$100k Grey to Green Fund will help transform unused urban areas into thriving green spaces

To receive this information in another language, please contact Emily Sandoval at esandoval@bouldercounty.gov.

Key Points

• Three organizations will receive funds to restore urban areas with plants.
• The projects will help make areas cooler, improve air quality, and make habitat for bugs and animals.
• The projects represent nature based solutions to climate change.
• The grants come from the Sustainability Tax.

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County has selected three organizations as the first recipients of its new Grey to Green Fund. The City of Boulder, PLAY Boulder Foundation, and a commercial building in east Boulder will receive funding to convert “grey” areas—such as parking lots, rooftops, and unused turfgrass—into green infrastructure like bioswales, green roofs, and other nature‑based solutions.

These projects will help reduce the impacts of climate change by lowering urban heat, improving stormwater management, increasing biodiversity, and strengthening climate resilience.

“From extreme heat days to the year-round threat of wildfire, climate change is already affecting daily life in Boulder County,” said Grey to Green Fund administrator Dede Croissant. “We also know that some communities face these impacts more than others, and a key goal of this fund is to direct climate resilience resources where they are needed most.”

The county selected three projects from nine applications. Projects were evaluated based on the amount of impervious surface they would replace, benefits to disproportionately impacted communities, number of partners involved, and total square footage converted from grey to green.

The Grey to Green Fund is supported by the Boulder County Sustainability Tax. A second round of the Grey to Green Fund will open on July 20. Learn more about the Grey to Green Fund on Boulder County’s website.

The City of Boulder will receive a grant to transform this underutilized plot of land near 55th and Valmont into a vibrant food forest, accessible to the neighborhoods to the north of the site.

Project Details

City of Boulder “Bosque Alimentario” - $30,000

This project will turn a neglected two‑acre parcel at 55th and Valmont into a community food forest. The site will be redesigned to mimic natural ecosystems, improving biodiversity, soil health, and water management. Located in an underserved area, the project will also expand access to green space, local food, and community‑led ecological education.

PLAY Boulder Foundation “Non-Functional Turf Conversion to Native Gardens at San Lazaro Mobile Home Community” - $20,000

PLAY Boulder will partner with residents of the San Lazaro Mobile Home Community to remove non‑functional turf from ten front yards and replace it with native trees, shrubs, and pollinator‑friendly gardens. The project will reduce water use, improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and create cooler microclimates. Residents will be hired to assist with installation and early maintenance.

3123 Sterling Circle “Rooftop Agrivoltaic” - $50,000

This project will install a 19,646‑square‑foot agrivoltaic green roof on a new net‑zero commercial building. The roof integrates vegetation with raised solar panels, reducing heat, improving stormwater retention, supporting urban biodiversity, and enhancing solar performance. It will serve as a demonstration site for combining renewable energy with green infrastructure.

Nature Based Solutions

The Grey to Green Fund is a program within Boulder County’s nature based solutions (NBS) portfolio. NBS use natural systems—such as urban forests, green spaces, and waterways—to reduce climate impacts. These systems create benefits that protect, conserve, restore, and sustainably manage ecosystems, while delivering measurable benefits to both people and nature. These approaches help draw down carbon, manage stormwater, and reduce risks like flooding and extreme heat.

About the Sustainability Tax

In 2019, Boulder County voters approved a 15-year extension of the Sustainability Tax, a 0.125% sales and use tax that funds local sustainability initiatives through 2034.

Mission of the Office of Sustainability, Climate Action & Resilience

Our mission is to advance policies and programs that conserve resources, protect the environment, and safeguard our climate in order to build a sustainable, just, and resilient community.

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