Written By: Justin Shaw, Arts and Entertainment Editor
Photos By: Amanda Rod
As raindrops danced on the leaves at Lincoln Park, people gathered to celebrate Earth Day and its impact on the Grand Junction community.
Alpine Bank hosted the Southwest Arbor Fest on April 27, where guests could enjoy food trucks, craft beer, local entertainment, vendors, and, of course, the trees. The event aimed to raise community awareness of the importance of environmental preservation through collaborations with Mesa County, the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Department, and local arborists.
Despite the inclement weather on the morning of the event, attendees were able to enjoy all of the Southwest Arbor Fest festivities to their fullest.
The morning kicked off with Arbor Activities, a series of interactive and educational activities aimed at raising awareness about environmental preservation. These activities included giving away free tree seedlings and a silent auction to win a large containerized tree to use in one’s yard.
Additionally, there was a chance to register for T4 Tree Service/SavATree’s private ash treatment cost-share program offered by the city, a silent auction for urban wood items made from recently lost park trees, and a notable tree tour. This tour, led by local arborists, highlighted the unique and significant trees in the park, providing attendees with a deeper appreciation for the city’s natural heritage and the importance of tree preservation.
These activities aimed to help attendees understand the value of environmental conservation and tree preservation.
Even on a rainy day, plenty of food trucks, live performers, and vendors kept the Southwest Arbor Fest atmosphere shining.
The festival’s vendors included everything from local businesses and nonprofits to city programs and initiatives. One Riverfront, a vendor, highlighted their goal to promote coordinated community stewardship of the Grand Junction river corridors. This initiative, which includes projects like connecting the riverside trail, is crucial for preserving the city’s natural beauty and promoting outdoor recreation. However, these projects often require a complicated process, including land donations from private parties, making events like the Southwest Arbor Fest an important platform for raising awareness and garnering support.
One Riverfront volunteer Stefanie Harville talked about how Southwest Arbor Fest is a fantastic way for environmentally conscious organizations like One Riverfront to promote their initiatives and raise awareness of local issues.
“This is one of my favorite festivals,” Harville said. “It helps the community understand how One Riverfront contributes to the local lifestyle and connects the community with the river.”
Harville added that the festival’s intimacy allows for easy interaction between attendees, promoting awareness of such initiatives.
The City of Grand Junction also set up a tent at the event to showcase similar environmental initiatives. One major initiative that the city is promoting is a dual-stream program that allows for a ‘pay as you throw’ model.
Put simply, rather than charging people based on how much garbage they bring to be collected by the city or local government, this approach uses a fee system to dispose of household waste based on how often it is disposed of. This model incentivizes residents to receive free recycling and yard waste composting services.
Other initiatives included an urban heat island mapping campaign and a driver guide for safe road sharing between cyclists and cars.
Jenny Nitzky, the City of Grand Junction’s sustainability coordinator, explained why events like this are important for city programs focused on sustainability.
“This is an event where many community members come to you, and [they] have known about it for years,” Nitzky said. “People already planned to come here for one reason or another, so this is a great way to capture a captive audience and promote awareness.”
Undeterred by the weather, the Southwest Arbor Fest showcased the unshakable spirit of the Grand Junction community, all in the name of Earth Day.
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