Randall Park is one of Wheat Ridge’s oldest and most historic parks. Constructed between 1952 and 1954, it is the second-oldest park in the City’s park system and has served generations of residents for more than 70 years. Located near 43rd Avenue and Fenton Street, the approximately 5-acre park sits along the Wheat Ridge and
Happy June, nature lovers. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut, here. I guess I should not be so presumptive as to assume that everyone reading this is a nature lover, but I can hope. Coming off May—the best month, in my opinion, to view the wonders of nature—we slide into June, the month that carries forward
Happy May, my nature-loving friends. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut, here. Five months into the new year—wasn’t it just Christmas? For a bird lover such as I, May is the closest you can get to bird-watching heaven. With many migrating birds having already returned in April, May is the frosting on the cake. Tanagers, warblers,
Happy April, my nature-loving friends, and welcome to spring. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut, here. I often struggle to come up with a subject over the winter months, but for April the opposite is true. Nature wakes up, the celebration is on—it’s time to party. It is an incredible month to get outdoors. Birds are
Happy March, my nature-loving friends. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut, here. Coming off February—one of my least favorite months—we zoom into March, one of my favorites of the year. In a typical year, we leave behind the frigid, snow-laden days and begin to feel hints of springtime. This winter has been as dry as I
Happy February my nature loving friends. Ken Hall here, aka Bird Nut. Being asked to help out my friends at the Neighborhood Gazette by sharing short articles about my passion for nature can be tough when it comes to finding subject matter for one of my least favorite months of the year. I usually continue
Happy January my nature loving friends. January and February are tough months for many, as it used to be for me. But since being handed a camera and a warm coat I have come to realize it’s a very magical time to be outdoors. We are lucky to live in Colorado where seasonal changes are
The Wheat Ridge City Council has adopted the Parks and Recreation Pathway, a new 10-year master plan that will guide investments, programs, and facilities through 2035. The plan replaces the 2015 Parks and Recreation Master Plan and was developed through an 18-month process shaped by thousands of community voices. The Pathway captures the community’s vision
This month we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate the end of 2025. And we welcome a hopefully healthy and prosperous 2026. It is a time of bright lights, beautiful music, wonderful family time, crazy good food, and of course delectable sweet treats. And high on most peoples lists
Happy November nature lovers. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut here. Autumn is a time of fashion changes. If you’re an experienced birder the bright colors of summer are shoved to the back of the t-shirt drawer. Dingy weathered, flannel shirts and coffee-stained shredded jackets make their appearance. If you’re new to birding and have to
Happy October, my nature-loving friends. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut, here. Using the words of a famous Bob Dylan song for my heading—but not for the same purpose—I leave politics and protests to someone else. October is an amazing time of change in nature, much like March: in like a lion, out like a lamb.
Happy September, my nature-loving friends. Ken Hall here—aka, Bird Nut. September is one of my two favorite months of the year, the other being April. One is four months into the new year; the other is four months from its close. One announces the season of renewal, the other a season of rest. September 22nd
For more than six decades, Cub Scout Pack 240 has been shaping young lives right here in our Wheat Ridge community. Since 1957, when the Wheat Ridge Kiwanis Club first chartered the pack, hundreds of local children have discovered courage, made lifelong friendships, and learned what it means to “do their best.” Today, Pack Leaders
Happy August my nature loving friends. Had but a couple hours of wandering time with my Sis before the heat became uncomfortable last Friday. Thought I’d take you on a slow motion step by step of what can be enjoyed in that two hours. As I’ve mentioned before, birding is but an excuse to get
Happy July my nature loving friends. Ken Hall aka Bird Nut here… The title of this article is a question that will get a bit of a frown from this old guy. Some will say birding is just not for them. Well my response is, it should be. One of my greatest regrets is that
Happy June my nature loving friends. Ken Hall aka Bird Nerd here. As a bird nerd, June is the last of my favorite three months of the year. It is the culmination of watching the orchestration of life over the previous two months. As the trees began to bloom so did the drive of our
Quite often, I like to discuss what has become the greatest game changer for me as it pertains to gardening successfully in Colorado; and that is mulching. 10 years ago, I adopted deep mulching methods in my permaculture landscape, and have been blown away at just how beneficial it has been. Here are just a
Happy May my nature loving friends. Ken Hall, aka the bird nerd here. This month I’m going to introduce you to a fairly common, rarely seen little bird; a Snipe. Technical name, Wilson’s Snipe. But since I have no idea who Wilson is, and knowing this little one has been around longer than Wilson, I
Anderson Pool is more than just a place to swim in the City of Wheat Ridge. Since 1979, it’s been a community hub where families gather, kids learn to swim, and friends meet up to enjoy the outdoors during the summer weather. The community pool welcomes an average of 25,000 visitors each year. In 2008,
March, what a wonderful month. Glimpses of spring. Yet winter does not wish to let go. Many of our spring and summer birds will be returning. As well as many of our winter guests will be departing. I want to introduce you to a fascinating little water bird that stays with us year around, quite
As I write this article, the weather outside reflects the extreme cold of the Rocky Mountain West. And while our gardens are “dead” and dormant, I’ve learned that this is the best time for pruning and restructuring. I am not only referring to fruit trees, but our gardens as a whole. In fact, we can
Hello, and happy February nature lovers. Ken Hall aka Bird Nut here. I just finished a fascinating, well written book called Mozart’s Starling, writteBy Lyanda Lynn Haupt. It brought me back to a frequently seen bird, and considered the villain of the bird world. The European Starling. There is no middle ground with these birds.
Welcome to December nature lovers. Ken Hall, aka Bird Nut, aka Nature Nut, here. On an almost weekly wander last week with my sister along the greenbelt, I was going through the many positives of a certain plant seen there. I’m speaking of Rabbit Brush. A commonly seen, native plant in Colorado. Wheat Ridge Parks
For many of us in developed countries, such as the United States, food security is a non-issue. Grocery stores, restaurants, and even local farms are common sights, and often easily accessible. Even during a global crisis, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, I heard more people express concern over the dwindling supply of toilet paper
