HELP SAVE DINOSAUR RIDGE!

Dinosaur track marks (i.e. footprints)

I have written previously about the awesome dinosaur park in Denver's backyard, called Dinosaur Ridge.
The world's FIRST stegosaurus fossils were found in this area.
Along with dinosaur bone quarries (now covered), exposed fossilized bones, dinosaur track sites, and well-preserved slabs of where the ocean once made Denver prime beachfront property (thanks to the Western Interior Seaway)---all of these sites you can see at Dinosaur Ridge.


Dinosaur Ridge is situated on a hogback between I-70 and Hwy-285. The west side of the foothill faces Red Rocks Park and Ampitheatre, while the eastside faces Denver. Most of this ridge is open space, a precious commodity with the continued growth and expansion of the Denver Metro area.

Jefferson County, who owns the surrounding land around Dinosaur Ridge, has made it clear that their only concern is money. Therefore, they are soon to partner with several developers to put in car dealerships and commercial space on what is vastly becoming limited green space in this area (notice the new residential neighborhoods popping up at Alameda and C470?). My concern is two fold: 1) This ridge is a valuable paleontological area. Why not protect the surrounding area for continued research? Not to mention, the degredation that will inevitably take place if zoned for commercial use. 2) The urban sprawl is real. And we are in the midst of it. If we do not put a halt on some of our scenic vistas and landscapes, we will regret it come twenty years from now when literally everything east of Morrison will be a concrete jungle (well, at least until you get to the eastern plains).



Fossilized Dinosaur Bone


Supporters, volunteers, scientists, and local neighbors are rallying together to try to stop this development. How can you help? 1) sign the petition 2) call Jefferson County and tell them your concerns 3) call anyone you know with connections
 4) call anyone you know who might be interested in purchasing the land and giving it to dinosaur ridge or putting it into a land easement.

Here is the link to sign the petition: SAVE DINO RIDGE

Save Dino Ridge: WHAT'S AT STAKE

Here is their GOFUNDME page

Here is the Save Dinosaur Ridge facebook page


PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING TO SAVE DINOSAUR RIDGE
 



Bear Creek Lake Park

Bear Creek Lake Park has been my favorite stomping ground this summer. Located in Lakewood, just minutes from Morrison, this park has something for everyone! There are 15 miles of hiking trails, 3 lakes for boating, boat rentals (kayaks, paddle boats, etc.), an area for swimming, campground, horse stables, archery area, picnic spots, and nature programs. So, for a nice family fun day near the water or for a solo nature excursion; check out Bear Creek Lake Park.

*Note: There is an entry fee of $5/vehicle (cash only).

Afterwards, grab a drink or some grub in the cute town of Morrison. Or meander through red rock formations at Red Rocks Ampitheatre.

Beso de arte Bistro Latino

(photo from metromix.com)




Enjoy a "kiss" of culinary art at Beso, located in Morrison, Colorado. The ambiance alone is enough to make you forget the stress of the daily grind. Stone-built walls and soothing waterfalls help clear your mind and prepare your palet for some delicious and exquisite food! Whether you want to grab a bite to eat before catching a concert at Redrocks Ampitheatre (literally just around the corner), or you want to share a meal with a date or drinks with friends; this place is so adorable! You just gotta try it! Come on, you know you want to!

Dinosaur Ridge

I recently visited Dinosaur Ridge, located in Morrison, Colorado. The site is comprised of a visitor center, exhibit hall located off of C-470. Further up from the visitor center is a paved road that you can hike or bike along that has interesting geology and fossils along the road. They say you can "see 80 million years worth of geology in a mile" hike up on the ridge. The very first stegosaurus fossils were found here at Dinosaur Ridge. At one point, Colorado was ocean front property as the Western Interior Seaway covered the middle of present day America. Due to such conditions, various footprints and fossils remain of ancient dinosaurs, plants, and insects. There are signs that interpret the landscape and point out where to look for fossils. This site really opened my eyes to the natural history surrounding us. My favorite stops along the ridge are the dinosaur "track" site and the "bulges" site. You can literally see the REAL footprints of dinosaurs!! And at the bulges site you can see the impact of an actual dinosaur footprint; how it left real bulges in the topography of the landscape. As you meandor along the ridge viewing the sites, follow the path as it meanders through the rock ledge and leads you to where you are literally across the street from the Red Rocks Ampitheatre. This is a 2.75 roundtrip hike for anyone who enjoys geology and natural history. There are $4 dollar per person bus tours of the ridge if you would like a tour guide. So, get out and come walk where the dinosaurs walked!!