Where you live and how easily you can get around can shape your everyday life. Parks, recreation centers, transportation, trails and community gathering spaces give people places to connect, spend time outside and access the services they rely on. But these resources can only make a difference when residents can safely and easily reach and use them.
To help expand access to these spaces and resources, Colorado Gives Foundation is awarding $1,017,000 to 27 organizations through its 2026 Convenient Neighborhoods grant opportunity. These grants support work across Jefferson County that improves mobility, expands access to public spaces and creates more opportunities for people to connect with each other and their community.
What are the challenges Jefferson County faces today?
A convenient neighborhood makes it easier for people to get where they need to go and take part in their community. Through our work in Jefferson County, Colorado Gives Foundation has identified barriers that can make that harder, from transportation that doesn’t meet everyone’s needs to limited access to parks, community spaces and other everyday resources. Across the county, organizations are working to address these challenges and make neighborhoods more accessible and connected.
- Transportation doesn’t work for everyone. Older adults, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness and others may face barriers to public transportation. Grant recipients will help residents understand their options, access transit benefits and find ways to get where they need to go.
- Accessible spaces help more people participate. Sidewalks, pathways, entrances and other infrastructure can affect whether people can use parks, recreation centers and community spaces. Funded projects will help make these places more accessible for people with different mobility needs.
- Public spaces create opportunities for connection. Parks, gardens, recreation centers and other gathering spaces give people places to meet their neighbors, participate in activities and spend time outdoors.
- Access shapes everyday life. Transportation and neighborhood resources connect residents with health care, nutritious food, employment, recreation, education and other services that support their quality of life.
How will this grant impact Jefferson County?
The 27 organizations funded through the Convenient Neighborhoods grant opportunity will improve transportation access, enhance parks, trails and green spaces, and strengthen community hubs where residents can find resources, participate in activities and connect with others.
For example, Easterseals Colorado will establish a Transit Assistance and Navigation Program for Jefferson County residents with disabilities and older adults. The program will provide eligibility assistance, training and education that helps residents access public transportation benefits.
Apex Park and Recreation District will improve Apple Meadows Park with an accessible bridge and other park improvements that increase mobility, access to green space and opportunities for community connection.
Denver Urban Gardens will support programming and infrastructure upgrades at its Jefferson County community gardens and food forests, expanding access to fresh, healthy food, urban green spaces and places where neighbors can connect.
Evergreen Park & Recreation District will support a new Field House at Buchanan Park, creating a year-round recreation and gathering center for physical activity, social connection and community life.
Together, these projects help create Jefferson County communities where more people can move around, spend time outdoors, find resources and connect with the people and places around them.
2026 Jefferson County Convenient Neighborhood Grant Recipients
40 West Arts
Age Wise Colorado
Angelica Village
Apex Park and Recreation District
Archway Communities
Butterfly Pavilion
City of Golden*
City of Wheat Ridge*
Denver Urban Gardens
Easterseals Colorado
Evergreen Park & Recreation District*
First United Methodist Church Golden*
Friends of Dinosaur Ridge
Golden Optimists Bicycle Recycle Program
Jeffco Public Schools*
Jefferson County*
Jovial Concepts
Localworks
Mountain Resource Center
NeuAbility
Outdoor Lab Foundation
Revive Church Colorado*
Seniors4Wellness
Sprout City Farms
The Lockwood Foundation
The Rising*
YMCA of Metropolitan Denver
* Not available on ColoradoGives.org
Building more connected communities
Colorado Gives Foundation is committed to helping create Jefferson County communities where residents can easily access the places and resources that support everyday life.
From transportation and accessible parks to green spaces and community hubs, these investments help make it easier for people to participate in their communities and connect with each other.
Learn More About Convenient Neighborhoods