Children from the Bluff Lake Forest School and Outdoor Explorers Homeschool Program “officially” break ground at the start of the building phase at Bluff Lake Nature Center.

On a blue-sky day with the backdrop of the snow-covered mountains and the Denver skyline, children from programs at the center with hard hats and shovels welcomed the start of the next phase of the Bluff Lake Nature Center (BLNC).

The crowd at today’s official groundbreaking for the $8.5 million campus improvement project heard from center leaders and donors who made the start of the project possible.

“All of us are here today because we love this space and this organization and truly believe that this project provides us an opportunity to be even better stewards of this land,” said Rachel Hutchens, executive director of BLNC. “This new space will make Bluff Lake more accessible, less logistically challenging for families and groups, and will truly bring our team on site in a way we’ve never had before.”

Steve Scribner, from Shape Architecture, speaks to the crowd about the project.

The 123-acre wildlife refuge, located at 11255 E. MLK Jr. Blvd., is adjacent to the site of the former Stapleton Airport and has seen the numbers of visitors grow as development in the area has increased. BLNC saw 100,000 visitors in 2024 during its 30th anniversary year.

The improvements are meant to improve community access with a welcoming space, multi-use classrooms, and headquarters for the BLNC team, which currently works a few miles away. An accessible ramp trail leading to the site will also be added.

BLNC board president Jared Luner is now looking toward the future. He says, “Breaking ground on the building that is going to be here, serving our community, long beyond when any of us are here as part of this organization. This is an important step, for Bluff Lake, in serving our community and in bringing people into the outdoors in their own community.”

Kids from the BLNC programs watch the groundbreaking event from atop the nature’s play hawk’s nest on site.

Community members and big donors have helped get the project where it is today, but there’s still more money to raise. BLNC has a goal of 1,000 donors which will help bring in matching funds. So far, more than $7 million of the $8.5 million goal has been raised through families, organizations, and community members.

Access for visitors who use the area will change as of March 17th when the main entrance and parking lot will close for the construction project. A new pedestrian entrance will be located on the northwest side of the site across from the Florence Way crosswalk. A temporary pedestrian entrance will be located between Iola St. and Kingston St. on MLK Jr. Blvd.

City Councilwoman Shontel Lewis gets a “birds eye” view of Bluff Lake Nature Center.

BLNC will be posting updates on social media and in Front Porch during construction.

Pro tip: There’s a pair of bald eagles on the north side of lake. It’s worth a visit to BLNC to see them. George Ho is keeping an eye on them and will have a story in the April edition of Front Porch.