Denver – Introduction
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It’s known as the Mile High City for a good reason — the spot that is exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level is marked by a round brass cap in the western stairs of the State Capitol. What isn’t so widely known is that despite its proximity to the Rocky Mountains, Denver is actually very arid with less than 15 inches of precipitation per year and more than 300 days of sunshine. As a result, Colorado’s capital is not the most hospitable place for an urban forest, so having 15,000 acres of urban parks and mountain parkland is pretty impressive. “You can see what people have built over the last 100 years in the heart of Denver and the way they changed what is really a harsh climate. They created this green oasis of trees,” says Rob Davis, Denver’s city forester. But as one can imagine, maintaining an artificial creation requires time, foresight, funds and dedication.
 City of Denver. About Denver. Facts & Info. http://www.denver.org/metro/facts (accessed Sept. 14, 2012).
 City of Denver. About Denver. Climate. http://www.denver.org/metro/weather (accessed Sept. 14, 2012).
 City of Denver. Denver Parks and Recreation. http://www.denvergov.org/parksandrecreation (accessed Sept. 14, 2012).