Took the lead on proposing community use of the former Bergen Meadow campus to include affordable senior housing, retention of the athletic fields, and a building pad for a community center.
Supporting the restoration of the historic log schoolhouse relocated to Marshdale Park from Wilmot Elementary School.
Purchased the planters lining Main Street
Supporting the Inclusive Playground at Buchanan Park
Supported the colorful renovation of the Tunnel of Love between Center Stage and Church of the Transfiguration.
Generous, enlightened Evergreen residents and businesses have contributed close to a million dollars to the Evergreen Legacy Fund (ELF) for infrastructure, beautification and legacy projects to improve the safety and enjoyment of our gorgeous foothills community. Because Evergreen is unincorporated (has no city government), it is considered 'rural' by Jefferson County and therefore not entitled to 'urban' amenities like sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and crosswalks. ELF coordinates with the county to add needed improvements in county rights-of-way and uses the funds it raises as seed money for grants to pay for the improvements.
In 2025 ELF announced that it had broadened its purpose by becoming a community foundation, making small grants to other nonprofit organizations with their own plans for improving Evergreen. The organization works to "bridge the gaps and fill the voids," often preferring to be among the first 5% in on a project or the one to put the fundraising effort over the top if it falls short.
Evergreen Legacy Foundation invests in our community and mobilizes people, ideas, and resources to preserve and strengthen the quality of life in Evergreen.
Since 2012, Evergreen Legacy Fund has been partnering with multiple public agencies to identify and address needed infrastructure projects in Evergreen. (See below for history and success stories).
In 2025, in response to a meaningful increase in private donations and growing community interest in supporting projects beyond infrastructure, the organization adopted the name Evergreen Legacy Foundation (ELF) to reflect its expanding mission and broader impact on the Evergreen community.
History:
In 2010, business and property owners and local leaders created the Downtown Evergreen Economic District (DEED) to develop a plan to address the overuse and under-repair of downtown infrastructure.
In 2012, the Evergreen Legacy Fund was spun off from DEED as a nonprofit to partner with multiple public agencies to identify needed infrastructure projects in Evergreen beyond the downtown area.
In 2013, Bear Creek flooded parts of Evergreen and ELF contributed to flood relief, for which it was given the Emerald Service Award by the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce.
In 2015, the Evergreen Trails Master Plan was finalized with and approved by Jefferson County. A 200-foot pedestrian bridge (part of the trails plan) connecting the lake trail to downtown Evergreen is completed with a $30,000 matching-fund assist and project coordination from ELF.
In 2020, the Evergreen Local Improvement District (ELID) was approved by the Jefferson County Commissioners as a grant-matching vehicle to pay for infrastructure projects. The ELID defines the boundaries of ELF projects to include all economic areas of Evergreen—basically running along CO Hwy 74 and Jeffco Hwy 73.
In 2021, ELF coordinated with Jeffco to complete a Riverwalk and additional parking on Main Street to accommodate bikers and pedestrians.
A signalized crosswalk at the Center for the Arts in Bergen Park was installed to connect the Center with parking areas.
Crosswalks and concrete separators between the two shopping centers in Bergen Park are being replaced to make them more user friendly and ADA compliant.
In 2022, ELF funded the mural on the Evergreen Metro District building, donated $50,000 toward the reconstruction of the Evergreen North Lake Trail, funded ($9,000) the painting of murals on the Evergreen Metropolitan Water District building by high school students, and donated $5,000 toward the mural on the Century Link building in lower downtown.
In 2024, the Evergreen Lake Trail was reconstructed to better accommodate pedestrian and bike use along Hwy 74.
2025 Highlights:
Hwy 74 will was repaved through downtown Evergreen and a raised crosswalk will be installed to ensure the safety of pedestrians/shoppers.
ELF contributes to the multi-million-dollar widening of Hwy 73 between the library and the light downtown by paying for bike lanes and bike racks.
ELF improves pedestrian and cyclist safety along Meadow Drive with striped, paved shoulders and sidewalks.
ELF will improve pedestrian and cyclist safety between the Elks Lodge on Iris Drive and Center Stage on Fireweed.
ELF donates $14,274 to the Evergreen Downtown Business Association to purchase 26 commercial-grade self-watering Earth Planters to line Main Street.
ELF awards a $5,000 challenge grant to Blue Spruce Kiwanis to stimulate donations toward a $100,000 pledge for the Inclusive Playground planned for at Buchanan Park.
ELF plays a leadership role in proposing the Bergen Meadow Elementary School for community use.
ELF is invited to participate in a panel discussion on Infrastructure at the first Town Hall Meeting, sponsored by Leadership Evergreen's Class of 2024.
Organization name
Evergreen Legacy Foundation
other names
ELF Foundation
2020
Tax id (EIN)
84-4777007
Category
Community Improvement & Capacity Building
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
PO BOX 252Evergreen, CO, US, 80439