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The City of Longmont is working closely with the Kensington Neighborhood through a new initiative called the Community Building and Resilience Program that increases the capacity of neighbors to collectively enhance neighborhood sustainability. The program provides one-on-one assistance to community leaders and residents in the Kensington Neighborhood as well as financial support for projects increasing Sense of Community, Quality of Life, or Community Sustainability.

Kensington Neighborhood Group

For over two decades, the Kensington Neighborhood Group has collaborated with the City on community projects. Past projects include partnering with the City on a revitalization plan for the neighborhood in 2004 and the Kensington Park Master Plan in 2005. Currently, the group participates in the Neighborhood Group Leaders Association, facilitates neighborhood activities like a bike rodeo in 2022, and fosters improvement projects including planting new trees in Kensington Park.

Neighborhood Representatives: The current Kensington neighborhood representatives are a mix of newer and longtime residents, including Ruth, Stephanie, and Charlie. The group is always looking for more neighbors to participate and would love to hear from residents interested in helping plan activities and projects for the neighborhood. Visit the Kensington neighborhood website or email Kensington Neighborhood leadership to get involved.

Kensington Boundaries: The Kensington Neighborhood boundaries include Ninth Ave to the North, Lashley St to the East, Third Ave to the South, and Martin St to the West.

Learn more about the Neighborhood Groups Leaders Association (NGLA) and the resources it provides to the Kensington Neighborhood on the NGLA website.

Current Kensington Projects – Get involved today!

To learn more about future activities in the Kensington Neighborhood sponsored by the City of Longmont complete this Kensington subscription form. Email the Kensington Neighborhood Group if you'd like to participate in all neighborhood sponsored activities.

$10 Tree Sale for Kensington Residents

The City of Longmont's Forestry Division is sponsoring a special $10 tree sale just for Kensington Neighborhood residents. Trees help reduce harmful effects of rising temperatures in the neighborhood, clean air, improve mental and physical health, and build a stronger sense of community. Plant a tree in your yard this spring!

Trees are available on a first-come-first-serve basis through a waiting list. Quantities and species are limited, so sign up today to reserve your spot. Signing up does not guarantee the opportunity to buy a tree nor obligate you to purchase a tree. City staff must verify that you live within the Kensington Neighborhood boundaries to qualify (South of 9th Ave, North of 3rd Ave, West of Lashley St, and East of Martin St). More information will be provided to those that sign up on the waiting list.

Payment is not required until trees are available in April 2024.

Download the Kensington Tree Sale Flyer

To be added to the wait list to purchase a $10 tree, click on the button below or call 303-651-8444.

For more information visit the City Forestry website, or contact Natalie Wehrwein via email or call her at 303-774-3708.

*This special sale is only available to residents living in the Kensington Neighborhood. Longmont residents living in other neighborhoods can purchase reduced price trees during the annual Citywide Tree Sale in the Spring. Visit the Tree Sale webpage or call 303-651-8416 for more information.

Summer Cooling Project

Extreme summer heat is one of the biggest climate risks facing Longmont and the City’s Office of Sustainability is working to better understand how it impacts Longmont residents. Volunteers helped map real time temperatures around the City to better understand which neighborhoods experience more heat. Residents in Kensington, Lanyon, and Spangler neighborhoods participated in workshops exploring cooling methods and opportunities for their neighborhoods. And a citywide survey provided additional feedback to the City.

Kensington is one of the feature neighborhoods for cooling solutions and the Office of Sustainability will be using resident feedback to identify cooling strategies in the neighborhood over the next few years. For more information visit the Sustainability website, contact Zak Lance via email, or call 303-774-3553

Grass to Garden: Kensington Park Turf Conversion

The Unity Project mosaic at the corner of Longs Peak Ave and Kensington St in Kensington Park is a defining monument to the Kensington community’s history and tradition of coming together to address challenges. However, the artwork was in danger of deterioration due to damage from grass and park maintenance. The surrounding area was not used for recreational activities requiring the high water use grass that was there. To address these problems, in 2023 multiple departments at the City of Longmont collaborated with the Kensington Neighborhood Group to reinvigorate this space and celebrate the important landmark again. They removed and replaced the grass surrounding the mosaic with a water-wise garden. This project highlights the residents’ opportunity to replace unnecessary turf grass with a beautiful, garden that reduces water use and costs for the homeowner.

The community voted for the features they wanted highlighted in the new garden at an event in July 2023 and through an online poll just for Kensington residents. On September 23, 2023, nearly sixty volunteers came together as a community to plant the garden, including over 350 plants. Community members enjoyed breakfast burritos and ice cream after planting, explored a sustainability fair, and took home nearly 100 plants to start their own water-wise gardens.

The new perennial garden, designed by Annie Barrow, a Denver Botanic Garden landscape designer, is now an inviting space to enjoy the mosaic and learn about water-wise plants and landscaping features that you can easily incorporate into your own yard. The garden features accessible pathways, replaced 3,000 square feet of turf grass, and is estimated to save the City 180,000 gallons of water each year. The Kensington Neighborhood group and City will sponsor opportunities for the community to help with replanting as needed in the spring and support basic maintenance activities to keep the garden pretty and weed free.

Learn more about the water conservation program and what you can do to conserve water in your yard here. [Learn about water conservation opportunities]

Previous Kensington Projects

The Unity Project

In 1998, the Kensington Neighborhood designed and built the Unity Project, a mosaic commemorating community spirit. The piece is part of the Art in Public Places Program portfolio. Longtime Longmont resident and artist Mario Miguel Echevarria and artist partner Susan Dailey designed and directed it. The artwork uses the faces, hands, and ideas of the Kensington neighbors to make a statement in concrete.

Visit the Arts in Public Places website.

Want to Get Involved? Contact Us for More Information

Community and Neighborhood Resources at the City of Longmont

The Division of Community and Neighborhood Resources supports and builds the capacity of nearly fifty active neighborhood groups across the City of Longmont. Contact us for more information about our support for the Kensington Neighborhood or other neighborhood programs and grants. Visit the NGLA website, contact the neighborhood program staff via email, or call 303-651-8444.

Kensington Neighborhood Group

All Kensington residents are welcome and encouraged to get involved in their neighborhood group. Help plan community activities, manage the next community improvement project, or just get to know your neighbors. Visit the neighborhood Kensington Neighborhood website or email the current Kensington Neighborhood community leaders, Ruth, Stephanie, and Charlie.