The team has been selected to lead the master plan for the Poudre River Restoration Initiative (PRRI) in close collaboration with Inter-Fluve and the City of Greeley. MVVA will lead the project, which aims to transform the narrowed and channelized Cache La Poudre River into a vital community resource and economic driver by reestablishing a natural channel shape and structure, lengthening the watercourse, and reconnecting it with the city.
Between 1950 and 2019, the length of the river within city limits has been reduced by 15% (roughly two miles) as a result of industrial activity and urban development. Outdated engineering has exacerbated flooding, bank erosion, loss of aquatic life, reductions in wetland areas, and increased contamination, all of which have minimized its value to Greeley residents. The PRRI is dedicated to rebuilding the health and habitat value of the river while protecting city infrastructure and providing enhanced access to the water.
MVVA and Inter-Fluve were selected from a shortlist of four firms in a competitive bidding process. According to Victoria McKennan, Senior Urban Transportation Planner for Greeley Public Works, “MVVA and Inter-Fluve’s proven expertise makes them ideal partners for this transformative project. The Poudre River Restoration Initiative represents a pivotal moment to reforge the river corridor as both a dynamic public space and a resilient natural resource – protecting Greeley’s infrastructure, while providing enhanced access to the river.”
Based in the Denver, CO studio, the MVVA team will approach the PRRI as an opportunity to integrate a range of crucial public program with interventions to city infrastructure and the rejuvenation of the river. “We are honored to join the City of Greeley in developing a roadmap for the Poudre River’s repair and reintegration into the life of the community,” says Scott Streeb, MVVA Principal and Director of the Denver Office. “This is an exciting opportunity to simultaneously heal the degraded ecosystem while creating a new city fabric at its edges that meets critical public space needs in Greeley.”
The PRRI will be developed over the next 12 months through extensive public engagement with local residents to imagine a new interface with the Poudre River. On August 24th, the team held its first pop-up event at the Greeley farmers’ market to solicit feedback on opportunities for recreation and resilience-building along the river.
In addition to the work on the PRRI, MVVA and Inter-Fluve have a long history of collaboration on parks and restoration projects, including the Port Lands Flood Protection project in Toronto and the Turkey Mountain Master Plan in Tulsa. The team brings a rigorous commitment to resilience, land stewardship, and innovative public space design that will be brought to bear to enrich the lives of Greeley residents for generations to come.
