our project sends the wrong message to people, but I know it uses a whole lot less water than swimming pools and lawn panels," said Norton. "Obviously, we can reduce the plan, but if you back off the plan too far you're not going to be successful."
Council members were relieved to learn Norton would cut the cost of his project by at least $20,000 if the city could provide its own boulders.
We've got good boulders right up on the hill. I've got my eye on a beautiful one right now," said Councilman Larry Gardner. "I just wonder whose crane is going to move it."
No one is sure how much money the new landscape design will save the city in water bills, though.
"The problem is, water is so cheap here. But maybe that's not the issue," said Scott. "It probably doesn't matter how much it costs if you have none to drink."
By stripping city hall's landscape of its green grass, city leaders
aren't suggesting everyone follow suit, she added.
"We don't want everyone to get rid of their lawns," said Scott. "We just want them to know how to water their lawns and stop over-watering."
Scott can't wait to get the project started.
"I'm really excited to get this going. It's been in the works a long time," Scott said. "We want to be a good example of what to do and not a bad example."
E-MAIL: nperkins@infowest.com