Arroyos del Sol

As of the 2020 Census, Greeley was the fastest growing city in Colorado, which is why much of its former agricultural property has been built into subdivisions—to support the spiking population. The area now known as Arroyos del Sol, meaning “sun stream” in Spanish, remained as one of its last large parcels suited for open space recreation.

Trust for Public Land, the City of Greeley, and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) partnered to protect Arroyos del Sol permanently and prevent further development. Now, Arroyos del Sol will offer multiple benefits both near and far, including access to Poudre River Trail, expanded recreation opportunities, and spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains and the northern Front Range.

Going forward, Greeley’s diverse community, including primarily Somalian and Latinx immigrants, will determine the future and features of Arroyos del Sol, which was once known as the Shur View property. TPL believes communities should play a significant role in creating the outdoor recreation that ultimately serves them. Usually, TPL applies this community-driven strategy with park renovations. This time, it was for a trail and open recreational space.

“The conservation of the Shur View property embodies the vision of a community connected to nature and delivers on our commitments made in the ‘Get Outdoors Greeley’ strategic plan to conserve important lands with outdoor recreation and wildlife habitat values,” said Justin Scharton, Natural Areas and Trails superintendent. “Our goal is to provide equitable access to the outdoors for everyone in Greeley.”

The 1,000 acres provides breathing room between communities, miles of trails to explore, and habitat for wildlife. Arroyos del Sol acts as a hub, with future spur trails connecting it to the 40-mile Poudre River Trail.

This project culminates a decades-long effort by the city to acquire one of the last large parcels suited for open space in western Greeley. The property includes a third of a mile of shoreline and bluffs overlooking the river and helps fulfill TPL’s 10-Minute Walk®️ goal by establishing natural space within 10-minutes of home for many residents of Greeley.

“Making sure everyone has a place to enjoy the outdoors is why everyone at Trust for Public Land works hard each day, and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners in Greeley to ensure that Arroyos del Sol flourishes as a publicly owned recreation destination,” said Wade Shelton, senior project manager for Trust for Public Land. “It was an honor to work with Greeley and GOCO to make this happen.”