The Greenway Foundation
A passionate voice for the South Platte River since 1974.
Ever caught a trout in the South Platte, picnicked in Confluence Park, attended SPREE summer camp, or biked along our Colorado waterways? Then you know The Greenway Foundation’s work.
Allow us to introduce ourselves.
We are a group of passionate stewards who care for the South Platte River and its tributaries, and for the people who live, work, and play along its banks.
Hear More from our Partners and Supporters:
Creating moments. Moments that create memories leading to generational momentum around the importance of water and our South Platte River. This is what The Greenway Foundation and their South Platte River Environmental Education (SPREE) provide to the residents of Denver. From overnight camping, to s’mores, to SPREE summer day camps, I have had so many great moments and memories along the South Platte River with my daughter. A truly special thanks to The Greenway Foundation, as well as Denver’s Department of Parks and Recreation, for continuing to champion and improve both the resiliency and the recreation along our beloved South Platte River.
I have worked hand-in-hand with the Greenway Foundation for over 15 years to advocate, dream, vision, plan, design and construct improvements to the South Platte River in Denver. We didn’t have two nickels to rub together when we began, but we had the passion, history and expertise of this non-profit that never takes “no” for an answer and now we have invested nearly $100 million in river improvements and we were just awarded $350 million in federal funding to complete the restoration of Denver’s greatest natural resource. Amazing! Thank you Greenway Foundation.
As a third generation Denverite, I am proud to support The Greenway Foundation’s success in returning the South Platte to something we can be proud of. While TGF’s impact on Denver and her surrounding communities is immeasurable, the work is far from over. Their continued efforts toward science education and green initiatives make them an essential partner to the success of our city.
Today, our river is much healthier because of the work of The Greenway Foundation. In particular, I work closely with TGF’s education wing – South Platte River Environmental Education (SPREE). SPREE helps the City and County of Denver mightily with our stormwater education and outreach requirements, obligations rooted in the Clean Water Act.
Each year, SPREE delivers lessons about water quality to about 10,000 students. These young people learn the how and why of sustainable water behaviors. This impacts their environmental behaviors now and into the future. They share what they learn with their families and friends. I love working with SPREE because of these positive, lasting results. Among Colorado environmental education programs, I know of none better than SPREE.
Successful partnerships are about leveraging each other’s strengths to reach a shared vision. A great visionary established both TGF and MHFD, Joe Shoemaker, to complement each other in making our communities safer and stronger through engaging our waterways. TGF brings passion, awareness, and stakeholders to the table while MHFD works directly with local governments on management and implementation. Together we are able to accomplish holistic solutions that revitalize rivers and reconnect communities to protect people, property, and our environment.
USACE works in partnership with other federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions to find innovative solutions to challenges that affect everyone – sustainability, climate change, endangered species, environmental cleanup, ecosystem restoration and more. The Greenway Foundation has been one such stakeholder who has assisted our projects’ public processes to engage in important advances for a sustainable water future for Colorado.