In some Boulder neighborhoods, a child can walk to a shaded park in minutes. In others, access to nature is limited, with fewer opportunities to feel connected to the outdoors.

Working alongside the Nature Everywhere working group, the NbS team worked on identifying where that gap is most visible.

The idea behind “Nature-hoods” is simple but purposeful. It builds neighborhood-scale partnerships that expand access to nature while strengthening community stewardship.

The team used data from Kaboom on the quality and equity of play in outdoor spaces across Boulder, and combined it with the city’s Heat Vulnerability Index. It revealed priority areas or neighborhoods where limited access to nature intersects with higher climate risk.

Six pilot sites emerged where interdepartmental work is already underway and can be intentionally aligned to advance Nature-hood goals in 2026.

Another six areas were identified for expanding the potential footprint of such initiatives citywide.

The vision extends beyond planting trees or revamping parks. Nature-hoods are designed climate-resilient landscapes that support community health, create spaces where people can directly engage with the natural world, and activate nearby open nature.

For the NbS team, the long-term goal is to cultivate neighborhoods where residents help care for biodiverse urban landscapes and, in doing so, build resilience from the ground up.