This month, we sat down with Kirk Longstein, a Senior Environmental Planner, to answer some questions about the City’s work in nature-based solutions:
Q: Kirk, what exactly are nature-based solutions, and how are they different from a park?
A: Nature-based solutions (NbS) describes infrastructure that uses natural processes to solve engineering problems: managing stormwater, cooling streets, filtering runoff, and supporting wildlife. NECO Pond, Dragonfly Natural Area, Red Fox Meadows, Glenmoor Detention basin and Udall Natural Area are some places in town where Fort Collins Utilities chose nature-based solutions over concrete.
Q: Why are nature-based solutions important as Fort Collins grows denser?
A: As Fort Collins grows, every square foot of a development site is crucial. While a traditional approach may ask , “Where's the landscaping? Where's the tree lawn?, Where’s the detention basin?” as separate problems, a nature-based design asks, “What if one well-designed space did all three?” This approach helps creates affordable and environmentally-focused spaces that feel like home.
Q: So what's the project you're working on?
A: We're developing a Nature-Based Solutions Policy and Design Guide — funded through a FEMA resilience grant. The goal is to make NbS the go-to pathway for developers to meet stormwater, landscaping, and street design standards in Fort Collins. This work directly supports Council's 2026-27 priorities around removing barriers to development, and Our Climate Future's goal of building a more climate-resilient Fort Collins.
Q: What motivates your passion for this work?
A: Honestly, a lot of what drives this work is being a parent. I want my son and daughter to grow up in a Fort Collins that still feels like Fort Collins — the trees, the open space, the neighborhoods you can walk around in — and that means making smart decisions now about how we build.
