Neighborhood Spotlight: Westwood

The Westwood neighborhood in Denver is bordered by Alameda Avenue, Federal Boulevard, Mississippi Avenue, Sheridan Boulevard. According to the Colorado Health Foundation, Westwood is a diverse, densely populated neighborhood in southwest Denver, with a total population of about 15,500 and a higher than average number of youth. The neighborhood is in need of infrastructure improvements to improve the safety and ease of walking, biking and recreating in the community.

In 2014, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) entered into a partnership with the Colorado Health Foundation to support the institute’s Building Healthy Places Initiative, a multi-year program to highlight the key role of design and development in fostering healthy living and working environments. Through the initiative, ULI examined the built environment through the lens of health and wellness, showing the connection between healthy communities and economic prosperity.

This partnership led to an opportunity for Westwood to receive a one million dollar grant to focus on projects chosen by residents to impact their health, safety, and quality of life. Click here to check out a video that shares more about what's happening.

Westwood is a place where individuals, organizations, and community groups have come together to take an active role in shaping what this neighborhood looks like now and for years to come through creating a safer and healthier environment for those who call it home. Extreme Community Makeover will be hosting Go: Westwood on Saturday, April 25, 2015. If you want to learn more about Westwood through getting involved in that project, stay in touch with us.

For more information, check out our website - http://www.extremecommunitymakeover.org/About/Westwood.aspx