The Greenway Foundation
A cleaner, safer, more accessible river for all.
Ever biked along the South Platte River, picnicked in Confluence Park, attended a SPREE excursion or summer camp, or caught a trout in downtown Denver? 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:

I had the privilege of taking my group of first graders to Commons Park with SPREE. The students participated in 5 different visits and each visit had a different focus which tied into their Animal Adaptation unit. Students were engaged and got so much out of each visit! The staff was incredibly intentional in their approach and made these visits so hands on and enjoyable. Students loved being able to deepen their learning through the use of the South Platte and all Denver’s parks have to offer. Hearing students applying what they learned in SPREE to their learning back at school was incredible and all thanks to their remarkable staff. The staff is passionate about providing students with meaningful learning experiences!

SPREE is my favorite camp. It’s why I come here every time I can!

I started working for The Greenway Foundation my junior year in high school as a River Ranger and went through the program two years in a row. However, I knew about SPREE way before that. My older brother actually worked for SPREE a couple of years before me. I remember seeing him come home from work with bead animals and waking up the next day with so much excitement. Call it sibling jealousy, but I craved that excitement, so when I got the chance to work with SPREE, I took it. Although it started with me wanting bead animals, it ended up showing me how passionate I am about the environment and making a change.
I always thought I would go into psychology, but when I started taking classes in college I quickly realized that psychology is not my passion. You can imagine the joy I felt when Julianne offered me to come back for a third year working as a seasonal educator this time. It was then when I realized I had gotten the opportunity to do what I am truly passionate about. The River Ranger program really helped me find a passion for the outdoors and make a change one camper at a time.

Denver Department of Public Health & Environmen is a proud sponsor of the Clean Water Challenge. It has proven to be a great learning experience for both professionals working in water quality and students interested in the field. The challenge exposes students to real-world problems that water quality professionals deal with on a regular basis. Participants come with fresh perspectives leading to interesting, and sometimes unexpected, but practical solutions to challenging water quality problems.

Participating in the Clean Water Challenge as a student was an interesting project that presented a lot of unusual challenges. As designers we want to make beautiful things, but creating something that cleans up trash efficiently while not marring the beautiful Colorado landscape was a unique experience. Of course, winning the design challenge with Nautilus was incredibly rewarding on its own, but getting to see your idea come to life and function as intended in the real world is quite remarkable.

I loved volunteering with The Greenway Foundation for Washington University in St. Louis’s day of service. It gave me a chance to meet members in the community that also care about our waterways. You can share all the memes, articles, and long winded diatribes online or you can roll up your sleeves, put on some gloves, and actively work to make a difference. This made me feel more connected and inspired to join as a FRoG (Friend of Greenway) to continue to support this great cause.
