"A River Runs Through It"

This upcoming weekend, staff at the Center for Outdoor Ethics will be participating in several different events to promote Earth Day.

One such event that I'll be attending is the 2nd annual S. Platte River Clean Up presented by Down River Equipment, Confluence Kayaks, and KEEN. 

The South Platte runs through Denver and development along the downtown portion has grown significantly since I was a kid. However, the City of Denver has made great strides in setting aside green space and preserving historic architecture as this development occurred.

In addition to the flagship REI store being centrally located here, there are old warehouses turned into urban living spaces, a community dog park, outdoor concert space, a skate park and bike/pedestrian trails.

On any given weekend day in the Spring/Summer, you will witness people running, biking, walking their dogs, kayaking, and on especially hot days, families splashing around in the water at Confluence Park. 

The space is a real cross-section of culture and has something for just about everybody, regardless of age or outdoor interest. 

Earth Day celebrations such as this are an example of how we can still strive to maintain the ecological integrity of our urban recreational lands, as well as our backcountry ones.

For more information, visit the South Platte River Initiative.