Talk of the Neighborhood
Editor’s Note: The following is a synopsis of what was discussed during the Feb. 4 Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. monthly meeting. The next community meeting, is Thursday, March 3 beginning at 6:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public, and everyone is welcome.
District 2 Police Report
Officer Reyes Trujillo reported that in January there were 12 auto thefts in the section of Park Hill north of 28th Avenue. A number of those were what police term “puffer cars,” whose owners leave running and unattended during cold weather. Hondas and Jeeps are the models that are most frequently stolen. Also north of 28th Avenue, four aggravated assaults with firearms and two domestic violence crimes were reported, including one case in which someone tried to run another person over. South of 28th Avenue in January, six burglaries were reported and nine thefts from motor vehicles. Two business robberies were reported, and two aggravated assaults, including one instance in which a juvenile attempted to disarm a police office. Also south of 28th Avenue one domestic violence incident was reported, two auto thefts and three criminal mischiefs to vehicles.
District 2 will hold its quarterly meeting on March 23 at 6 p.m. at 3921 Holly St. The public is welcome. Park Hill residents are encouraged to report suspicious activities to 720-913-2000. Follow police activities on Twitter @DenverPolice
GPHC Executive Director Update
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. Executive Director Rebecca Born provided an update on activities involving the Registered Neighborhood Organization.
• The new light rail stop will be open on 40th and Colorado Boulevard in April. A party is expected to celebrate. Stay tuned for details.
• Backpacks for Kids – Greater Park Hill has been partnering with the Boys & Girls Club to provide meals to children during weekends, when they are not in school. Volunteers are always welcome on Wednesdays to prepare bags for the following weekend.
• Volunteerism – People are needed to help out at the Boys & Girls Club, at 3333 Holly St. And, volunteers are always welcome to help out on a number of projects at the GPHC building at 2823 Fairfax, including yard maintenance and repair. “If you are ever here and you see something that should be fixed or done then, man, you should do that,” Born advised.
• If you aren’t already a member of Greater Park Hill Community, consider joining. Memberships start at a suggested $25 per household, but people can always pay what they can afford. Call 303-388-0918 for details.
Boys and Girls Club Update
Jason Torrez, Branch Director for the Boys & Girls Club, provided an update on the programs at the club, at 33rd St. and Holly Street. The club opened in 2013 in the 27,000 square foot facility that includes an education center, an art studio, a lab for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), a gym, teen room and community space. There are, on average, nine programs running each evening. Cost is a $2 annual registration fee for each child, and sport activities are $5 each. “No child is turned away if there is room to accommodate them,” Torrez noted.
Platte To Park Hill Stormwater Update
Meredith Wenskoski of the company Design Workshop, and Jennifer Hillhouse of Public Works, City of Denver, presented information about the Platte to Park Hill plan in the works. Storm events in recent years have resulted in flooding, and Wenskoski and Hillhouse said this plan is address the stormwater needs. Though the plan indicates Park Hill is included, the project scope is currently focused on two areas of potential impact: The Cole neighborhood northwest of Park Hill, and City Park Golf Course, which is west/northwest of Park Hill. Specifically, presenters highlighted two options that are on the table:
• Build an open channel in the Cole neighborhood along 38th Avenue, which would collect water that is flowing northwest toward the Globeville neighborhood. This plan would result in destruction of 55 homes in the Cole neighborhood northwest of Park Hill and would include detention ponds that would hold water before it gets to the pipe headed to Globeville. The detention ponds would be dry most of the time, and would fill with water during major storm events.
• Locate the floodwater detention at the Park Hill Golf Course west of Park Hill. This option would require re-grading the golf course, specifically one-third of the existing golf course near the northwest corner at 26th Avenue and York Street. This option would require redesigning the golf course to provide detention, and the removal of as many as 153 mature trees. Option 1 would keep the clubhouse, parking lot and driving range where they are currently now. Option 2 moves the clubhouse to a high spot in the middle, and would involve the most changes to the course. Option 3 would move the clubhouse next to existing maintenance facility and would be the most impactful option to existing trees.
Many questions were asked from audience members, including whether the plan was directly tied to the Interstate 70 widening proposal (the presenters maintained the two projects are not related). Others noted that City Park Golf Course is an historic property and any proposed project has to be reviewed by Colorado Historical Society and Landmark Preservation Commission. The selection of the preferred option is slated for spring of this year. The plan can be reviewed in full at www.denvergov.org/PlattetoParkHill. Provide your feedback here via an online comment form:
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