Transfort and CDNS Nature in the City xeriscaping Project
Follow along as we transform two areas on the Downtown Transit Center's campus! Utilizing a generous grant from Nature in the City and rebates from Utilities Water Conservation and XIP our project team is working to refresh the garden surrounding Annie the Railroad Dog's grave and transitioning the existing stormwater basin to a low water use, prairie meadow garden featuring native plants and grasses that are pollinator friendly!
Annie's Grave and Garden, May 2025
Annie's Gravestone
DTC Stormwater Basin May 2025
DTC Stormwater Basin, May 2025
Annie's Grave and Garden, May 2025
Annie's Gravestone
DTC Stormwater Basin May 2025
DTC Stormwater Basin, May 2025
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Project Description#
Project Description: Utilizing grants from the City’s Nature in the City and Xeriscape Incentive Program (XIP), Transfort is working with CDNS/Planning to restore two areas of the Downtown Transit Center; the garden around Annie the Railroad Dog’s historic grave and the stormwater detention basin. The goal of both projects is to reduce overall water usage, demonstrate various methods for installing native and naturalistic plant palates, and to showcase how underutilized areas can be restored using native, low-water use species.
Annie's Grave Garden
- City crews removed the non-historic cement
- Converted the existing spray heads to a low-water use drip irrigation system
- In Fall 2025, will be planted with native, pollinator-friendly plants that need very little water
- The plaque with information on Annie's Grave will be relocated to a pedestrian facing location along the western sidewalk
DTC Stormwater Basin
- City Forestry crews installed three new trees with dedicated drip irrigation
- New sprinkler heads will replace the old rotor heads to reduce water usage for the rest of the basin
- Work will begin in late August to spray off the existing turfgrass so that the area can be reseeded with native, prairie seed mixes designed to support wildlife and pollinator species
- Later this fall, live plants will also be installed in the basin to enhance visual interest
- Permanent, educational signage will explain the restoration process and the environmental and water conservation measures that were incorporated
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January 2025#
Nature in the City Grant Awarded
April-June 2025#
Project planning and design
July-August 2025#
Final design completed. Water conservation grant awarded.
September 2025#
Garden plants will be installed. Select live plants will also be planted in the basin prior to seeding.
October 2025#
The stormwater basin will be seeded with native plant seeds. Seeding in October allows the seeds to establish before winter.
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Project Plant List#
Coming Soon!
Annie the Railroad Dog#
Picture courtesy of Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
In 1934, a heartwarming story began in Timnath, where Colorado & Southern (C&S) Railway crew members discovered a sick, pregnant, dog shivering in a blacksmith shop. They brought her to the freight depot (now known as the Downtown Transit Center), nursed her back to health, and named her Annie.
The crew members found homes for her puppies and for 14 years, Annie was a cherished mascot, bringing joy to everyone who knew her.
When she passed in 1948, brakeman Christopher Demuth, built a monument to honor her memory. The monument stands today by the bus bays at the transit center and a statue of Annie sits outside the Old Town Library.
In 2005, a mayoral proclamation declared August 27 as Annie the Railroad Dog Day, a testament to the love and dedication she inspired in those who knew her.
Why is the grass in the basin brown?#
We purposely stopped watering the grass in August, knowing that at the end of the month, herbicide would be applied to kill off the grass prior to seeding efforts in October. The dead grass is left in place to help protect the new seeds and reduce erosion. In the spring, the seeds will start to grow, and the area will begin to change into a native prairie and pollinator habitat!
Why was herbicide used to kill the grass?#
For a project of this size, chemical herbicide application made the most sense for budget, project timeline, and future success.
What herbicide is being used?#
The application of herbicides is a highly regulated activity and our contractor, Auciello Applicators, LLC is licensed through the Colorado Department of Agriculture. They will follow all laws and regulations during the herbicide application. There will be an initial treatment in late August and then a follow-up treatment about 3 weeks later. The herbicide will not be sprayed in the critical root zone of the existing trees in the basin.
Licensed Applicator: Auciello Applicators, LLC
Spraying Scheduled: August 21 and Sept. 4 (estimated). Spraying schedule is dependent on weather.
Site Sprayed: Stormwater basin at the Downtown Transit Center; the corner of Maple Street & Mason Street.
Trade/Common Name of Herbicide: Ranger Pro
Active Ingredients in Herbicide: Glyphosate (EPA Reg.# 524-517), Locktite Surfactant, Hi light Blue dye (for indicating what has ben sprayed)
To Control: Unwanted grass and weeds
Is Annie's Grave a Historic Resource?#
Yes! Both the grave itself and the headstone are listed local historic resources, therefore they were not disturbed during this project. The garden around the grave site is not considered a historic resource, but the City's Historic Preservation Department advised the project team throughout design and construction to ensure that the grave would not be disturbed.