A Different Set Of Conflicts
Let’s Discuss Green Connections
Watersheds, floodplains, and stormwater problems have led to a lot of contentious interactions in and around Park Hill, starting last November and ramping up substantially this year.
Keeping things simple for the moment, my advice is the advice I have offered after every flooding event since I have been living here.
Through the creek channel systems and the accompanying floodplains, the watershed will tell you all you need to know, if you let it.
I’m sure the conflict that has erupted lately about detention facilities and drainage ditches in the City Park Golf Course, the Cole neighborhood northwest of Park Hill and related matters will continue for a while. I’m not avoiding conflict; I’m just looking at a different set of conflicts.
In last month’s issue of this newspaper, I brought up the idea of Green Street projects for our neighborhood, Park Hill. I talked about simultaneously addressing:
• Flooding/stormwater
• Access for bicyclists, including school kids (and their parents)
• Access for pedestrians, including school kids (and their parents)
• Experiencing less cars in Park Hill (and seeing them drive more carefully)
• Creating a system of connected (and useable) green places
I suggested we consider integrating floodplains/stormwater systems with pedestrian/bike corridors.
Out of five east-west bike routes through Park Hill, I am focusing, in May, on two routes: 23rd Avenue and 26th Avenue.
Of five north-south streets, I will focus on four for right now: Dahlia Street north of Montview, Holly Street north of Montview, Krameria Street and Monaco Parkway.
I envision a bicycle route that is also a green stormwater infrastructure corridor on each of these streets. I imagine that these streets would additionally serve to provide safer routes to schools, provide traffic calming, while, obviously, connecting people to their various destinations.
The accompanying map shows the area of Park Hill between 22nd Avenue and 29th Avenue, from Quebec to Dahlia Street. Note the heavy dashed lines representing the watershed boundary (a miniature “Continental Divide,” if you will).
Two primary tributary creeks (currently covered over by historic development activity) or drainages flow through the eastern part of this area, generally from south to north. At the Smiley Middle School Campus, two tributaries enter from the south, one along Kearney Street and another along Ivy Street. To the north, a single creek exits the campus at Jasmine Street and flows toward 33rd Avenue between Ivanhoe and Ivy Streets at the Hiawatha Davis, Jr. Recreation Center.
To the east, a creek flows along Niagara Street from 22nd to 24th avenues, and then turns northwest, toward the intersection of Monaco Street Parkway and 26th Avenue. Flows split, with most of the flow turning west along 26th Avenue, and the remainder flowing north along Monaco Street.
One primary creek (also covered over by historic development activity) flows through the western part of this area, also flowing generally from north to south. It “originates” south of 22nd Avenue, along Forest Street, and flows north. At 23rd Avenue, it curves a little northwest, toward 26th and Elm and then toward 29th and Eudora. From 29th Avenue it continues to the north, along Eudora Street.
I can imagine green infrastructure research at the four sites shown on the map, as follows:
• Smiley Middle School Campus – investigate alternatives for improving stormwater quality and reducing stormwater quantity on a large site owned by Denver Public Schools.
• 2200 block of Kearney Street – investigate alternatives for improving stormwater quality and reducing stormwater quantity in a block with commercial land uses.
• 26th Avenue and Monaco Parkway – investigate alternatives for improving stormwater quality and reducing stormwater quantity in an intersection that includes a parkway that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with all of the restriction that go along with that designation.
• 2200 block of Forest Street – investigate alternatives for improving stormwater quality and reducing stormwater quantity in a block with residential land uses.
I envision 23rd Avenue and 26th Avenue having far more than painted bike lanes to attract bicyclists and/or pedestrians for the one-mile from Quebec to Holly. Likewise, I would envision Kearney, Holly and Dahlia, at least for the ¼-mile between 23rd and 26th, being more appealing than they are now.
What I do not envision is that we would “force” or induce more cars onto Colfax, 17th Avenue Parkway, 29th Avenue, or MLK Boulevard. There must be a holistic vision for moving people (not necessarily in cars) into, out of, and through Park Hill.
Remember, this is just one idea. Let me hear from you. At the very least, I’d like to see serious, challenging, and imaginative discussions begin, leading toward a happier and more constructive conversation than we have seen so far regarding stormwater issues in Greater Park Hill.
I will be looking to the north of 26th Avenue and to the south of 23rd Avenue in future columns.
Brian Hyde is an expert in floodplain management and stream restoration. He wants your feedback at westerly_connect_brian@comcast.net or 720-939-6039.