To make sure city right-of-way (ROW), such as medians and roadsides, are maintained in a manner that meets city ordinances, the city has implemented a comprehensive weed management plan. The program involves scheduled mowing of public corridors and spraying harmful weed species in order to improve the appearance of these areas and maintain sight lines for motorists and pedestrians. 

Public Works oversees weed mowing along city roadways and in undeveloped open spaces (including the edges of subdivisions) and works with Adams County to identify and spray noxious weeds on city-owned property. When possible, the city landscapes medians and other open areas with native grasses that do not require mowing and drought-resistant plants that use less water.

Right-of-Way mowing in the city is divided into two categories:

Parks Division Mowing (Internal Operations)

The Parks Division of the Public Works Department handles a multitude of right-of-way mowing operations in house. Areas include Tower Road, properties north and south of E. 88th Ave., and other unscheduled mowing. Mowing is scheduled to start the first week of May. 

ROW properties will be mowed on a monthly basis to maintain compliance with the 8” heights.  The Parks Division will move up or delay a mowing cycle based on need. All ROW mowing areas the City is responsible for are inspected by the Parks Division (whether maintained in-house or via contracted services) to mitigate for harmful weed species and ensure adequate sight lines are maintained for motorist and pedestrian safety.

Mowing is handled on a four week rotating schedule. More information on the schedule can be found below. 

Contracted Mowing

Certain areas, like Quebec Parkway, are contracted out on a yearly basis for mowing. Contractors will mow all contracted areas each month from June – September (if mowing is required before June or after September, service for additional mowing work orders will be added).

On the Quebec Parkway median from E. 72nd Ave. to Highway 2, the contractor will mow an approximate 36” beauty band along the backside of curb. The native grass stand within these medians are currently established to the desired aesthetic state, perimeter beauty band mowing is intended to maintain this look and provide a buffer of vegetation from the curb lines. Mowing in these types of areas will be completed without trampling or flattening the native grass within the median.

Mowing by the contractor is handled on a four week rotating schedule. More information on the schedule can be found below. 

Currently the anticipated start of the contractor is the third week of June and any needed mowing will be handled by the Parks Division.