NACA Park Eco-Lawn Project Wins Sustainability Award

Award recipients Keith Venter, Facilities Historic Preservation Officer (left) and Steve Frankel,
Facilities Engineering Branch Chief, standing on the Eco-Lawn (official Ames photo ACD11-0119-003).
Keith Venter and Steve Frankel received the 2011 NASA Ames Sustainability Award for their design and implementation of an energy- and water-efficient multipurpose park on a historic and previously-contaminated 14-foot wind tunnel site. Named "NACA Park," this site commemorates the history of flight testing at Ames while providing an open space for honoring new accomplishments.
Eco-Lawn represents a first test case at Ames to a move away from traditionally high maintenance lawns. The Eco-Lawn looks like a normal green lawn, but requires approximately 1.6 million gallons less water annually than a traditional lawn for the given space. The way this lawn saves water is based on the selected slow-growing long rooted grass species. And, because it grows slowly, less mowing is required which in turn saves energy and reduces maintenance costs.
The Eco-Lawn project team included Keith Venter, Steve Frankel, David Yee, Tim Gafney, and Pat Jacquemet.
For more information on the Eco-Lawn and other sustainable landscapes, see:
+ www.wildflowerfarm.com
|