DUG is proud to support Denver’s West Area Plan to promote equity through greater community access to green space where individuals can grow fresh and healthy food for themselves and their families.
In March 2023, the Denver City Council unanimously passed the West Area Plan, led by Denver’s Neighborhood Planning Initiative. The focus of the plan is to improve the quality of life for community members in Denver’s West Area which is comprised of the Barnum, Barnum West, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, and West Colfax neighborhoods. This small area plan included a focus on increasing green amenities with the support of Denver Urban Gardens.
Denver Urban Gardens was proud to participate in the planning process and connect with local stakeholders to begin implementing future builds in accordance with the plan. Through this partnership, we aim to make Denver’s West Area the city’s “Garden District.” Currently, DUG supports five community gardens and food forests in the area and is committing to building six community gardens and nine food forests in Denver’s West Area through 2027.
Through this plan, DUG will implement the Dig Deeper Initiative (DDI) in West Denver neighborhoods to achieve various public health and environmental benefits, address environmental justice issues and achieve community health and sustainability. Specifically, the DDI will address the environmental problems of urban heat islands and air quality as well as support waste-wise practices. This initiative offers both short- and long-term impacts, including the effects of increased carbon sequestration capacity in these neighborhoods through regenerative agriculture practices and the food forest tree canopy.
The Barnum Orchard is DUG’s fullest manifestation of a Food Forest, built adjacent to DUG’s Lowell Street Community Garden. This space has a wide variety of perennial food-producing trees, bushes, and vines as well as a robust gathering space, active composting, and solar dehydrator. DUG also conducts significant programming and tree care education at the Barnum Orchard.
The culmination of community gardens, food forests, and therapeutic/sensory gardens all in one spot, Cedar Park Community Garden welcomes all to enjoy urban green space no matter their gardening experience or interest. A part of DUG’s West Area Plan new builds projects, Cedar Park is a collaborative effort with the neighborhood and church next door.
This garden sits within the Juanita Nolasco Residences, which is a Senior Section 8 property supporting low- and very low-income Denverites who are older than 65 and/or live with a disability.
This DUG community garden in Greeley, Colorado, sits within Section 202 housing which provides affordable housing and support services for low-income adults 62+. As Greeley’s median household income lower than the national average, access to fresh and healthy food is essential and allows gardening households to supplement their food with freshly-grown produce.
In partnership with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, the West Colfax Community Garden provides community members with access to community wellness and gardening resources. Located in North Denver, this site represents an expansion of DUG gardens beyond Denver proper.
This garden, within Denver’s Sun Valley neighborhood, operates in collaboration with the Denver Housing Authority. This partnership provides residents with access to low-cost and free growing space as well as support throughout the growing season to gain the skills to grow their own fresh and healthy food.
We are thankful for the support for DUG’s Dig Deeper Initiative from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Arbor Day Foundation.
