Watershed Inc.

04/16/2026

Thank you to The Chaffee County Times --and especially Hannah Harn for championing these projects from the very beginning. We keep on our office wall the first article, "Buena Vista School District enters contract to sell McGinnis Gym," from Feb 4, 2022. This kind of local support has kept us going through many ups and downs over the past 4 years. We are really going to miss Hannah, and wish her well in her undoubtedly bright and beautiful future.

Two historic preservation projects in Buena Vista were awarded the Stephen H. Hart Award from History Colorado, the state’s historic preservation organization, at a ceremony in Denver on April 8.

04/09/2026

We were so grateful to receive the Stephen H. Hart Award last night—Colorado’s highest historic preservation honor—among amazing company. We hope this recognition will inspire others to breathe new life into historic spaces!

You can watch a video about the McGinnis Gym
and Grove projects via the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyrqD4ZACYo

02/13/2026

Today, Watershed's Katy Welter presents at the Saving Places Conference on the revitalization of the McGinnis Gym with the help of U.S. EPA Brownfields funding and support! https://www.coloradopreservation.org/saving-places-conference/

11/14/2025

We took these projects on because putting these spaces back into community use was the right thing to do. It's icing on the cake to also be recognized for that work. We look forward to receiving the Stephen H. Hart award with other honorees in April 2026.

The McGinnis Gym and the Grove Preschool building will be receiving the Stephen H. Hart Award, the state of Colorado’s highest historic preservation honor for exemplary preservation projects that serve the public.

08/29/2025

And it's a wrap! We converted an underutilized maintenance garage and dirt lot into a vibrant early learning center for 126 families. Thank you to the many, many people who made this project possible, but especially BV Schools Colorado!

The Buena Vista Board of Education and community celebrate the opening of the new Grove Early Learning Program facility, providing much-needed childcare solutions.