In 2023, Westfield Galleria at Roseville reimagined what a large commercial landscape could look like in California’s changing climate.
Working in partnership with the City of Roseville’s Cash for Grass rebate program, the shopping center replaced more than 150,000 square feet of lawn—roughly the size of three football fields—with a new low-water-use landscape designed to reduce water demand while enhancing the visitor experience.
“The project allowed us to rethink how the landscape supports both the visitor experience and long-term water efficiency,” said Jeff Richardson, Senior General Manager, Westfield Galleria at Roseville. “We wanted to create an environment that feels welcoming and visually appealing while also reflecting the realities of living and operating in California.”
The project transformed highly visible entrances, promenades, and perimeter landscapes using colorful plantings, natural materials, trees, and water-wise design features. The updated landscape included more than 6,000 low-water-use plants, drip irrigation systems, mulch, boulders, and decomposed granite pathways designed to create a more sustainable and visually distinctive environment.
The irrigation system was also redesigned to improve efficiency, replacing large overhead spray systems with targeted drip irrigation that delivers water more directly to plants.
The project was initially expected to save between 6 million and 7 million gallons of water annually. Instead, the redesigned landscape demonstrated even greater savings—reducing water use by an estimated 8 million gallons per year and becoming the largest lawn conversion project completed through Roseville’s rebate program at the time.
The transformation reflected a broader shift happening across California as communities, businesses, and property owners adapt landscapes to changing conditions and plan for long-term water reliability. It also demonstrated how water-wise landscapes can support both sustainability and attractive public spaces.
Completed before statewide mandates began requiring many commercial properties to remove nonfunctional lawn, defined as purely decorative and not used for public gatherings, the project highlighted how local businesses could help lead efforts to reduce water demand while supporting a more resilient future.
Through programs like Cash for Grass, the City of Roseville continues partnering with customers to support projects that save water, modernize landscapes, and help prepare the region for the future.
