Repairing the Green Spaces

Behind the Scenes

The green spaces have large areas of dead turf, there are weeds everywhere, and it is just plain ugly. Your voices are heard! 

While it may seem that nothing is being done, the 2025 Board of Directors has been actively and tirelessly working behind the scenes:

  1. Hired a new landscaping company

    1. All Terrain Landscaping are experts in RainBird IQ; upon system startup this season they found and implemented many optimization opportunities to save on water.

    2. A full audit of the irrigation system revealed a tremendous number of broken sprinkler heads that had obviously not worked in a while; all of these were replaced and all sprinkler heads were tested to ensure proper spray areas.

    3. All Terrain Landscaping spreads an organic fertilizer mix that has already begun working to turn the brown turf around.
      Please keep in mind that the Maple Hill property and everyone is only human. If you notice that the landscapers missed something, kindly report it by clicking here.

  2. Cleaned the well pumps

    1. An inspection of the wells and the pumps in October of 2024 revealed that the screens on the pumps were severely clogged which was causing the pumps to work harder to deliver less water.

    2. The screens on the pumps were jet-cleaned at the end of February 2025.

  3. Planning for the long-term

    1. The well inspection from October 2024 also revealed that the aquifer level is 7ft lower than the previous inspection in 2019. 

    2. The water level is expected to continue to decrease in the coming years and therefore the long-term, phased, water-wise project is being proposed to to reduce the Association’s dependency on water by replacing the turf in the green spaces with native grass and areas of xeriscaping. 

FAQs

  • This proposed long-term, phased project is intended to reduce the Association’s dependency on water by replacing the turf in the green spaces with native grass and areas of xeriscaping. 

    The Maple Hill Master Association owns over 727,00+ sqft of turf that is required to be watered and maintained on an annual basis. While the Association does own two wells, the professional studies indicate that the water table in the aquifer is at least 7 ft lower in 2024 than it was in 2019 - and it's projected to continually decrease over time. 

    Eventually it will become infeasible to water the ~17 acres of turf regardless of the seasonal impacts to the water table.

  • Please click here to see details.

  • While we do not have exact figures yet, we do know that it will be very expensive - hence the requirement to phase the project over several years.

    After compiling the homeowner feedback from the survey and compiling a finalized plan, the HOA will apply to several grant and funding opportunities which typically match $1:$1.

    To qualify for some of the grant opportunities, we will have to calculate the water savings over time. This data will also depict the amount saved by the Association on mowing costs as well as pump repair & maintenance. All of this information will be shared with the homeowners as it becomes available.

  • The Association is investigating the proper approach for using the Reserve Budget and not the Operating Budget with the hope being that dues will not increase as a result of this project.

  • Trees can certainly be added, keeping the following in mind:

    • Each new tree will cost +/- $1,000 to purchase and install

    • The Association has spent a significant amount of money over the years replacing dead trees for various reasons:

      • Some soil testing indicates that the ground is too salty and thereby killing the trees

      • Other experts say that as long as the irrigation system is properly maintained and the sprinklers regularly checked then the trees will not die

    • $XX needs to be spent to prune the existing living trees, remove existing dead trees, and grind stumps from previously cut trees that are tripping hazards

  • The shrubs and existing patches of xeriscape will be cleaned up when that section of turf is scheduled to be repaired.

  • Since the City of Fort Collins owns the hellscape strips, the Association is partnering with the City to plan the scope, cost, and timeline of transitioning these spaces to water-wise solutions.

  • Please click here to see details.

Repair Options

Please keep in mind that all of the costs are still in the estimate stage, but the numbers provided are in good faith.

What about the trees?

Trees can certainly be added, keeping the following in mind:

  • Each new tree will cost +/- $1,000 to purchase and install

  • The Association has spent a significant amount of money over the years replacing dead trees for various reasons:

    • Some soil testing indicates that the ground is too salty and thereby killing the trees

    • Other experts say that as long as the irrigation system is properly maintained and the sprinklers regularly checked then the trees will not die

  • $XX needs to be spent to prune the existing living trees, remove existing dead trees, and grind stumps from previously cut trees that are tripping hazards

Property Map

Project Timeline

As of late Jun 2025, the current project dates are as follows: