You may wonder why we care so much about bees and butterflies at Baseline. That’s because pollinators allow plants to reproduce, crops to seed, fruit to grow, and native landscapes to thrive. And, pollinators are in crisis. Decades of habitat loss, chemical pollution, and more have significantly reduced their numbers. In response to these challenges, Baseline’s developer, McWhinney, partnered with the Butterfly Pavilion to co-create Colorado’s first pollinator district — a community committed to conserving and improving habitat for pollinators in all aspects of development and operation.
5 key elements of a pollinator district
As a pollinator district, Baseline is setting a new standard for sustainability. Where birds, bees, butterflies, and humans will find healthy habitats among the flowers and trees. But, becoming a conservation-focused community is no walk in the park. It requires thoughtful planning and a strong commitment to sustainability. There are 5 key components to a pollinator district. Here’s how they come into play at Baseline.
Research & planning
At the earliest stages of planning, scientists, educators, horticulturalists, and innovators worked together to create this next generation mixed-use community. Researchers from the Butterfly Pavilion (BP) visited Baseline before construction began to learn what types of pollinators and how many of them lived here. As Baseline develops, a BP horticulturist sits on the design review committee, helping ensure we create a welcoming habitat for pollinators. The goal is for more pollinators to exist on this land after Baseline’s fully developed.
Habitat restoration
At Baseline, restoration begins with the infrastructure. Infrastructure is not just about roads and bridges, it’s about how people live. Baseline’s green infrastructure is designed to weave a little wild into an urban environment with a network of high-plains-inspired parks and trails. For everything that is built, we leave a little something unbuilt. Where nature can take root and the land can breathe.
Habitat gardening
Baseline’s parks, common areas, and residential landscapes are designed as healthy pollinator habitats, creating a beautiful balance between plants and invertebrates. Our design review guidelines support this vision by providing guidance to residents and business owners on how to landscape to protect local ecology.
Envisioned in Baseline’s future are urban gardens, productive landscapes that provide seasonal harvests to residents and Center Street restaurants, for fresher salads and locally sourced microbrew ingredients.
Sustainability
Sustainability is integrated into the plan in thoughtful new ways. From landscaping that uses less than half the water of other developments to carbon-footprint mapping that will guide us in minimizing our environmental impact over time. This first-of-its-kind pollinator-friendly ecosystem is an exciting new model for future communities to follow.
Public Education & Engagement
Here, education is more than a curriculum, it’s an ethos, part of Baseline’s identity from day one. From community celebrations to top-rated schools to a trailblazing invertebrate research center, Baseline is designed to inspire a natural sense of curiosity.
NEIGHBORHOOD CELEBRATIONS
Who says saving pollinators can’t be fun? At Baseline, annual events, such as Honey Bee Day, bring neighbors together for eco-friendly celebrations and interactive learning, while enjoying live music and seasonal libations.
BUTTERFLY PAVILION
An 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art invertebrate zoo and research center is planned for Baseline’s Center Street. The Butterfly Pavilion’s new $50 million home will spread knowledge about our dependence on a diverse insect universe and be one of the region’s more fascinating attractions. It is also planned to include the Center for Invertebrate Research, the only stand-alone Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facility in the world dedicated to invertebrates.
EDUCATIONAL SYNERGY
A state-of-the-art K-12 Adams 12 STEM School is being planned as the physical embodiment of Baseline’s educational focus. Adams 12 STEM school students will benefit from collaboration with the Butterfly Pavilion, Broomfield Library satellite branch, and relationships with over 500 STEM Industry Partners.
More about this ‘Science City’
Learn more about the vision for our pollinator district, also known as Science City, from Butterfly Pavilion Director of Horticulture Amy Yarger and McWhinney leadership in this video produced by the Butterfly Pavilion.