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Since 2018, The Park People has refined our approach to community greening. The Park People is partnering with community leaders, offering technical expertise and project facilitation for residents that want to engage in continued, sustained greening at the neighborhood scale. This approach begins by hirimg local contractors to build up neighborhood capacity to lead community greening projects. In this way, we connect local neighborhood organizations to resources, and provide the framework for continued, sustained greening projects. Although planting trees is by itself beneficial, the full potential of environmental, public health, and economic benefits of tree planting can be maximized by communities if they are leading the greening efforts. At the same time, because the great bulk of Denver’s potential locations for new trees are on private property, Denver cannot grow the urban forest it needs unless communities buy into the effort. In short, communities need trees, but trees need communities.

January 1, 2023

Lindsay Cutler

What if our storm drains occasionally dropped apples over our fences? In this post, we reveal the power of the whole - what our trees are doing for us individually at our homes and workplaces as well as their collective strength in helping to make Denver a cleaner, greener place to live and play.

David R. Hammond is a Class of 2022 Community Forester with The Park People. Community Forester cultivates knowledgeable, skilled volunteer city forest stewards through our five-part  workshop series. The series empowers residents to lead their own community greening projects in their neighborhood. The Park People is sharing David's thoughts on why he loves being a Community Forester and fellow Park Person. Read the article to hear his "why" and get more information about the workshop series. Registration opens in early 2023! We'd love to have you join us!

We sat down with Evon Lopez, community organizer, grandmother, student, hiker, tree lover aaand…The Park People’s new Community Connector to talk about her life, her work, her community, and her dreams. At 62, Evon is retired from a 25-year career working with the City and County of Denver as a Human Resource professional. She cares for her infant grandson full time while pursuing a masters degree in Human Resource Management and working tirelessly on behalf of Valverde residents. We asked Evon why she chose to take on the role of Community Connector when she’s already so busy. She responded: “I got into this because I saw it as a way to bring more trees into the Valverde Neighborhood, because I love and honor the people from this neighborhood with all my heart. Yet something has happened, and I don’t know how to describe it. It’s supernatural. I feel like somebody pushed a button in me. I think I’ve fallen for you, trees, The Park People magic. Perhaps I’m smitten, or is it bitten? Community Connectors are important because we teach each other. You teach me about trees and show me how to bring more people in. I speak the language of Valverde and that’s important for The Park People’s work to be successful there."

The Park People's mission to work with communities to plant trees and improve parks for a healthy, resilient future ensures that all Denver residents have access to the wonderful benefits of parks and trees. To accomplish this necessary and meaningful work, The Park People works with a diverse set of community groups. One of our programs, Mile High Tree Champions, engages local community members in a half-day of tree planting and/or park improvement projects. The Park People is so excited to host a Mile High Tree Champions event Saturday, September 17th at Columbine Homes, a Denver Housing Authority community.

Interesting in getting involved with Mile High Tree Champions? Fill out this form. Need more information? Contact Morgan Wolfe at morgan@TheParkPeople.org.