N orth Evergreen Activity Trails (NEAT) is a local grassroots organization in Evergreen promoting greater safety,recreation, access and fitness in our community by building pedestrian trails linking schools, neighborhoods and commerce in North Evergreen.The first sections of the NEAT Trail have been laid along Bergen Parkway and already are being used by residents to get to school and recreational destinations.The next sections are in the works!

Our Purpose
NEAT was founded in 2003 by neighbors who recognized a need to link the rapidly-growing North Evergreen community with pedestrian trails.NEAT envisioned kids getting to and from their school and our local rec center, Buchanan Park, on foot.NEAT imagined that instead of navigating SUVs through our mountain setting, adults could actually walk and ride to the gym, the dry cleaner, the grocery, and then meet a friend for lunch.NEAT saw a need to link the following interests in North Evergreen:

·3 public schools -- Evergreen Middle School, Bergen Meadows Elem. and Bergen Valley Elem.-- over 1400 children ages preschool thru middle school;

·Buchanan Park & Rec Area & Evergreen Arts Center -- up to 500 users per day with plans for a major expansion underway;

·6 shopping areas -- including the new Bergen Village Shopping Center -- over 80 businesses, both local and national;

·Evergreen Fire Rescue -- the largest volunteer fire department in Colorado;

·4 major North Evergreen subdivisions -- The Ridge, The Island, The Golfclub and The Trails at Hiwan -- over 1100 families.

Our Partners

·Jefferson County Highways & Trans - our construction partner and eventual owner of thetrail, provided $100K toward trail construction in 2006, plus preconstruction assistance and continuing project development.

·Jeffco Public Schools - our education sponsor, submitted NEAT's successful Safe Routes to School grant and will provide easements over district property.

·Evergreen Park & Recreation District - our maintenance partner, will provide routine trail maintenance and stewardship of Denver Mountain Park properties on the NEAT trail.

·Evergreen Fire Rescue - our safety sponsor, the first entity to agree to NEAT trail easements and continuing assistance on development of local safety programs.

In addition, a wide range of local stakeholders have generously contributedto the NEAT project, including Jefferson Foundation, Team Evergreen, The Bergens Elementary and Middle School PTAs, KC Butler REMAX Realty, Congregation Beth Evergreen, First Bank of Evergreen, The Trails, The Ridge, The Island and Hiwan HOAs, Mailboxes Etc of Bergen Park, Rising Graphics, Bicycle Colorado, The Bagelry, and Catamount Construction, to name a few.At last count over 120 Evergreen families, individuals and businesses have contributed to the cause as well.In all NEAT has raised over $40,000 locally in 2006-07 alone.

Our Plan

NEAT Phase I is currently designed as a two mile paved path running from Evergreen Middle School (EMS) on Hiwan Drive, connecting Bergen Meadow Elementary, the Evergreen Fire Rescue and Buchanan Rec Center along Bergen Parkway, continuing along Bergen Parkway into the Bergen Park shopping area, and connecting to Bergen Valley Elementary on Sugarbush Drive.The trail will include protected crossings to Evergreen Middle School, Bergen Meadow Elementary, Buchanan Rec Center, and Bergen Park commercial destinations, as well as connections to existing trailheads such as the Pioneer Trail.NEAT Phase I has 3 sections:

·Meadow Trail - EMS to Broadmoor Drive

·Village Trail - Broadmoor to Bergen Village

·Valley Trail - Bergen Village to Bergen Valley

NEAT Phase II will add more crusher fines trails in North Evergreen, providing recreational trails connecting major Hiwan neighborhoods and Bergen Park.Specifically, Phase II NEAT trails will link the neighborhoods of North Evergreen to Elk Meadow Open Space and the Pioneer Trail, and provide further foot access to area schools, Buchanan Park Rec Area and the Bergen Park commercial corridor.

Our Progress

Major segments of the Meadow Trail were completed in summer 2006.Because the Meadow Trail along Bergen Parkway is the backbone of the NEAT trail system, its timely completion, with protected crossings to schools and the Buchanan Park Rec Area, will be NEAT's primary focus.Construction of the Village Trail, and ultimately the Valley Trail, will follow completion of the Meadow Trail.In addition to the $100K provided by Jeffco in 2006, NEAT has received $83K in federal funding through the Safe Routes to School program and awaits notification on grant funding through the Colorado State Trails/Great Outdoors Colorado.

Please visit NEAT's website at http://NEATevergreen.org for more information.