The Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve was donated to Greenwood Village, in south Metro Denver, in 1990. A long swath of lakes, marshes, meadows and woodlands, it is tucked within a southeastward loop of the Highline Canal.
This morning, my wife and I enjoyed a walk through the refuge, which commands a pleasing view of Mt. Evans and adjacent Front Range peaks. We encountered a pair of beavers, a mix of waterfowl and a variety of common songbirds.
A collection of mansions line the outer edge of the canal loop, emphasizing the importance of the natural habitat through which we hiked. As open space continues to succumb to commercial and residential development, such preserves, however small, become increasingly vital.
