Frequently Asked Questions

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Parks Maintenance

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1. Does the City provide free mulch?

Free mulch is available for Arvada residents in the parking lot of Birds Nest Disc Golf Course. Birds Nest Disc Golf Course is located at 17925 W. 64th Parkway in West Arvada, one mile east of Highway 93.

Mulch is available on a first come, first served basis. Availability is not guaranteed. 

2. Are horses allowed in Arvada parks and on Arvada trails?

Horses are only allowed in designated areas and on designated trails in Arvada as defined by Arvada Municipal Code Sec. 66-26, which reads: 

It shall be unlawful for any person to ride, lead or otherwise permit any horse in or upon any public park, except for posted equestrian trails and posted equestrian centers.

Visit our Local Trails page for information on which trails and trail areas permit horses. 

3. How do I request a memorial tree or memorial park bench be added to a park?

You may request a memorial tree or park bench be placed in a City park by contacting our main parks maintenance number at 720-898-7410. Park benches and the concrete pours for the benches are paid for by the requesting party. The City may not be able to install a bench where it requested, depending on factors such as the location of irrigation and trees, proximity to other existing park benches, and the location of hazards.

4. Who do I contact if I get locked in or out of an athletic field?

Please contact the Water Department at the after-hours phone number 720-898-7820. 

5. What should I do if I notice graffiti in an Arvada park?

Submit an Ask Arvada request to report graffiti in an Arvada park. If you see graffiti happening in progress, call the police non-emergency line at 720-898-6900. Graffiti on private property is the responsibility of the property owner.

6. Who is responsible for maintenance of the areas along the Farmers Highline Canal, Church Ditch and Croke Canal?

For an extensive list of FAQs regarding the canals and ditches that wind through Arvada (and all of Metro Denver), visit the Ditches page.

7. Which parks have amenities, such as basketball, tennis, pickleball, etc?

Many City of Arvada parks have amenities such as basketball courts, volleyball pits, tennis and pickleball courts, etc.

• View a list of City parks, amenities and locations (PDF)
• View an interactive map of tennis and pickleball courts in Arvada 

8. What should I do if trees are overhanging power lines?

Removing limbs from power lines is extremely dangerous. Please contact Xcel Energy. They will determine if it is on a service line to your home or on a secondary line for the neighborhood and will direct the course of removal. You may contact Xcel by calling 1-800-895-4999.

9. Why does the City recommend residents not water during peak times of the day, but they routinely do so in the parks?

The primary reason why watering often occurs in parks during those daylight hours is that given the many hundreds of acres that require watering and the number of irrigation zones in any given park, there are simply not enough hours between 6 pm and 10 am to complete the cycle.

10. Why does the City water parks and trails early in the morning, when people are using the trails?

Again, many hundreds of acres that require watering and the number of irrigation zones in any given park, there are simply not enough hours to complete the cycle when parks / trails users are not present.

11. How often does Parks staff assess playground equipment for safety?

Playground audits are performed annually in all parks January through March. Playground checks and repairs are conducted weekly in all parks January through September.

12. What is the City's mowing policy for open space?

Large open space areas are only mowed once a year (if at all) to allow native grasses to thrive, which helps keep invasive species out. Native grasses can only thrive after they drop their seed heads. Mowing more often would interfere with and prevent that cycle. General open space mowing is done three times a year; the initial mowing occurs along trails. Additional mowing along the trails is conducted where trail usage exceeds the width of the trail. 

Visit our Open Space and Natural Area Maintenance page for more information.

13. What is the City's mowing policy for parks?

With more than 220 sites spread across 4,200 acres, properly maintaining the City's parks and open space is a labor-intensive task. From April 1 through September 30, City parks are mowed every 7-10 days.  

14. What is the City's policy on the use of herbicides in parks and open space?

We apply herbicides to better control invasive species such as: Scotch Thistle, Emerald Ash Borer, Mountain Pine Beetle and Purple Loose Strife to name a few. All parks crew who are applicators are certified by the Department of Agriculture and attend classes to keep their credentials current.

15. I live near a trail (or open space/park). When should I expect to see parks staff pruning the trees in these areas?

With more than 30,000 trees on City property, maintaining them properly is a labor-intensive task. Pruning and other tree maintenance can be expected year around. Learn about tree removal in City parks.

16. City-owned trees are overhanging my property. Can I trim them myself?

Yes, you may trim City-owned trees to your property line or contact our City Forester at 720-898-7410.

17. My trees are overhanging City property. Is the City allowed to trim them?

Yes, the City is allowed to trim resident-owned trees to our property line. Contact our City Forester at 720-898-7410 with additional questions.

18. Why are some City parks watered during daylight hours?

As part of voluntary water conservation efforts, Arvada residents are asked not to water their lawns between 10 am and 6 pm. However, you'll notice that sometimes sprinklers in our parks are running during those daytime hours. 

The primary reason is that given the many hundreds of acres that require watering, and the number of irrigation zones in any given park, there are simply not enough hours between 6 pm and 10 am to complete the cycle. Parks staff also conduct irrigation checks and make adjustments during these daylight hours. 

Another reason daytime watering occurs in places like the Stenger and Lutz sports complexes is due to the high use of the complex on weekends and three-day holiday periods. During these periods the turf areas lose the base level of soil moisture required for plant health and player safety, thus requiring additional watering during weekdays when the fields are not in use.

Finally, annual seed and sod repair and grounds rehabilitation can account for short watering cycles throughout the day at specific locations. For example, when the City upgrades a median by putting in new seeds, plants, and trees, additional watering may be required to get the landscaping established.

Rest assured that the City does monitor its usage and works to keep the volume below its historical use.