COMMERCE CITY — More than 750 suggestions have been offered on what to do with the old Mile High Greyhound Park, which city officials say is ripe for redevelopment.
The ideas were gleaned from residents who attended a series of public meetings called not long after the city purchased the facility for about $3.3 million on Aug. 2.
So far, the only redevelopment partner for the 65-acre park — near East 62nd Avenue and Dahlia Street — is the Boys & Girls Clubs. The nonprofit group is building on a 2-acre parcel that will serve about 1,800 new members.
The City Council was scheduled to get a glimpse Monday night of what people hope the park will eventually be when it views a seven-page report summarizing the public meetings.
The specifics are varied, but several general themes emerged from residents, said city officials.
“There is an overall desire for this development to attract people from other communities — and keep Commerce City residents from leaving town — by offering an experience they can’t get in the immediate area,” according to the report. “In other words, don’t create another development like Stapleton’s Northfield, but offer something that distinguishes the community.”
Among residents’ suggestions:
• Incorporate some type of open space and community town center.
• Include facilities and developments that can serve as an extension of the Parks and Recreation Department.
• Develop a continuing-education and trade-school component in which people can learn computer skills, take general-education classes or learn a trade.
• Improve local roadways to help connect the parcel to other developments and try to move the proposed Regional Transportation District’s FasTracks rail stations closer to the property.
• Put higher-density developments on the property’s west side that transition to lower-density retail and residential uses on the east side.
• Include a hospital or urgent-care trauma unit.
• Retain the grass-infield area for community and sports activities, as well as a cultural arts facility.
• Create a monument or some other reminder of the dog track’s past.
Built in 1946, the greyhound park held its first race in 1949. The racing ended in 2008, but the site is still used for off-track betting.
The city is expected to begin marketing the park heavily after the beginning of the new year.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
