The Centerra Metro District invests in public improvements and infrastructure to encourage private investment and economic growth in the area. Since its creation in 2004, the District has invested $177M in community enhancements.

Current Projects 

Kendall Parkway: I-25 Underpass, Bridge and Roundabout

$7.3M invested

Kendall Parkway is an important east/west route that travels through the Centerra Metro District. The Metro District invested $7.3M to build Kendall Parkway, and is currently constructing a new I-25 underpass, and a bridge to allow travel all the way from Boyd Lake Avenue to Centerra Parkway. The connection will provide a new, local route for east/west travel in the area. When finished, Kendall Parkway will help alleviate significant traffic stress on Hwy 34 and Crossroads. Not just for vehicles, these improvements will also provide a major trail connection for pedestrians and cyclists. Plus, a new roundabout at Trapper Lake Dr. helps ensure easy mobility for those on foot, bike or car.

Mobility Hub

$1M invested

The Mobility Hub will be a new multi-modal transportation center that serves the entire Northern Colorado region. The hub will be the first center-load transit station in Colorado and will be one of the defining pieces of the North I-25 Express Lanes project. The design includes a park and ride, plaza with the possibility of food trucks, a landscaped walkway to a tunnel under I-25, then up a ramp to a platform where riders will access buses. This initiative was developed in conjunction with Kendall Parkway, as those improvements are critical to creating accessibility for all types of transportation. The entire project, included the improvements to Kendall Parkway, will cost $20.8 million. The Mobility Hub is the result of a partnership between the Centerra Metro District and CDOT.

 Sustainability Initiatives

Charging Stations

In 2020, Centerra Metro District installed three, Level II electric vehicle charging stations that can serve six electrical vehicles simultaneously. The chargers were purchased by the District with assistance from Colorado Energy Office’s Charge Ahead Colorado Grant Program. The location of these charging stations has close proximity to the I-25 corridor in Loveland and are a portion of the Metro District’s multifaceted commitment to sustainability. The District offered charging at no-cost for the first year and now charges the market rate for users. *close to public parking to encourage use and adoption of e-cars.

Water Conservation & Sustainability Initiatives

Centerra Metro District in partnership with the High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) and Centerra, has established the Water Conservation and Sustainability Initiative to promote water conservation and environmental leadership in the region. The end goal is to ensure that future construction projects in the community utilize regionally appropriate landscapes including native plants adapted to Colorado’s climate and high altitude, ultimately requiring less water in an effort to conserve taxpayer money and resources.

The Water Conservation and Sustainability Initiative was established to provide the industry a roadmap that can help inform like-minded developers to establish or enhance sustainable operations.

High Plains Environmental Center Partnership

The District understands the value and importance of native, water-efficient landscaping. The HPEC is an urban environmental park comprised of 76 acres of land and 3 miles of trails that surround two lakes. HPEC works to educate communities to become replicable “living laboratories” which demonstrate restorative examples of land stewardship, native plants, and wildlife habitat. Together, the District and HPEC work collaboratively to identify and implement best practices in development landscaping. In addition to their expertise, HPEC also provides access to native plants through their nursery.

Landscape Construction Specifications

Ultimately, the District is working toward developing the gold standard in landscape construction specifications. Using the District’s extensive knowledge of managing landscapes in the community, the results of recent pilot programs, and expertise from HPEC, the District is working to define best practices. The effort should result in the Centerra Metro District becoming the first special district in the nation to be certified as a “Sustainable Landscape Community” by the American Landscape Contractors of Colorado.

Water-Wise Landscaping and Test Plots

The District currently adheres to Water-Wise Landscaping standards and is constantly testing ways to become more efficient with water use. Construction projects in the community utilize regionally appropriate landscapes including native plants adapted to Colorado’s climate and high altitude, requiring less water. The District uses hydro-zones to monitor use of water and determine what type of landscaping would minimize the use of irrigation water.

Test plots were also created along major arterial road curbs to study which types of grasses can quickly grow from seeding to thriving, and ultimately withstand the treatments used during winter snow plowing. The study occurred over a two-year period and the results will soon be published to provide guidance to other developers in the region.

High Plains Environmental Center History

In 2001, McWhinney and McStain Neighborhoods partnered to form an environmental nonprofit, the High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC). Located within Centerra, HPEC serves as a resource to protect the habitat and restore nature in the community. Through its partnership with HPEC, Centerra has been designated as the first wildlife habitat community in the state of Colorado by the National Wildlife Federation, promoting connectivity in landscapes to support wildlife in northern Colorado’s growing urban corridor, with HPEC managing 483 acres of open space and stormwater ponds within Centerra.