Denver’s plan to relocate northern sections of Washington Park’s running trail from along roads to the park’s interior has drawn fire from a neighborhood group.
Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park, or FANS, says the move, which the city says will increase runners’ safety, could do the opposite.
City officials say moving the northeast portion of the trail behind a fire station will improve runners’ safety because they won’t have to go through the station’s parking lot and along a stretch of South Franklin Street, where car doors open along the trail.
The neighborhood group says the move would make the trail more secluded, meaning runners could be less likely to be seen if they need help.
“When I use the park, I want to be on the edge,” said Sonia John, a board member with FANS. “There’s just a feeling of security when there’s houses and cars.”
City officials have agreed to hold off on the proposed changes to the north and northeast sections until early next year, but they are moving ahead with some changes to the northwest side in the coming weeks.
They plan to move the trail away from the intersection of East Virginia Avenue and South Downing Street, as well as south of the intersection of Virginia and South Marion Parkway. They say the move will decrease conflicts among joggers and people entering the park, as well as allow them to improve the park’s northwest entryway someday.
FANS says the realignment divides an open space and won’t fix the problematic intersection of Virginia and Marion. But Parks and Recreation officials say they are working with Public Works to find ways to improve the safety of that intersection.
On Oct. 15, about 500 volunteers with Volunteers Outdoor Colorado are expected to redo the northwest alignment, as well as the park’s east side and its southwest edge.
According to the city, the first phase will cost $160,000. While Parks and Recreation is paying for design costs, a private donor is covering the rest.
The second phase — expected to cost about the same amount — is slated to complete the south and west sides of the park, as well as its north and northeast sections early next year. The north and northeast sections are expected to be discussed Thursday at a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, as well as at subsequent public meetings.
On the park’s northern edge, the city plans to move a roadside section of the trail south onto a hill through a stretch of evergreen trees. Officials say the current trail becomes icy in the winter along Virginia.
John said the realigned section would still be covered by shade. “To us, it looks exactly the same problem will happen,” she said.
Britta Herwig, senior landscape architect with Parks and Recreation, said: “When this trail is frozen, a lot of people opt to run in the road, which is not a safe thing to do.”
Matthew Rodriguez: 303-954-2409 or mrodriguez@denverpost.com
