1) Westerly Creek Restoration Project Hits Milestone

The Westerly Creek construction project at Stanley Marketplace hit a big milestone in late June: Workers moved the creek into its new configuration a few hundred feet west from its former location. The revitalized creek takes a much more meandering path through the field, which is all part of the plan to make the area more resistant to flooding. “The reason we leave all of these open spaces around a very small creek is to provide a buffer, an extra level of protection,” said Colin Haggerty, program manager with the Mile High Flood District. “It’s a safer, shallower system that reduces the risk of flooding to the overall neighborhood.”

The old creek bed was filled in during mid-August and the next step will be building the concrete structures that both divert water to ponds and serve as community gathering places. “These structures that are shaped like amphitheaters actually serve multiple benefits. They convey stormwater flows but also allow people to gather near the creek,” said Haggerty. Four underground concrete vaults will also be installed to help collect trash that is carried in from the stormwater.

After the concrete infrastructure is in place, workers will begin planting the grasses and native plants that will help filter the water of contaminants. Haggerty said the construction crew is slightly ahead of schedule, but he still expects the work will continue until April. “We have committed to Stanley Marketplace that the multi-use fields will be ready for use in May of 2026.”

2) A New Home for the Food Bank of the Rockies

A new 270,000-square-foot home for the Food Bank of the Rockies is being built to help meet the needs of the 800 hunger relief partners of the organization.

The $75 million project, funded by donors, still needs to raise more than $11 million. “We are 85 percent of the way there. Now we are turning to the community for your support to help us across the finish line. This is incredibly important,” said Erin Pulling, CEO and president of the organization.

She said inflation and rising food costs have both contributed to a 10-year high in the rates of food insecurity across Colorado and Wyoming.

“Given the challenges that we are facing right now, we know that need is growing. This facility allows Food Bank of the Rockies to step up to meet that need. It allows us to power volunteers, to strengthen our community partnerships, and to amplify our collective vision for people experiencing hunger,” Pulling added.

The building at 20600 E. 38th Ave. in Aurora is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The current home of the non-profit, near Havana & 45th Ave. in northeast Denver, is being sold. It was home to the Food Bank of the Rockies for 19 years.

Volunteers are essential to the work of the food bank with about 24,000 volunteers working every year. The future volunteer center has a large room with two additional side rooms for repacking. Pulling said the additional space means there can be triple the number of people sorting donated food and repacking dry beans and rice and other items.

The facility also has new docks for loading and unloading food, and more cooking space to provide meals for kids.

Pulling said consolidating operations and investing in sustainability will save the organization $500,000 per year.

3) Dinosaur Fossil Found Beneath Denver Museum of Nature & Science

A dinosaur fossil, described as the deepest and oldest one ever found within the city of Denver, is now on display at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science after being discovered under the museum’s parking lot in City Park.

The discovery was made as a museum team was conducting a geothermal test drilling project to determine the viability of transitioning from natural gas to geothermal energy. At the same time, scientific coring was done to better understand the geology of the Denver Basin.

The coring led to the discovery of the partial bone fossil 763 feet below the surface.

“This is a scientifically and historically thrilling find for both the Museum and the larger Denver community,” James Hagadorn, curator of geology at the museum, said in a news release. “This fossil comes from an era just before the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, and it offers a rare window into the ecosystem that once existed right beneath modern-day Denver.”

Patrick O’Connor, director of earth and space sciences at the museum, was part of the team that identified the bone as a vertebra of a plant-eating dinosaur. O’Connor said the bone was found in Late Cretaceous rocks dated to about 67.5 million years ago. He added that this may be the most unusual dinosaur discovery he’s ever been a part of.

The work being done in the parking lot was part of a $250,000 grant from Gov. Jared Polis’ Geothermal Energy Program at the Colorado Energy Office.

The fossil is now on display on the museum floor in the “Discovering Teen Rex” exhibition.

4) Hundreds of Teens Show Up for “Takeover Northfield” Event

A large group of  teenagers came to The Shops at Northfield in late June, entering businesses, causing disturbances, and getting into fights.

Denver Police District 5 officers were alerted ahead of time to the “Takeover Northfield” event, which was organized on social media. Lt. Kevin Hines spoke about the planned event at the monthly meeting of the Central Park United Neighbors.

Hines told Front Porch, after the disturbance, that there were officers in the area in “anticipation of the gathering.” As the evening went on, he said, the crowd grew to about 300 people.

Due to the size of the event, additional officers and resources were dispatched to help with crowd control.

Hines said several stores closed early and mall management was on site to help officers. It took about four hours to disperse the teens.

No arrests were made, Hines said, but some merchandise was “displaced” and “a couple” of cans of bear spray were taken from Bass Pro Shops.