Your Voice in Northglenn: Where community, diversity, and growth intersect

[00:00:01][music] >> Denver 7 is committed to listening to you about what's happening in your community.

[00:00:07]>> It's the purpose behind our Your Voice series where we visit communities across Colorado and put you in control of the conversation. So, tonight's Your Voice story takes us about 12 miles north from downtown Denver to the small suburb of Northglenn.

[00:00:21]>> Denver 7's Maggie Bryant heard from residents there about what makes the city so unique, what's changed, and what they hope for the future of this tight-knit community.

[00:00:33]>> Tucked in Denver's North [music] Metro, spanning just 7 and 1/2 square miles, sits the city of Northglenn.

[00:00:44]A tight-knit suburb, home to about 38,000 people, and plenty of parks and trails.

[00:00:52]But, to truly understand a community, >> Hi there. How are you?

[00:00:56]>> you have to hear from the people who know it best.

[00:00:59]>> Can I ask you a quick question? We're [music] with Denver 7, talking with residents who live in Northglenn. We can talk about anything you want to talk about.

[00:01:06]>> The good, the bad, what's changed, and what stands out. Cutting through the noise to hear your voice.

[00:01:16]>> We started our day at the Northglenn Recreation Center, which the city rebuilt about 5 years ago.

[00:01:22]>> What brings you to the rec center today?

[00:01:24]>> I love this rec center. I came to the old rec center.

[00:01:28]>> There is something about the friendliness of the people here.

[00:01:31]>> Would you say community investments like this >> Yes.

[00:01:33]>> bring good benefits for you?

[00:01:34]>> Absolutely. 100% yes, yes.

[00:01:36]>> Northglenn is so good to their community.

[00:01:39]>> What makes it different here?

[00:01:40]>> I guess the people and the willingness to accept diversity.

[00:01:46]>> And you can see by the kids walking in, they support their kids.

[00:01:50]>> Keeping with the theme of community gathering places, we had to stop by the Glenn Bar and Grill, just a couple miles away.

[00:01:58]>> We love the Glenn. The people are friendly. It's like your neighborhood pub.

[00:02:02]>> It's a family, you know? It's The Glenn is a family.

[00:02:05]>> Tell me how long you've lived in this area.

[00:02:08]>> For Well, since 1989. We found a really sweet little house up here and it had a huge backyard.

[00:02:16]>> What's the biggest change you think you've seen in Northglenn?

[00:02:19]>> In some of these older neighborhoods, young people are moving in and fixing up these homes and it's just really uplifting.

[00:02:27]>> The housing I think is more affordable than some of the new million-dollar homes.

[00:02:34]>> Why do you choose to live and stay in this area?

[00:02:37]>> I just feel like home, you know? I'm not from here. I'm from Mexico. I migrated to the US in 1998. Both of my kids were born here.

[00:02:46]>> Would you say Northglenn is a good place to raise a family?

[00:02:49]>> Yes, it is.

[00:02:49]>> Is it safe?

[00:02:50]>> I'm part of the LGBTQ+ family.

[00:02:54]I always feel welcome. My neighbors are very nice. There's always respect in between cultures.

[00:03:00]>> Our last stop, EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park, a popular spot to play, walk, fish, and cool off in the summer.

[00:03:08]>> I went to Northglenn Middle School, Northglenn High School. Quite a bit has changed, yeah, over the years coming back home to visit. I just noticed just the the population just growing and growing in this area especially and kind of disappointing in a sense, you know, cuz it wasn't as congested as it was, you know, 10 years ago.

[00:03:27]>> It's a smaller community surrounded by your Westminster, Thornton's, and Broomfield's. I think it's kind of lost in the shuffle. I think they are lacking an identity.

[00:03:39]>> What would you like to see more of here?

[00:03:41]>> I would agree. I would like to see like more restaurants, things for like us and our young twenties. I would say, yeah, like more parks, um, more things for, you know, the youth to do.

[00:03:52]>> I would like to see a little bit more opportunities for kids, you know, to keep them busy.

[00:03:58]And keep them away from electronics, you know, some outdoor outdoor sports.

[00:04:03]>> A community growing, changing, and working [music] to build a future worth calling home.

[00:04:09]In Northglenn, I'm Maggie Bryant, Denver 7.