Help Name This Natural Area

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Greeley’s Natural Areas and Trails division is seeking your help to name the approximately 42-acre natural area located in the Mountain Vista and Owl Ridge neighborhoods. This space features paved trails, wetlands, grasslands and stormwater drainage that span across seven interconnected parcels. Until now, this area has lacked an official name, making it difficult for people to find and enjoy. It’s been referred to as the Mountain Vista or Owl Ridge natural area simply because it is located near those neighborhoods.

Name It! Provide Your Name Ideas

We want to hear your name ideas! Share your name suggestion and why it fits this space. Think about the natural features, the neighborhood, or what this space means to our community. The Ideas board is where you can submit your suggestion no later than February 13. From there, the names will be vetted by our Natural Areas team using the Culture, Parks & Recreation Department Facility and Property Naming Policy (External link) to filter any suggestions that are not eligible. Next, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, made up of Greeley residents passionate about recreation and the outdoors, will select a name from the eligible list. Finally, the proposed name will go to City Council for adoption, making it the official new name for the natural area.

Why This Project Matters

Naming this natural area will make it easier for everyone in our community and visitors to Greeley to discover and visit this outdoor space. The name will appear on new trailhead signs, maps and online, helping residents and visitors locate the 20th Street trailhead and parking area. Whether you live nearby or across town, this natural area is a public space meant for everyone to enjoy. We want to make it easier to locate.

What Makes This Space Special

This natural area offers something for everyone. You can walk, bike, observe wildlife, or bring your leashed dog along the trail. The paved path connects north to the Sheep Draw Trail, which in turn links to the Poudre Trail, offering opportunities for longer regional bike rides and extended outdoor adventures.

Protecting Our Community from Flooding

This natural area is more than a place to enjoy the outdoors—it's a working part of Greeley's stormwater infrastructure. The wetlands and drainage channels manage runoff during storms, capturing water before it can flood streets and properties downstream.

These natural systems offer multiple benefits: they slow rushing water during heavy rains, filter pollutants naturally, recharge groundwater and provide habitat for birds, amphibians, and other wildlife.

Please Note: You may notice ongoing tree removal work in certain areas. This maintenance is essential to keep drainage systems functioning properly. Trees growing in or near stormwater channels can block water flow during storms, creating flooding risks. Regular vegetation management ensures these facilities can handle heavy rainfall and continue protecting nearby neighborhoods.

What's Happening Next

In 2026, we will complete the final improvements to the 20th Street trailhead, which was first constructed in 2019. New amenities will include:

  • Official trailhead signage featuring the new name you helped choose

  • A restroom shelter

  • A bench for resting and prepping for your adventure

This is the perfect time to give this space the name it deserves.

Trail Guidelines

To protect the natural area and wildlife habitat, please remember to stay on the designated trails at all times during your visit. Always check COTREX for the most up-to-date trail conditions, including any closures or detours.

Greeley’s Natural Areas and Trails division is seeking your help to name the approximately 42-acre natural area located in the Mountain Vista and Owl Ridge neighborhoods. This space features paved trails, wetlands, grasslands and stormwater drainage that span across seven interconnected parcels. Until now, this area has lacked an official name, making it difficult for people to find and enjoy. It’s been referred to as the Mountain Vista or Owl Ridge natural area simply because it is located near those neighborhoods.

Name It! Provide Your Name Ideas

We want to hear your name ideas! Share your name suggestion and why it fits this space. Think about the natural features, the neighborhood, or what this space means to our community. The Ideas board is where you can submit your suggestion no later than February 13. From there, the names will be vetted by our Natural Areas team using the Culture, Parks & Recreation Department Facility and Property Naming Policy (External link) to filter any suggestions that are not eligible. Next, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, made up of Greeley residents passionate about recreation and the outdoors, will select a name from the eligible list. Finally, the proposed name will go to City Council for adoption, making it the official new name for the natural area.

Why This Project Matters

Naming this natural area will make it easier for everyone in our community and visitors to Greeley to discover and visit this outdoor space. The name will appear on new trailhead signs, maps and online, helping residents and visitors locate the 20th Street trailhead and parking area. Whether you live nearby or across town, this natural area is a public space meant for everyone to enjoy. We want to make it easier to locate.

What Makes This Space Special

This natural area offers something for everyone. You can walk, bike, observe wildlife, or bring your leashed dog along the trail. The paved path connects north to the Sheep Draw Trail, which in turn links to the Poudre Trail, offering opportunities for longer regional bike rides and extended outdoor adventures.

Protecting Our Community from Flooding

This natural area is more than a place to enjoy the outdoors—it's a working part of Greeley's stormwater infrastructure. The wetlands and drainage channels manage runoff during storms, capturing water before it can flood streets and properties downstream.

These natural systems offer multiple benefits: they slow rushing water during heavy rains, filter pollutants naturally, recharge groundwater and provide habitat for birds, amphibians, and other wildlife.

Please Note: You may notice ongoing tree removal work in certain areas. This maintenance is essential to keep drainage systems functioning properly. Trees growing in or near stormwater channels can block water flow during storms, creating flooding risks. Regular vegetation management ensures these facilities can handle heavy rainfall and continue protecting nearby neighborhoods.

What's Happening Next

In 2026, we will complete the final improvements to the 20th Street trailhead, which was first constructed in 2019. New amenities will include:

  • Official trailhead signage featuring the new name you helped choose

  • A restroom shelter

  • A bench for resting and prepping for your adventure

This is the perfect time to give this space the name it deserves.

Trail Guidelines

To protect the natural area and wildlife habitat, please remember to stay on the designated trails at all times during your visit. Always check COTREX for the most up-to-date trail conditions, including any closures or detours.

  • Red-winged Black Birds Call This Natural Area Home

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    If you visit this natural area, you will hear and see red-winged blackbirds in the cattails. These birds, and the plants and vegetation they rely on, are prominent features of this new natural area. Their calls and bright flashes of red are signs of a healthy wetland and a place where wildlife can thrive.

    To help tell this story, the City of Greeley partnered with the University of Northern Colorado to film a short video at Hunters Cove Natural Area. The video showcases red-winged blackbirds, biodiversity and why protecting natural areas matters for both wildlife and people.

    Biodiversity means having a wide variety of plants and animals living together in harmony. When wetlands and native vegetation are protected, they create homes for birds, support scientific research and offer opportunities for learning and discovery right in our own backyards.

    Watch the video to learn more about red-winged blackbirds, biodiversity and how partnerships like this help care for Greeley’s natural areas:
    https://youtu.be/Y9aSL6oNkTA

    As part of our Name This Natural Area project, we invite you to think about what makes this place special. The birds, the vegetation and moments in nature all help shape its identity and its name.

Page last updated: 08 Jan 2026, 09:55 AM