History of District 8

District 8 is one of the 11 districts in Denver and contains one of the most diverse neighborhoods. With a population of more than 80,000 individuals and containing about 12% of Denver’s total population, it’s got lots of history that all started a century ago.

The neighborhoods of District 8 are just as interesting as District 8 itself. Being one of the most diverse districts in Denver, it has a very long history of events as well as being the birthplace of many remarkable moments. Because of how old it is, it’s hard to summarize all of District 8 and its neighborhoods, but hopefully this has informed you about some of the basic information. 

Read more
As part of EnvironMENTAL, interns presented their research, issues and solutions to their district council person.

​Environmental Issues

Picture
Water Use and Pollution

We are focusing on water pollution. Water pollution affects our community and the environment we live in because the trash and chemicals go into the water. It affects the animals that live in that habitat such as fish and when people want to swim in the rivers, it could cause infections if the water is swallowed.
 
Some of the main contributing factors to this issue are people throwing trash in the water making it dirty. Another contributing factor is chemicals being released into the water. Just like air pollution, chemicals of the same kind could be affecting the water. For example, what comes out of the factories.
 
The people that are most affected by water pollution are mostly everyone. Although people shouldn't be drinking the water from rivers, accidents happen and people could swallow it on accident but it could still cause a big impact on people's health. If there’s no clean water people could dehydrate. Most people know that drinking water from certain places is unhealthy but a lot of people don't. There could be people visiting and they won't know the water is unhealthy. Therefore, it is not good to drink the water.

One example is the Platte River. People that go in the water are most likely to get sick because of all the trash and all the people that go in the water. Because the water is contaminated it is recommended that you do not swallow the water and wash your hands as soon as you get out. The PH in the Platte River water would be at 8. As well as the fish. They need to be able to live healthy in the water and if that's not happening, it is most likely that the fish are safe to eat. 
 
Not only water pollution and issue, but also water waste. We waste so much water on the sidewalk from the sprinklers, we let the water run a lot at our houses when we wash dishes especially if we accidentally leave the faucet dripping water, and we often use landscapes that require a lot of water use in a very dry area. If we keep letting that happen it goes towards the bills and we could be using that water for something more useful.

By Ruby M., West Early College High School, Age 15, Aurora

 History of District 11

​District 11 contains the neighborhoods of Gateway, Green Valley Ranch and Montbello, as well as the Denver International Airport (DIA). The district was founded in the 1970s in northeast Denver as a way of separating Stapleton DIA from the rest of the city, which had received a near doubling in air traffic from 1965- 1970. While district 11’s landmass, shape, and location have changed throughout the years, it has remained a hub of transport and industry in Denver.

​The district has a majority white and Hispanic population and a median age of 30. There are about 63,000 residents with a median income of around $30,000 a year. Denver International Airport is the largest source of income in District 11 and is home to a good portion of the industries within the district. DIA is also home to some exceptional pieces of art, such as the ribbon of light, a 14-million-dollar project designed and built by Panasonic and unveiled in 2017. It’s supposed to be an abstract representation of a snow fence and is programmed to show colors and patterns evocative of Colorado, such as a sunset or the mountain skyline. Blue Mustang, by Luis Jiménez, known sometimes as “Blucifer” for its glowing red eyes, is another famous landmark in the area and the fact that it killed Jiménez when a piece fell on him makes it part of the area’s legends. The district has many options for high schools, as well as libraries and rec-centers.

By Dawson L., Denver School of the Arts, Age 15, District 8

Possible Solutions

​The issue of overconsumption of water, as well as water pollution is a large portion of the environmental decay in both of these districts.

First, water use is an issue because it is completely juxtaposed to the natural climate of the area and this large amount of water consumption leads to the continued draining of the Colorado River, as well as the degradation of natural landscapes statewide. 

The easiest way to curb this issue is by changing the use of water near residential paths, as well as limiting its uses in the parks and along trails. In the district, when it comes to individuals, this has been addressed as more and more people are using native plants in gardening, most requiring less water. This reliance on more natural practices not only reduces the amount of water that needs to be used, but it also decreases the amount of work that needs to be done, and in some cases can help to heal a region suffering from erosion and overuse. 
 
Water pollution is a more interesting topic, as it relies on people and companies alike being more responsible. For individuals, the simplest solution is to not be lazy; put your trash where it should go, and if the closest trash is full, move on to the next, rather than just dropping it. For companies, it would be more beneficial to use biodegradable plastics, most of which can actually help with things like algae blooms, which can cause mass destruction to local habitats, and is usually aided by the existence of trash. There are also more solutions and with more people gravitating towards xeriscaping and more efficient appliances this is helping a lot, but people could also eat less meat and drive less, which both contribute to environmental decline.
 
For water use however, the easiest xeriscaping technique is to use natural grasses for lawns, or getting rid of the grass altogether, using pebbles instead. This can also decrease the amount of pesticides and fertilizers that flow into the water system as less need to be used on native plants. Ideally, it would be best to implement these changes as soon as possible, with the easiest way being at the polls, or through local HOAs. This can be done starting more locally, stirring conversions within your community, which can bring it to light with the HOA, as well as on the polls in larger areas. If at all possible, it would be best to eliminate the use of gas vehicles, as well as implement larger policies regarding landscaping as well as solar energy.

​By Ean R., Denver School of the Arts, Age 16, District 11

Resources

 People Resources  
Trash and Recycling 
  • Denver Composts: Makes composting household organic items as easy as recycling, by providing a green cart that is collected weekly. Households can place yard debris, food scraps and non-recyclable paper (paper towels, napkins, tissues, etc.) in the green cart instead of the trash. 
  • Cherry Creek Recycling and Compost: Free food scrap (and recycling) drop-off for Denver residents.
  • Compost Colorado: Curbside food scrap and organics collection in the greater Denver area.
  • Denver Compost Collective: Food scrap curbside collection service geared toward apartment-dwellers.
  • • Large Item Removal: To arrange for the removal of these items from your curbside, please call 1-800-773-2489, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at least one day before your regular collection day. Bulky items are collected on the same day that your regular trash collection is made. Have an itemized list ready when calling in your request.
 
Solving the Water Issue  
Other Resources 
• King Soopers will take your plastic bags and they will recycle them for you

By Martin F., Northeast Early College, Age 15, District 11
Back to District Bios main page     |     District 3    |    District 5/9     |     District 7     
  •