Clear Creak Greenway Trail Design:
Idaho Springs

In September of 2014, CDOT agreed to give Clear Creek County $2,000,000 as part of its Responsible Acceleration of Maintenance and Partnerships (RAMP) Initiative to help complete the final design of the Clear Creek Greenway Trail from Hidden Valley to Empire Junction. Since RAMP funds are federal dollars, an environmental clearance for the entire stretch of the trail from Hidden Valley to Empire Junction, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), was necessary.

Given the historic nature of the City of Idaho Springs and the costs associated with a federal NEPA review, it was determined that the City would be left out of the RAMP agreement with Clear Creek County and that an effort to seek local funds would be undertaken to finish the design of the Clear Creek Greenway Trail through Idaho Springs. In March 2016, the City of Idaho Springs applied for, and was awarded, $150,000 from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and $45,000 from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to complete the design of the Clear Creek Greenway Trail through Idaho Springs.

Additionally, the City of Idaho Springs has undertaken the reconstruction of Colorado Boulevard, a project that is also being funded by CDOT RAMP funds. As part of the Colorado Boulevard Project, segments of the Clear Creek Greenway Trail are being designed and constructed.

Project Description

Clear Creek Greenway Trail Design

As mentioned above, segments of the Clear Creek Greenway Trail through Idaho Springs are being completed as part of the Colorado Boulevard Reconstruction Project. However, there are two segments that still need to be designed. The first is the connection between Charlie Taylor's Water Wheel Park and Colorado Boulevard. The second is between Courtney-Ryley-Cooper (CRC) Park to Gilson Avenue.

Courtney-Ryley-Cooper Park Design

Additionally, Colorado Boulevard's realignment near CRC Park will require that a new design for CRC park be explored. While some features of the park will remain and others will be built as part of the Colorado Boulevard project, much of CRC park and its associated areas will still need to be designed. While the focus of this project is on the Clear Creek Greenway Trail, the design team will also work to complete final design and construction drawings on the remaining portions of CRC Park.