Denverites invited to plant green trees to help battle the pandemic blues
100’s of free and low-cost trees available               through Denver Digs Trees                                                            

DENVER, CO, February 2, 2021 – Denver nonprofit organization, The Park People, is making hundreds of low-cost and free trees available to Denver residents as part of its annual Denver Digs Trees program. Residents interested in planting a tree in their yard are invited to submit an application by March 1. For COVID-19 safety, approved applicants will receive their trees via contactless delivery.  

“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of our outdoor spaces. As we seek ways to overcome virus fatigue and isolation blues, many of us continue to turn to the outdoors as a welcome respite, whether in our own yards or our city’s many parks and open spaces,” says Kim Yuan-Farrell, The Park People Executive Director. “Planting a tree in your yard is a great way to cultivate nature at home and become a part of Denver's thriving urban forest.” 

How to Apply for a Low-Cost or Free Tree

• Between February 1 and March 1, Denver residents can apply online for a tree at theparkpeople.org/What-We-Do/Denver-Digs-Trees/Apply-for-Trees or call 303-722-6262 to request a paper application. 
• Tree applications are first-come, first-served, so residents are encouraged to apply early. 
• Trees are $10 for addresses in targeted, lower tree-canopy neighborhoods, and $35 in the rest of the city. Applicants facing financial hardship may request a 'Treeship' to receive free trees.

About the Trees and Planting Information

• Applicants can choose from 7 different varieties that will grow to different sizes. All choices are hardy, urban-tolerant, deciduous (leaf-dropping) trees that do well in Denver. 
• Applicants awarded trees receive and get to plant their trees in April. 
• Trees are a manageable size, and planting and care instructions as well as training are provided.
• Planting assistance is available to residents with physical limitations.
• All Denver residents, businesses, nonprofits, and schools are eligible to apply.

About The Park People

The Park People is a 52-year-old nonprofit organization that works with Denver communities to plant trees and improve parks for a healthy, resilient future. More than 60,000 trees have been planted in Denver through The Park People’s work. The 2021 Denver Digs Trees program is sponsored by The VF Foundation, Xcel Energy Foundation, Denver Parks and Recreation, Living Room Real Estate, AT&T, Arbor Day Foundation, and OZ Architecture. Learn more about The Park People’s programs as well as funding and partnership opportunities at TheParkPeople.org. 

We're matching requests for help shoveling snow from sidewalks for our Denver neighbors who are physically unable (addresses below) with volunteers from the same neighborhood.  Unfortunately we have no volunteers from your neighborhood in the Denver Snow Angels database.  If you would help identify and coordinate volunteers to shovel the sidewalks of the following Cherry Creek North residents, it would be a huge help!

3637 E. 6th Ave 

550 Milwaukee Street

301 Colorado Blvd

3625 e 5th ave, Denver 

For future storms, we'd love to have volunteers in Cherry Creek North who we can contact directly.  If you learn of any who would like to become a Denver Snow Angel volunteer, please have them complete a volunteer form at www.denvergov.org/snowangels

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you!

Perla Gheiler | Director on Aging
Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships | City and County of Denver
p: (720) 913-8456| Perla.Gheiler@Denvergov.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          March 10, 2021

Denver - With a significant snowfall event in the forecast for this weekend, the City and County of Denver is preparing to deploy its big plows to the main streets, its residential plows to the side streets, and heavy equipment, if needed, to move heavier accumulations of snow caused by drifting.

Crews operating the big plows will begin arriving at 10pm on Thursday, with all drivers on duty by midnight, and starting round the clock coverage through the weekend and into next week, as required.  The snowfall amounts being predicted will result in challenging travel conditions and will likely require several days of continuous plowing operations. We ask for the public’s patience.

The residential plow drivers are scheduled to work their first shift 3am to 3pm Friday and, as snow starts to accumulate, will take a single pass down the center of each side street. Note the small plows do not bring the street to bare pavement but can be helpful in creating a path to the main streets and preventing deep ice ruts. Additional shifts and passes by the residential plows are planned over the weekend with round the clock coverage. 

What We Ask of Residents

·       With significant snowfall amounts anticipated, we request that you please don’t drive if you don’t have to drive and give the plows plenty of space to operate.  

·       Park off-street if you have the option to give the plows additional room.

·       Help a neighbor: Residents are encouraged to help one another, especially neighbors who may not be able to shovel snow because of health issues. 

·       Seniors and others who need regular assistance can get help through the Snow Angel program. To learn more, visit www.denvergov.org/SnowAngels

Regarding On-Street Bike Lanes

During swift, heavy snowfalls, on-street bike lanes may become snow packed. These snowy/icy conditions may linger in the bike lane several days after the storm, particularly in shady locations. Call 311 or use Pocketgov.com to report problem areas. People on bikes should be prepared to ride in a shared lane condition during this snow event, utilizing the outermost lane available and may want to consider alternate transportation options based on health, ability, weather conditions and equipment.

Sidewalk Snow

To help keep our city’s walks safe and accessible, Denver residents and businesses are responsible for clearing snow and ice from public sidewalks and ADA ramps adjacent to their properties. Note: RTD only shovels bus stops that have a shelter. If there is a bus stop with a sign and no shelter, the resident or business is responsible for this sidewalk. Please do not shovel snow into a street or bike lane.

Commercial properties (including multi-family residential)

• Sidewalks adjacent to commercial properties (businesses and multi-family residential buildings) must be cleared within four hours, after snow has stopped falling. This includes adjacent ADA ramps and applicable bus stops.

Residential properties (single-family homes and duplexes)

• Sidewalks adjacent to residential properties must be cleared within 24 hours, after the snow has stopped falling. This includes adjacent ADA ramps and applicable bus stops.

Inspectors begin enforcement after snow has stopped falling. Anyone wishing to report an unshoveled sidewalk may do so via 3-1-1 or www.pocketgov.com.

Dear CCNNA Residents:

Be a great neighbor! Everyone enjoys safe, clear sidewalks – and it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep the sidewalks adjacent to their home or business clear and accessible. Shovel all sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, and bus stops around your home as soon as it's practical and safe. Businesses have 4 hours after the snow stops to shovel, and residents have 24 hours. (RTD only shovels bus stops that have a shelter. If it’s just a sign with no shelter, the resident/business is responsible for this sidewalk.) 

Show kindness and offer to help your neighbors if they aren't able to shovel! Neighbors helping neighbors is one of the things that makes Denver great. You can volunteer to be an official “snow angel” at denvergov.org/snowangels or just do a #NeighborCheck. There are all sorts of reasons why people may need assistance, or they may just not know what the city’s rules are for keeping sidewalks clear. A simple conversation with a neighbor or just lending that helping hand will almost always resolve a snowy sidewalk faster than the city can, and it will preserve city resources for the rest of Denver’s 3,000 miles of sidewalks.

Tips:

• Use the shovel to push the snow; don't lift it.
• Shovel early! When snow isn't shoveled, it gets packed down and becomes ice. Shoveling all the way to the pavement will also prevent ice from forming.
• Shovel into your yard, so the snow plow doesn't push it back onto your sidewalk.
• Shovel away from roadways and bike lanes, so plows don't push the snow back onto your sidewalks.  
• Salt can be damaging when it runs off into your lawn or the storm sewer with the snowmelt. Look for ecofriendly and pet-safe deicers. 
• Be proactive and come up with a plan for addressing sidewalks now, before it’s snowing.

Learn more at www.denvergov.org/Snow.