Video Story
Watch VideoOnline resource takes you to what's "green" in Colorado Springs
Story By: Rachel Hoffenberg
Source: KOAA
A new online resource, the Green Map of the Pikes Peak Region, developed in Colorado Springs hopes to virtually lead you to what's "green" in the Pikes Peak Region. Like green stores, businesses, even educational opportunities.
It’s a website that took a Colorado Springs woman more than a year to develop. You'll find sites like it in 300 cities around the world all with the same goal of making "green" living accessible at the click of a finger.
Its creator and developer, Kelly Sparks, says her desire to help the environment has transformed into a passionate hobby. "That's one of my concerns as a mom. I want the city and the world to be just as nice of a place for my son as it is for me." She's a professional mapper, hoping her job skills can now help residents and businesses in the Pikes Peak Region. "I've compiled a resource, with information on some green sites in the Pikes Peak area."
Sparks says it's a site with "all things green" to promote green shopping, activities and education. Aimed to "help Colorado Springs' green economy grow and help our city become more sustainable."
Let's say you want to do some green shopping in your neighborhood. You can log on to the site and get a list of "green" stores. For instance, if you click on the Arc Thriftstore, it virtually takes you there. Sparks says it’s green because "It allows people to take and drop off clothing and accessories and items instead of throwing them away. So it's a way of recycling."
You’ll find places like restaurants, tourist sites, and educational facilities, even grocery stores all attempting to be green. According to Sparks, "There aren't really super stringent requirements to be on the map. But if a business is working toward that goal, we go ahead and put them on the map."
Sparks says she hopes the site catches on with businesses and consumers to lead the Pies Pak region in a positive direction for the future.
"Really, this whole goal of the green map for me in a way could be summed up as, trying to make green the new normal. Because I believe that's the way that it's going."
The developer is looking for more green businesses to add to the green map.
