We now have a pretty good idea of the city's plan for Globeville Park, an often overlooked but much appreciated patch of green near the National Western Stock Show.
Read on to see the "preferred concept" for the park's redesign, which was created after a series of meetings and draft concepts.
It looks like this.
A higher-resolution concept map is available on the city's website.
Here's what it includes.
The dominant feature is the new open channel, a more natural replacement for the current concrete drainage ditch that runs through the park. Construction on the channel will begin late this year.
Then, starting late in 2017, the city expects to start rebuilding the park itself. That likely will include:
- Two natural play areas, plus two turf areas for soccer, football and other field games.
- New walking and cycling paths, and an upgrade to the regional river trail through the park.
- Easier visibility across the park.
- Better access to the South Platte River.
- As before, disc golf baskets will be dotted through the park.
The city argues that the redesign is increasing the amount of "usable" land in the park, though residents worry that they're really losing land. A comparison of the current park and the new plan is available on page 12 of this document.
We're waiting on the city to provide the latest estimated costs for the park redesign.
Here are some more pictures.
These renderings show two alternate perspectives on the proposed rebuild.
This is part of a larger plan.
The city plans to put nearly $300 million into a renovation of storm drainage systems in northern Denver. Globeville Landing is part of that system, and the city argues that the redesign will make it more pleasant and allow it to better handle the flow of water to the river.
