Denver Public Schools Sustainable Landscapes Manual

On a team led by Superbloom, Biohabitats assisted with ecological land-scape planning for the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Sustainable Landscapes project.

Biohabitats performed a desktop assessment of 30 Denver schools in relation to riparian areas and buffers, wetlands, 100-year floodplain, habitat connectivity, nearby parks, and heat severity. The assessment was used to identify three main types of sustainable landscape opportunities to demonstrate how city-wide evaluations inform priority school locations to: protect water resources, improve landscape connectivity, and mitigate heat severity. Biohabitats then assisted with the development of a Sustain-able Landscapes Manual that will serve as a comprehensive framework to help DPS transform monoculture lawns into resilient, long-lasting, water-smart schoolyards.

The Sustainable Landscapes Manual offers step-by-step instructions on how to choose and care for plants, improve soil, set up irrigation, and more. Biohabitats helped emphasize the importance of promoting biodiversity by connecting and expanding ecosystems and supporting diverse wildlife like bee and butterfly pollinators. The guide will assist with the creation and management of biodiverse campus landscapes that connect students to the ecology around them.

TAGS

• Analysis+Planning
• Climate Adaptation + Resilience