Nature in the City helps to fund projects that will bring natural spaces into your neighborhood and community.  Applications are accepted in the fall. If you'd like to learn more about our grant program, go to the "Apply" page.

Residential Scale Projects will continue to be offered through the partnership with the City’s Utilities Xeriscape Incentive Program(XIP).  

Need some inspiration? In 2023 Nature in the City is award $45,250 to support nine planning projects. 

• Check out some of past Nature in the City projects
• Or go on a self-guided tour

This grant opportunity is thanks to the voter-approved Community Capital Improvement Program and Natural Area Enhancement Funds through the Open Space Yes tax.

Thank you for your support! 

The Nature in the City program continued to expand connectivity, stewardship, and access in 2022 with community led projects, biodiversity monitoring, four raingardens installed in collaboration with the Colorado Stormwater Center, and more. Explore the annual report to find out how the community and volunteers helped make 2022 another fantastic year!

Read the 2022 Annual Report

Looking for plants that support local wildlife and pollinators, are waterwise, and regionally appropriate? City of Fort Collins Recommended Plant List is here! This list is unique to Fort Collins and includes hundreds of plants native to Fort Collins and Colorado. This new resource can serve as a guide in the creation of sustainable and ecologically diverse landscapes and may just help you decide what else to plant in your garden.

Check out the Plant List

Vision:

A connected open space network accessible to the entire community that provides a variety of experiences and functional habitat for people, plants, and wildlife.

Goals:

• CONNECTIVITY across high quality natural spaces through enhancement of urban lands that provide diverse social and ecological opportunities.
• ACCESS to nature by ensuring every resident can easily experience nature where they live, work, and play.
• STEWARDSHIP of the naturalized landscape by demonstrating that a shift in our community landscape can support healthy environments for people and wildlife.

Strategic Plan:

• Nature in the City Strategic Plan Executive Summary
• Nature in the City Strategic Plan, with appendices
• Nature in the City Strategic Plan, without appendices

Some current partnerships that help reach Nature in the City Goals:

• Participating in the City's Night Sky team.
• Integrating Nature in the City principles into efforts such as the Water Efficiency Plan, Climate Action Plan, and City Plan.
• Community Science Biodiversity monitoring volunteers are learning about urban wildlife and exploring Fort Collins' natural spaces as they conduct scientific surveys for birds and butterflies. Learn more.