The Redwoods Senior Living Community becomes an early adopter of statewide non-functional turf ban while also taking advantage of Marin Water’s Cash for Grass Program 

Most of the 350 or so residents of The Redwoods Senior Living Facility in Mill Valley grew up in a world of verdant, well-irrigated grass lawns. So, moving on from the rolling, manicured meadows at The Redwoods – to a more sustainable, drought-tolerant landscape – required a bit of a paradigm shift. 

But as plans took shape, and work at the highly visible intersection of Camino Alto and Miller Avenue transformed non-functional, decorative grass lawn areas into sweeping sections of rock, wood mulch and dazzling drought-tolerant plants, the residents here have embraced the mix of curb appeal and sustainability. 

“People are excited about it,” said Taylor Kelly, director of facilities at The Redwoods. “It’s different, but that’s the direction we need to go in. Most of the reaction has been very positive because everyone is part of the movement here.” 

Kelly said it all started about a year ago. In the wake of California’s most recent drought, which decimated much of the property’s lawn areas, The Redwoods was faced with a choice: replace the turf or chart a different course. The idea, starting with CEO Hunter Moore, and percolating through in-house drafts of drawings and schematics, was based on an aggressive community goal. 

“We’ve set a goal to reduce our irrigation, our outdoor water usage by 50%, and our domestic water use by 25%,” said Kelly. “That’s a lofty goal, but we would certainly like to complete that. My philosophy – and The Redwoods philosophy – is every drop counts.” 

Starting with two highly visible portions of the grounds, and taking advantage of Marin’s Cash for Grass Program, The Redwoods replaced 10,000 square feet of grass. The move is coupled with an inventive rainwater collection system, which diverts rainwater from buildings into drainage basins before using sump pumps to spread that collected water over landscaped areas. 

Plans call for similar eco-friendly transformations throughout the property. Irrigation has already been halted in the grassy areas targeted for removal, making The Redwoods an early adopter of statewide restrictions on the irrigation of non-functional turf with potable water. Signed into law last year, Assembly Bill 1572 applies to commercial, municipal, industrial and other institutional properties, and will take effect in phases from 2027 to 2031. 

In monthly Resident Council meetings, staff share updates on the progress. A highly engaged Redwoods community – one featuring a recycling program and a Seniors for Peace Group – has been more than receptive to the shift. 

“They have really bought into the water reduction programs we have,” Kelly said. “They are very community oriented. We are inspired by our residents. They are stewards of the environment, and we want to ensure that we’re using our resources well.” 

During a tour of The Redwoods grounds, Kelly proudly showed off the Robert Sinclair Scott Garden, the community’s vegetable and flower garden, which offers free fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables to residents weekly. A diverse and colorful succulent garden and potting area is tucked near another outdoor gathering space. The residents here put on an annual sale that attracts visitors from well beyond Mill Valley. 

For Kelly, who did much of the new landscape design after spending more than his share of time gathering information, stewardship is a communal activity. Everybody needs to be doing it, he said. 

“When you realize, droughts are going to happen every three years, every five years, you need to adjust your landscaping,” he said. “And I think we’re doing a very good job of doing that.”

Learn more about the District’s Cash for Grass Program, available for residential and commercial customers, by visiting marinwater.org/Cash4Grass.

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