ABOUT
SUBURBITAT
We call it Suburbitat – a concept of a built environment where suburbia and native ecosystems thrive side by side. Children go to schools surrounded by pollinator gardens. You walk your dog down a street that is kept cool by native tree cover. Your local water supply is clean due to nutrient sequestration by the native plants surrounding the lake.
At High Plains Environmental Center we recognize that the population of Colorado will continue to grow. As more and more people move to the Front Range we will need to build more homes, and we don’t mind sharing this beautiful space with others. However, we believe that we can adjust the way we expand to live in harmony with the natural world. One of our biggest tools in the fight against water shortages, loss of pollinators and wildlife species decline, and other ecological damage is the reintroduction of native plants to their rightful habitats.
We felt so strongly about it that we wrote the book on it!
What people are saying:
“Suburbitat is an essential resource for city planners, developers, landscape architects, HOA boards, homeowners, and anyone passionate about creating stunning landscapes that enhance native biodiversity and conserve natural resources. This comprehensive guide provides in-depth strategies for establishing and managing native landscapes, including grasses, shrubs, and flowers, that not only reduce the strain on our precious water supplies but also restore natural habitats. Beyond just a gardening manual, SUBURBITAT addresses common human barriers to conservation, such as preconceived notions about landscape aesthetics, and offers practical approaches for coexisting with wildlife rather than removing it.”
The High Plains Environmental Center works to educate communities to become replicable “living laboratories” which demonstrate restorative examples of land-stewardship, native plants, and wildlife habitat.
We want you to visit our site and get inspired to plant native in your own space.
We want to give the community access to affordable environmental education.
We want to grow and sell native plants not for profit but for good, & we price sales accordingly.
COLLABORATION
CONSERVATION
EDUCATION
COMMUNICATION
High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC), a 510(c)(3) non-profit, was created as a collaborative effort to promote sustainable land use in Colorado’s high plains ecosystem. The center’s mission is to use native plants and environments to develop nature-based solutions that address the impacts of development. Founded with the vision of educating citizens and developers about land use aligned with Colorado’s unique climate, HPEC serves as a demonstration center showcasing thoughtful, sustainable practices where the mountains meet the prairie.
HPEC’s creation was driven by Tom Hoyt of McStain Enterprises and supported by Chad and Troy McWhinney, master developers of Centerra. These visionary leaders, with backing from the Loveland City Council, helped establish the center to protect the areas lakes and wetlands and provide programs on sustainable design. Two nonprofits were formed: HPEC focuses on education and outreach, while the High Plains Foundation owns and maintains the land and assets. Both were incorporated in 2001, with a Board of Trustees overseeing each organization.
OUR VISION
In May 2017, HPEC proudly unveiled our new educational visitor center, dedicated to preserving and restoring Colorado’s unique native biodiversity amid ongoing development. Our center features expansive gardens and interactive exhibits thar showcase how native plants enhance wildlife habitats and contribute to effective water conservation in landscaping, open spaces, and urban stormwater management. Adjacent to HPEC, the Thompson School District opened a new pre-K through 8 school in 2016. This school, designed to foster a collaborative relationship with HPEC, emphasizes a STEAM curriculum with a strong focus on science and environmental Sustainability.