A More Resilient Future

The final episode of It’s In Denver’s Nature features the urban forest and the many benefits it provides to the city’s environment—storm water management and slowing down rainfall runoff, combatting urban heat island by cooling air temperature, reducing air pollution, and adding beauty to our community along with economic value. Joined by Denver’s City Forester, The Park People, and Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency, this episode also covers the history of Denver’s urban forest and how it was established by the city’s early settlers and leaders who brought trees from other areas to create shade in our prairie landscape. As we look toward the future, trees will continue to be an important supporter of our physical health and mental wellbeing; and are a key tool in nature-based solutions that mitigate climate vulnerabilities in Denver including air quality, drought, flood, extreme weather, and heat. The group also discusses data sources, technology, and management strategies, including leveraging partnerships to plant trees and educate the community on how they can contribute to growing and protecting the urban forest.

Episode 6 of the “It’s In Denver’s Nature” podcast covers habitat protection and Denver Parks and Recreation’s numerous efforts to create healthy ecosystems throughout the urban and mountain park systems. DPR’s Assistant Director of Urban Ecology is joined by the department’s Open Space Operations Supervisor and Education and Wildlife Program Manager along with an Assistant Professor at CSU specializing in pollinator conservation to discuss the importance of biodiversity and native landscapes. The City and County of Denver actively stewards 6,000+ acres of parkland, more than half of which is open space and natural areas ranging from waterways to large expanses of restored prairie. Watch and learn about the many different species of urban wildlife that call Denver parks home, and how these habitats are beneficial to the humans that recreate in them.

In Episode 5, Denver Parks and Recreation’s new Executive Director, Jolon Clark, joins the department’s Education & Outreach Coordinator and Assistant Director of Urban Ecology & Trails to discuss the importance of access to programs that engage people of all ages in the natural environment around them.   DPR strives to provide meaningful experiences that foster a sense of ownership and love for our shared public spaces. In partnership with numerous organizations and individuals, DPR offers training grounds for the next generation of caretakers through volunteer projects and workforce development.     In the second part of the episode, we hear from the Denver Parks Green Corps and Groundwork Denver on how projects in historically underserved neighborhoods are connecting youth and other community members with employment and education opportunities.  

The fourth episode of ‘It’s In Denver’s Nature’ is about landscape transformation and why embracing native and other low-water vegetation is imperative to the resilience of our city. In this episode, Denver Community Media member Dom Francois and Russ Sands, Section Chief of the Colorado Water Conservation Board join Denver Parks and Recreation’s Urban Ecology Supervisor and Asst. Director of Urban Ecology and Trails. The group discusses the Colorado Water Plan and how climate change and population growth increase the state’s water demands and the importance of maximizing the ecosystem benefits through climate-appropriate landscapes.

In episode three of ‘It’s In Denver’s Nature’ the Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) Resiliency team is joined by DPR Water Conservation Manger, Demian Wetzel, and Denver Water’s Manager of Demand Planning and Efficiency, Greg Fisher. They discuss water demands and resources in our region, and the importance conservation. With 3,250 acres of irrigated parkland that uses 2 billion gallons of water annually, DPR partners with Denver Water to optimize use of sustainable water sources and save potable water for people. 

Episode two of It’s In Denver’s Nature features special guests Tina Bishop and Bill Wenk. Bishop and Wenk are Denver-based landscape architects who have collaborated with Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) on numerous projects. Joined by DPR’s Gordon Robertson and Cincere Eades, the team dives into the history of Denver Parks beginning in the 19th century when early city leaders sought to make Denver a more livable place by creating a robust system of green space. More than 100 years later, park design is impacted by new challenges including climate change—listen in and discover how parks planning, design and construction has evolved to anticipate the future needs of our city.

In episode one of ‘It’s In Denver’s Nature’, DPR’s Resilience program is introduced by Director of Parks Planning, Design & Construction, Gordon Robertson and Assistant Director of Urban Ecology, Cincere Eades. They cover Denver Parks and Recreation’s environmental priorities, operational strategies, and how they came to be through the community’s involvement in developing the department’s long-term strategic plan, Game Plan for a Healthy City.