On June 15 Congress Park joined the growing ranks of Denver’s Sustainable Neighborhoods Program, and the time to decide what projects to pursue is drawing near.
Congress Park Neighbors’ Green Team (CPNGT) Committee co-leader Liz Goehring (CPN’s Becky Coughlin is the other lead) says everyone at Congress Park Neighbors is as much excited about the news as they are eager to see what projects the neighborhood wants to pursue first.
“This is a community-driven program, so it’s up to all of us,” Goehring says.
Goehring says the City’s program provides a lot of structure, but for now communication is the first order of business.
“The Congress Park Green Team really just formed this year,” she says, “and it’s obvious there’s a lot of interest in these efforts. We have over 120 neighbors subscribing to our eNewsletter already. I talk to neighbors while walking my dog, and I’m always running into people who have their own specific “green” interests. This is a way we can organize around these interests.”
When asked what she thinks Congress Park would get out of this program, Goehring cites four things: improved environmental stewardship, enhanced neighborhood livability and resiliency, more green commerce and strengthened community bonds.
So far there are 10 neighborhoods enrolled, according to Denver’s Department of Environmental Health website.
Congress Park will initially focus on the following initiatives:
- Creating an inventory of the neighborhood’s green assets, such as community gardens, food producing trees, solar installations, Certifiably Green Denver businesses, and more, and then to raise awareness in the neighborhood of these assets.
- Promoting sustainable landscaping by providing education around water conservation, rain barrels, pollinator-friendly practices and food gardens.
- Increasing participation in Denver’s recycling and compost collection programs.
- Improving home energy efficiency by promoting energy conservation and alternative energy sources (e.g., solar, wind) through workshops and the creation of a local resource guide.
Participating neighborhoods earn credits for meeting green goals they set in conjunction with the city. Projects can include such things as offering xeriscaping workshops, holding community garden work days and encouraging neighborhood energy efficiency.
Neighborhoods earning 100 credits in a program year qualify for Outstanding Sustainable Neighborhood status. 70 credits earns Participating Neighborhood status.
CPNGT brainstormed project ideas at a kickoff party on Aug. 11. On Aug. 27, Denver Sustainable Neighborhoods Program Coordinator Taylor Moellers met with CPN to vet their ideas and help plan a course of action.
LIFE will continue to cover CPN’s efforts as they develop.
“This is just the beginning,” Goehring says. “Sustainability is a long-term concept, and this is a start on a great path.”
For more information on the Sustainable Neighborhoods Program, visit denvergov.org and search “sustainable neighborhoods” for information the Denver Sustainable Neighborhoods Program. To learn more about Congress Park Neighbors and their Sustainable Neighborhood efforts, visit congressparkneighbors.org.
