City Park Irrigation System Modernization

Landscape Irrigation

Northern Colorado Municipality Park

14-acre city park in northern Colorado

Location

Lafayette, CO

Summary

DCPS completed a comprehensive irrigation system upgrade at a municipality park that included a full mainline replacement, valve upgrades, and a conversion to a two-wire system. The improvements increased system reliability, enhanced water efficiency, and strengthened long-term leak detection while preserving existing turf and ball fields.

Challenge

The city required a complete irrigation mainline replacement while keeping all existing lateral lines intact. The new mainline needed to follow the exact existing alignment, and all valves had to remain consolidated within the same locations to maintain system performance and accessibility. The project also demanded extreme care around established turf, particularly within the park’s ball fields, where surface disruption had to be kept to an absolute minimum. Compounding these challenges was a strict timeline that required the work to be completed before winter, allowing enough time for sod replacement and turf establishment prior to system shutdown.

Solution

DCPS delivered a targeted irrigation infrastructure upgrade that addressed both immediate operational needs and long-term system performance. The project included installation of a new mainline using high-quality materials, along with replacement of all mainline fittings and valves to eliminate aging components and reduce the risk of future failures. The irrigation system was upgraded from conventional wiring to a modern two-wire configuration, significantly improving efficiency, diagnostics, and ease of maintenance. A new flow sensor was installed and fully integrated into the control system to provide accurate flow monitoring and proactive leak detection. In addition, spare wiring was installed to support future repairs or system expansion without the need for additional excavation. Controller upgrades were also completed to improve water management, enhance system responsiveness, and support long-term operational efficiency. All work was completed within the required timeframe, allowing damaged areas to be re-sodded and established before winterization.

DCPS began the project with a detailed site evaluation to confirm mainline routing, valve locations, and existing lateral connections. This planning phase ensured the new mainline could be installed along the same alignment as the existing infrastructure, avoiding unnecessary disturbance to turf and hardscape areas. During construction, the mainline was replaced methodically while all valves were upgraded and consolidated to maintain system integrity and accessibility.

The irrigation wiring was transitioned to a two-wire system, with additional spare wiring installed to accommodate future maintenance or upgrades. A flow sensor was installed and integrated into the upgraded controllers, allowing real-time monitoring and improved leak detection capabilities. Throughout the project, DCPS took special care to protect the ball fields and surrounding turf, using construction techniques designed to minimize surface disruption. The project concluded with controller upgrades, comprehensive system testing, and coordination to ensure sod installation, irrigation, and turf establishment were completed successfully before winter shutdown.