Dana Crawford is known as the savior of Larimer Square, turning the once-dilapidated area of Lower Downtown into a thriving hub of restaurants, shops and nightclubs. She also played a major part in saving the South Platte River from its polluted past.
Working with the late state legislator Joe Shoemaker, Crawford guided the Platte River Development Committee in cleaning up a garbage-infested stretch of the river that is now surrounded by bicycle and pedestrian trails, architecturally pleasing office buildings and residences, and a host of shops and restaurants.
And for that she was given the 2012 Friend of the River Award when the staged its second Gala on the Bridge. Four hundred people attended the Sept. 20 dinner held on Denver’s historic 19th Street Pedestrian Bridge.
“What better way to celebrate the South Platte River — and Dana — than by dining on a bridge, on as perfect an autumn night as this, with the river rushing right underneath you?” mused Shoemaker’s son, Jeff, who succeeded his father as the Greenway Foundation’s leader. “It’s pure magic.”
Crawford accepted her award by asking everyone to raise their glasses in a toast to Joe Shoemaker, who died in August. Receiving the award, Crawford said, left her “humbled and grateful.”
Gala on the Bridge began with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and music by , a band from the Dominican Republic that features vocals by 89-year-old .
Sixteen civic leaders, including Dee Chirafisi and Jim Theye, Jeff Hermanson, Walter Isenberg and Mark Smith, chaired Gala on the Bridge. did the food, including the street tacos and caramel/bacon popcorn served for those wishing to linger for the after-party, and decorated the tables with native foliage in fall colors.
Guests included the owners of , Jim and Alicia Deters; entrepreneurs Ellen and Jason Winkler; real estate developer Jorgen Jensen; Amy Harmon, founder and owner of ; Lauri Dannemiller, who heads Denver’s parks and recreation department; Patrick Quinlan of ; and Bradley Joseph, founder of .
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/getitwrite
