December Construction Update
We are SO CLOSE! The past month has been full of pre-inspections, punch walks, and final touches. All of the lighting was installed and temperatures and levels were adjusted. The AV and IT equipment was installed! Furniture has been purchased! The accessible ramp handrails were painted and finished up!
It has been a lot of work and we are so excited to move into the space in the next few weeks. For those of you that don't know, the Bluff Lake team has been operating out of an office in Montbello for the last 10+ years. The team has been busy packing the office to get ready for our move!
To give our new plantings the best chance at survival we will be waiting until April and May to do the seeding, planting, and final irrigation installation. Erosion control matting has bene placed around the entire project site to protect from erosion during the next few months.
Timeline of the next few months:
January 2026: Bluff Lake receives TCO (Temporary Occupancy Permit) and is allowed to move into our new space! We will spend the next few weeks moving in and getting things ready for our Grand Opening.
February 14, 2026: Bluff Lake Grand Opening Celebration! See details above.
February 16, 2026: Bluff Lake parking lot, buildings, and new ramp officially open for general visitor use! **pending any unforeseen project changes!
April/May 2026: Seeding and planting of all vegetated areas.
(1) Early morning at the Bluff Lake Gateway. To the north (right) is the Team Headquarters with our new office spaces, meeting rooms, and staff and volunteer break room. To the south (left) is our Program Building with our indoor/outdoor lobby and learning spaces.
(2) A view from one of the pathways leading towards the gateway. The pathways throughout are either concrete (parking lot, in the gateway, on the ramp) or a reinforced crusher fine that is rock hard to improve accessibility. Fencing is being installed to help guide visitors in the right direction and to protect landscaping. Erosion matting can be seen in all areas that will be seeded and planted in the spring.
(3) A view showing our Accessible Ramp and Stairs system leading down into the site. The handrails were painted a soft sage, which matches both the amphitheater and future plantings that will grow in the area. One of the ramp overlooks/resting spots can also be seen.
(4) Beautiful light filling the Learning Space, which looks out onto the lake. This space has an operable partition that can split the room into two smaller rooms. It will be used by our Bluff Lake programs and available for rent to the community!
It's not too late to make your gift to this amazing project. Your support will help build more community spaces, improve accessibility, and leave a lasting impact for generations to come. And don't forget: We have campaign challenges for many of our Bluff Lake community, like Camp Families, Birders, Bluff Lake Explorers (our homeschool and forest school kiddos), Alumni (past board, volunteers, and staff), as well as our board members and more!
