CREJ - Building Dialogue - March 2015
In 1974, a handful of visionaries took it upon themselves to inspire the Denver community to reinvest in what was perhaps its most ignored, underutilized and blighted resource: the South Platte River. The challenge was to change the identity of the river from a force at odds with the city to its current and evolving role as the city’s most valuable resource. The many partners of these efforts include the city of Denver, The Greenway Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado, Trust for Public Land, the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, the Environmental Protection Agency, design consultants, and various other organizations and individuals. What started as a vision is becoming a reality, funded by over $23 million in grants and matching funds designated for the river between 2010 and 2013. The River Vision Implementation Plan for the South Platte River translated the goals outlined in previous plans into tangible objectives, and prioritized sites along the river for improvement. Johnson Habitat Park, one of the top five priority flagship projects under the River Vision Implementation Plan, is nearing completion as a unique and surprising re-adaptation of the site. While the site was once used in the 1960s as a landfill and to sequester debris from flood damage, the redesign supports sustainable flooding patterns, up to the extent of the 100- year floodplain. Johnson Habitat is being transformed with educational, ecological and habitat improvements, through wetland creation, native plant establishment, streambank restoration and recreational improvements. Improved river access and visibility were achieved by opening the floodplain and riverbank, re-grading the steep slopes and embankments, and creating formal access to the river through Americans with Disabilities Act concrete trails and sculpted concrete jetties. Recreation opportunities were integrated through an improved and updated regional trail section, educational interactive natural play elements and traditional play equipment outside of the floodplain. The site features are designed to support environmental educational activities, especially those that relate specifically to the South Platte River and the native landscape of Colorado. Interpretive environmental outdoor classrooms were integrated into the design for organizations such as South Platte River Environmental Education and Denver Public Schools to utilize as part of their curriculum. Further downstream, the rehabilitation and restoration of the Weir Gulch channel and its confluence with the South Platte River have begun to realize the ecological and social potentials of the award-winning Sun Valley Riverfront Park. These goals were achieved at two scales: the neighborhood scale, informed by community input; and the city scale, in coordination with Urban Drainage Flood Control District and the River Vision Implementation Plan. This park has been transformed through wetland creation, native plant establishment, and backwater areas for invertebrate habitat. Improved river access and visibility was achieved by opening the floodplain and riverbank. Recreation opportunities were integrated through an improved and updated regional trail section, custom bridge structure, sculpted concrete jetties on either side of a signature boulder drop structure within Weir Gulch and a traditional a neighborhood park outside of the floodplain. In addition to the ecological and drainage improvements, the focus was on providing educational services and recreational value for the site. A neighborhood park in the upper area includes an interpretive panel describing the hydrological cycle highlighting the significance of Weir Gulch in Denver’s system of waterways. Site features in the open space park help distinguish it from other parks along the river, providing respite and opportunities for reflection on the South Platte. With these site improvements, the mayor of Denver now identifies the neighborhood as one that is ripe for investment. Further economic and social investment in the site spurred on by the restoration of Sun Valley Riverfront Park has improved the quality of life for Sun Valley residents.