The latest set of improvements to Civic Center is expected to be nearly completed by mid-June.
The second phase of the work, which began in January, involves renovating the Broadway Terrace along the park’s east side. The work includes redoing paths and restoring and replacing bricks to the promenade off Broadway.
“People are going to notice the Broadway Terrace,” said Mark Bernstein, downtown area planner for Denver Parks and Recreation. “That’s the part that is going to give the park its biggest face-lift.”
Crews are adding dozens of benches to the terrace. They also removed a right-turn lane from Colfax Avenue onto Broadway. Plans call for adding a kiosk for a food vendor near that intersection, as well as at Broadway and 14th Avenue.
Crews have restored a balustrade, a railing with carved columns, by replacing worn-out balusters and clustering ones that could be salvaged. The original sandstone came from Fort Carson’s Turkey Creek, but the material is no longer available. Bernstein said officials used sandstone from Wilkeson Sandstone Quarry in Washington state that closely resembled the original.
The first phase of the work involved restoring the 90-year-old Voorhies Memorial and Greek Theater, as well as adding lighting. That work, which cost about $5.2 million, was finished last year. The second phase cost about $2.9 million, Bernstein said, and the rest of the $9.5 million from the sale of bonds went to design and administrative costs.
The renovations stem from a 2005 Civic Center Master Plan and coincide with $7.24 million worth of improvements to the Denver City and County Building. Voters approved a citywide $550 million bond program in 2007. Separate work is planned for the McNichols Building.
Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, executive director of the nonprofit Civic Center Conservancy, said the work will jump-start the campaign to celebrate Civil Center’s centennial.
“It’s like our community’s front yard had fallen into disrepair,” she said. “Thanks to Denver voters, these bond improvements are helping to elevate this space. And the challenge will be: How do we build off that? How do we sustain that?”
Matthew Rodriguez: 303-954-2409 or mrodriguez@yourhub.com
