Reconnecting to Nature: Sand Creek and Bluff Lake

“We need acts of restoration, not only for polluted waters and degraded lands, but also for our relationship to the world. We need to restore honor to the way we live, so that when we walk through the world we don’t have to avert our eyes with shame, so that we can hold our heads up high and receive the respectful acknowledgment of the rest of the earth’s beings.”

― Robin Wall Kimmerer,   Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants 

As a part of my capstone (CU Denver, College of Architecture and Planning), I conducted a case study analysis to highlight how the Regional Conservation Assessment can assist partner organizations in advocating for their local initiatives. I connected with the Bluff Lake Nature Center (BLNC) and the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership (SCRGP), who share initiatives to increase equitable and safe access to the natural resources that Bluff Lake and Sand Creek provide to their neighboring communities.

My analysis involved the following:

1. Map the relationship of Core Habitat Patches to the Montbello target population
2. Analyze barriers and challenges to having access to these Core Habitat Patches through GIS analysis, conversations with partners, and onsite surveys
3. Create graphics that highlight interventions in order to assist Bluff Lake Nature Center and the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership in their grant-funding opportunities, advocacy, and public-facing programming

Bluff Lake Nature Center and the Sand Creek Regional Greenway have an evolving list of initiatives. Reach out to hear more about their projects or share your local knowledge.

The Metro Denver Nature Alliance (Metro DNA) is a growing coalition of non-profit, government, research, and private sector members seeking to align nature-based efforts to ensure more equitable access to nature and to promote healthy people, communities, and natural places.