NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORY & GARDEN WALK
The mission of the Neighborhood History and Garden Walk is threefold:
To build community by encouraging our neighbors to leave their homes and engage with others. We believe making personal connections is one of the most important ways for people to feel safe in challenging times.
To inspire the creation of healthy gardens, using pollinator, water-wise, native, and heirloom plants, which do not require toxic chemicals, need less water to thrive, and support urban wildlife.
To introduce residents and visitors to the stories of our neighborhood and the biographies of the people who have lived here. We teach them how to research the histories of their homes and businesses and share the information in displays, turning our community into an outdoor museum for the day of the walk.
The Walk
The annual walk is usually held on the first Saturday in September after the Labor Day weekend from 10 am to 4 pm. Currently it begins at the northwest corner of Virginia and Dakota, where visitors can begin their journey. They can pick up maps (which are also available online) and touch base with experts in local history and gardening. It's a free family- friendly event, open to everyone. No tickets are required.
The host sites include the healthy gardens and the homes and businesses that display their histories.
The Partners
Before and during the walk we partner with other organizations. Currently they include:
The History Club of Washington Park Area Neighbors (HCWPAN), an informal group of history lovers who get together every month online to share, learn, research, and explore the landscape of old Denver together. They supply free webinars and training programs regarding historical research. They are a project of the Lincoln Street Community - L/BCRNO.
Volunteers from the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who, on the day of the walk, offer free advice regarding historical and genealogical research.
Volunteers Colorado Master Gardeners from the CSU Denver Extension Horticulture Program, on the day of the walk, offers gardening advice to visitors. The program provides outreach & engagement in all areas of environmental horticulture to the Denver community.
The Washington Park Pollinator Corridor will provide free wildflowers and sign visitors up for the corridor. It is a collaborative partnership of the Friends And Neighbors (FANS) of Washington Park with the People and Pollinators Action Network, Washington Park East Neighborhood Association, West Washington Park Neighborhood Association, SummerHome Garden, and Oasis.
Denver Urban Gardens is a mission to increase the access, skills, and resources needed to grow food in community and regenerate urban green spaces. They are cultivating a sustainable urban future for metro Denver where people are connected to the earth, each other, and the food they eat.
