Greeley is moving forward with a huge natural area on the west side of town – Greeley Tribune

Nature lovers in Greeley have reason to celebrate, especially in west Greeley, as rare wildlife may soon be found in their own backyards.

The city’s Department of Culture, Parks and Recreation presented an update to the Greeley City Council on Tuesday about the acquisition of 978 acres of open space, the largest tract east of Interstate 25.

With grant support from Great Outdoors Colorado and in cooperation with the Trust for Public Lands, the city purchased what was known as the ShurView property near Missile Site Park in northwest Greeley in April 2022 for $8.5 million. The city has been trying to buy the property for 20 years.

Greeley put up $5.5 million of the total cost, using revenue from the city’s quality of life tax. The balance came from Great Outdoors Colorado, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the City of Windsor and the North American Wetland Conservation Act Foundation.

After the open space was acquired, the Department of Culture, Parks and Recreation began working to establish the area as a biodiversity hub, wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation area.

The open space is home to a total of 91 different animal species and 168 different plant species, some of which are very rare to this area of ​​Colorado, such as the American bumblebee and the bald eagle. There is also a plant called milkweed, which has not been seen in Weld County since 1833.

The Parks and Recreation Board chose the name “Arroyos del Sol” for the space after sorting through nearly 90 name proposals received between the start of the project in 2022-2023. The name refers to the area’s natural features, as well as the city’s Hispanic and Latino communities. The official name will be announced at a later date after the board makes a formal recommendation to the City Council.

The city will develop the open space in phases over the next few years. The area will have bike lanes, bike lanes and multimodal transportation. In total, the city expects the project to cost somewhere between $22 million and $33.5 million through private contributions, as well as state and federal grant funding.

While the project and the vision presented to the council received unanimous support, Councilwoman Deb Debutez raised concerns about other nearby developments and the proposed widening of the road.

The land consists of approximately 600 acres east of Colorado 257 and approximately 400 acres west of it, bounded on the north by the Poudre River. Part of it apparently blocked the extension of 4th Street west toward the highway, and the space is also very close to land on which Martin Lind of Windsor has proposed an entertainment district that could include ice rinks, a water park, a hotel and commercial space . development

“I think there will have to be some conversations,” City Manager Raymond C. Lee III said. “There may also be an opportunity to exchange land.”

To do this, the city will try to include land that developers may own in neighboring lots so that open space can maintain its size and projects can proceed as intended.

“I think this project will challenge how we look at outer space in the west collectively and how we incorporate that into development,” Lee said.

According to the plan, “700 acres of shortgrass prairie and arroyos will be enhanced and protected as high-quality habitat critical to declining species, including burrowing owls, white hawks, mountain plovers, chestnut-collared and long-billed chickadees.

“Arroyo habitat will be enhanced and protected as high-quality habitat and wildlife corridors for mammals, birds and reptiles. Eleven acres of wetlands and riparian floodplain will be enhanced and protected as a high-quality habitat and wildlife corridor, contributing to the ecological health and sustainability of the region. Over 500 acres of black-tailed prairie dog habitat will be monitored and protected.”

— BizWest reporter Sharon Dunn contributed to this report.

Originally published: October 25, 2024 at 4:41 p.m