In January, Denver International Airport struck a deal with Parks and Recreation to have the department oversee 580 acres of open space -- almost 440 football fields -- on the airport's 53 square miles of land.
This is a massive expansion of the First Creek Open Space and the nearly 200 acres Parks and Rec was already overseeing. The area will be the largest swath of open space in the city ahead of City Park, Denver's largest municipal park.
The new open space includes rare historic prairie grasslands, two creeks and serves as a home to nesting bald eagles among other species.
The city's touting the environmental perks of maintaining the land as open space, from sequestering carbon, improving soil health, controlling erosion and noxious weeds to restoring prairie grassland.
The airport has a green vision.
"One of the guiding principles of Vision 100, our strategic plan, is to become the greenest airport in the world," said CEO Phil Washington, in a statement. "By utilizing Denver Parks and Recreation's knowledge and understanding of prairie grasslands, our airport is better equipped to sustainably enhance the nature and wildlife that exists on DEN property."
Ultimately, the airport hopes to use the compost it produces in reseeding efforts.
Multiuse trails will wind through the property.
Parks and Rec plans to use the land to connect the airport with the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and perhaps expand the refuge's bison herd into airport land. The trails will go through Montbello and Green Valley Ranch.
"Open space is so important for our well-being to recharge, exercise and experience the environmental benefits," said City Councilmember Stacie Gilmore. She represents District 11, where the project is taking place. "The significant expansion of the DEN at First Creek Open Space by approximately 380 acres, creates connections to our trail system and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge for communities that have been historically forgotten or excluded from the natural world."
