Imagine stepping outside on a Saturday morning to join your neighbors in planting a pollinator garden, organizing a neighborhood cleanup, or sharing ideas over coffee about how to make your corner of Edgewater a little greener and more connected. These kinds of small, locally led efforts don’t just improve a neighborhood—they strengthen the relationships that make a community thrive.
Edgewater has never been a community that waits for someone else to make things better. Whether it’s supporting local businesses, caring for our parks, or lending a hand to a neighbor, residents have long demonstrated that some of the City’s greatest strengths come from the people who call it home.
That same community spirit has helped establish Edgewater as a leader in sustainability. Through the adoption of its Sustainability Plan, Energy Action Plan, and Electric Vehicle Action Plan, the City has laid out an ambitious vision for reducing environmental impacts, improving quality of life, and building a healthier, more resilient community. The Sustainable Neighborhoods Program represents the next chapter in that journey—creating opportunities for residents to help bring those community goals to life in ways that reflect their interests, creativity, and priorities.
Edgewater is proud to join the Sustainable Neighborhoods Network (SNN), a nationally recognized program that empowers residents to work together on sustainability projects tailored to their local needs and goals. The Network draws on years of experience helping communities transform local ideas into lasting improvements through a proven framework, practical resources, and shared expertise.
While many of today’s environmental challenges can feel global in scale, meaningful progress often begins close to home. The City’s new Sustainable Neighborhoods Program puts residents in the driver’s seat. The program empowers community members to identify opportunities they care about most and work together to make them happen. Whether it’s hosting an energy-saving workshop, planting trees, or creating a community composting initiative, each group decides what projects will make the greatest difference where they live.
Because Edgewater does not have officially designated neighborhoods, the City has divided the community into four geographic quadrants for the purposes of the program. Residents living within each quadrant can form a Sustainable Neighborhood group through a simple application process, and City staff will provide guidance and support as groups begin organizing and planning their first projects.
Participation is free and open to everyone. No prior sustainability experience is needed. Whether you’re a longtime resident, new to the community, a student, a retiree, or simply someone who enjoys meeting people and making a positive difference, the program welcomes participants of all backgrounds, abilities, and experience levels.
As groups complete projects and participate in educational activities, they earn credits toward formal recognition through the program. Groups that reach established milestones can receive a Sustainable Neighborhood designation, recognizing their commitment to making Edgewater more connected, resilient, and sustainable.
The projects themselves are only part of the story. Much of the impact comes from the conversations that happen while planting a garden, picking up litter, or planning the next community gathering. It’s getting to know the people who live nearby, discovering shared interests, and creating a stronger sense of belonging. Over time, those small moments help build communities that are not only more sustainable, but also more connected, resilient, and welcoming.
Every thriving community begins with someone who decides to take the first step. Whether you have an idea for a project, want to meet others who share your interest in sustainability, or are simply curious about the program, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Edgewater’s Sustainability Coordinator at [email protected] or (720) 763-3052 to express your interest, ask questions, or learn how you can get involved. Additional information is available at https://www.edgewaterco.gov/living-here/sustainability/sustainable-neighborhoods-program.
The next Saturday morning conversation about pollinator gardens or neighborhood cleanups could be the beginning of something that leaves a lasting mark on Edgewater. We hope you’ll be part of it.
