Tracy’s interest in the rich history of the High Line Canal began in 1990 while working for Denver Parks. Her interest has grown through work in Aurora, serving on the Arapahoe County High Line Canal Working Group and the Denver Water Core Team while engaged with many efforts for the Canal.
Tracy first joined the Conservancy as a Founding Board member in 2014. She served as a member of the Executive Committee and was Board Secretary in 2020 and 2021. Tracy comes to the Conservancy with remarkable experience as a landscape architect and planner working to improve the quality of life for people in diverse communities. For the last 16 years of her 30-year career, she has served as the Planning, Design and Construction Manager for Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space. In this role, Tracy guided a talented staff of professional landscape architects, planners, GIS specialists, project managers and construction inspectors, who together have brought hundreds of acres of new parks and open space lands the city. This includes the metro area’s first fully inclusive playground, Red-Tailed Hawk Park, which Tracy and a committed team from Aurora secured over $700K in public and private donations to reach completion. A talented manager and highly skilled grant writer, Tracy has secured federal and local grants to complete projects from the beloved Hoops Park in Aurora to the High Line Canal crossing at I-70.
“Tracy embodies everything anyone could ever ask for in a public servant and leader. She exhibits incredible vision, judgment and strategic thinking. Having partnered with her on numerous projects over the last decade, what amazes me most is that the work has never been about her. It has always been about making the community that she lives and works in a better place. The High Line Canal is lucky to have her,” says Josh Tenneson, Great Outdoors Colorado Deputy Director and High Line Canal Conservancy Board Secretary.
In this new role with the High Line Canal Conservancy, Tracy will work in partnership with Harriett Crittenden LaMair, Executive Director, and close collaboration with Suzanna Fry Jones, Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships and Josh Phillips, Director of Planning Implementation. She will be involved in implementing the community-driven Plan for the High Line Canal and strategic planning to advance the Canal’s transition. In addition, Tracy will oversee all internal operations to further the Conservancy’s mission and impact.
“As the Conservancy grows in its leadership role with the Canal Collaborative, a regional partnership with local agencies and governments, Denver Water and philanthropic partners committed to protecting and enhancing the Canal, we are thrilled to have Tracy’s expertise. Her management background and passion will elevate our team’s ability to support the planning, design and construction of millions of dollars of improvements ensuring the Canal is enhanced as a vital 71 mile regional greenway connecting millions of people to natural open space,“ says LaMair.
Welcome, Tracy!
