If you're looking for a lush green space to hang by the South Platte River (though please don't actually get in the river) look no further than behind the National Western Center and CSU Spur in Elyria-Swansea.
This week, the Center celebrated the opening of the "Riverfront," six-acres of open green space alongside the South Platte that was once inaccessible due to wastewater pipes, freight rail lines and livestock pens.
Now, the space will serve as a community gathering spot, equipped with picnic tables, new trails (including a connecting one to the South Platte River Greenway Trail), water-efficient landscaping, public art and a 250-person open-air amphitheater.
"This is our back porch," said Center CEO Brad Buchanan. "This riverfront hasn't been accessible and we're not done yet. We're going to continue with the momentum on this project as the city has set forth with riverfront upgrades and expanding this space."
The project is part of the Center's redevelopment plan, aimed at making the space active year-around as opposed to mainly when the National Western Stock Show is in town for 16 days.
In 2015, Denver voters approved a measure that would help fund two transformational phases of the National Western Complex and Denver Coliseum into the National Western Center. Instead of being that one-time destination solely for the Stock Show, the Center would become a global hub for "agriculture, education and entertainment."
With the new space, Buchanan said the Center can now focus on programming opportunities, such as local concerts or providing spaces for nonprofits. He added that community members receive about 50% reduction in costs on anything at the campus and, if the nonprofits interested in using the space need help covering costs, the Center will help them.
"How do we bring the campus to life in a way that's relevant and authentic and important to community," Buchanan said. "It's happening. We are having more Spanish-speaking events on this campus than we are having English-speaking events right now. So, it's all coming to life."
At the ribbon cutting event Thursday, Buchanan, along with Mayor Michael Hancock, acknowledged the Globeville Elyria-Swansea residents.
Both said the project wouldn't be completed without the GES community's patience, commitment and assistance.
The Center, the city and the GES community have sometimes been at odds over the redevelopment plans. Initially, nearby residents were supportive of the entire redevelopment project, but there were "burdens" to bear, including losing businesses and residences due to eminent domain. A parcel of land known as "the Triangle" is still vacant due to a pause in the bidding process during the pandemic and residents are currently working on a campaign to reacquire the land.
But residents did back the "Riverfront" change and activating the area is in line with the Globeville neighborhood plan.
"This project serves a whole bunch of purposes, starting with working on this area in terms of cleanup," Buchanan said. "We're reiterating its relevance except this time with community, with the voice of community...It's not easy work. There's not always agreement. There's a lot of distrust, historic issues of distrust and no one is leaving the table...No one is giving up on each other."
And the project is moving along. Part of the renovated Center includes Colorado State University's satellite campus, CSU Spur. The campus hosts three facilities: Vida, which focuses on animal and human health; Terra is all about food and agriculture innovation; and Hydro, home to everything water.
It was also a big week for CSU. The campus celebrated the opening of both its outdoor space called the "Backyard" and Denver Water's new state-of-the-art water quality laboratory in CSU's Hydro building.
The "Riverfront" and the "Backyard" are a short walk from each other, on a path that connects the river to the Center.
The "Backyard" also features a small pavilion for concerts and outdoor seating for families to rest or eat while exploring the Spur.
One aspect of Hydro is its focus on water from basic properties to information on the South Platte River. There's a hands-on stream table equipped with water and sand that showcases how water affects the nearby landscape. In the teaching laboratories participants can throw on a pair of boots, walk down to the river, take a sample and assess the health of the river.
Having the "Backyard" and "Riverfront" available makes that experience easier.
Buchanan said there's more work to be done at the Center near the "Riverfront" space, including, maybe adding some type of restaurant or brewery.
Part of the project was also the creation of the a river bridge at 51st Avenue. There will be more infrastructure changes connecting the GES neighborhoods with the river, the Center and Spur.
Jocelyn Hittle, CSU's assistant vice chancellor, also said the "Backyard" may also host some local vendors and food trucks every now and then.
She added that Hydro is currently home to some artist studios and in the future, CSU will host resident artists in the spaces.
Both agreed that the spaces were all about activation and that's what they want to see, people coming, learning and relaxing by the water.
"It's been an amazing transformation," Buchanan said. "We have to remember what this was and why it was and how we got here. All of our history well before the stockyards were here. I think that just makes this even that much more significant to know the intentional choices that were made... How can this space be adaptively reused in a historic place amongst historic communities in a way that benefits everyone in the process? I guess we'll have to wait 10 or 20 years to see if we did a good job at it but I think we're off to a good start."
