Arapahoe County is going green — replacing grass with turfgrass at its fairgrounds to save water and money.

While county officials make an effort to save water with grass replacements, they are also hosting upcoming informational events to help county residents be more water wise and plant their own gardens.

Arapahoe County Fairgrounds officials will replace a grassy area about the size of a football field with Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass as part of a test project, according to a news release from the county.

Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass was developed at Oklahoma State University to replace other grass alternatives on sports fields, golf courses and lawns. The turfgrass is hardy in the winter and drought-resistant, using less water than other grasses, according to the product’s website.

The end goal is to reduce water demands by half and save more than 586,000 gallons of water once all of the grass at the fairgrounds is converted, according to the county’s website.

In the process of saving water, the county will also save money both through decreased water use and through eliminating the need for mowing.

The project is a “win-win for the environment and Open Spaces,” the county said in the release. It will be complete by June, in time for the Arapahoe County Fair.

“This effort dovetails with the County’s commitment to being responsible stewards of public dollars and County resources,” the county’s website says.

In total, the replacement will cost about $98,000, including the costs of removing the existing grass, adding soil amendments, tilling and prepping the soil, leveling the site and installing the turfgrass, according to a county spokesperson. The money is coming out of the county’s operational budget, which is funded by sales and use taxes.

On Friday, county residents can learn how to landscape their own yards to conserve water and save money at the Intro to Xeriscaping event.

The event goes from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the Englewood Public Library, 1000 Englewood Pkwy.

Master gardener Nina Mbengue will teach participants about the principles of xeriscaping, which uses plants that require less water and other landscaping techniques to create a water-wise yard.

On Sunday, county residents can attend a lesson from master gardeners on how and when to plant a vegetable garden. The event takes place from 4 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 4 at the Cheyenne Arapaho Park Community Garden, 9200 E. Iowa Ave.