Have a Say: Proposed Neighborhood Trail in Park Hill

If there’s one thing Denverites can agree on, it’s that we can’t have enough pedestrian- and bike-friendly trails around our city.

That’s what the folks at the Urban Land Conservancy (ULC), a local nonprofit that preserves land and buildings for communities, are banking on. Last month, they launched a yearlong “community visioning process” for a new urban trail through Greater Park Hill. The 303 ArtWay is envisioned as a 5.5-mile art-, culture-, and heritage-themed path that will weave through the neighborhood, connecting City Park to the new 40th and Colorado light rail station, with art and historic signage along the way. Its design would fill in holes in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure (community members consistently told ULC they couldn’t reach the new station from their ‘hoods), while also better connecting people to small businesses, and, in the future, the rest of the city. (Planners hope to eventually link the ArtWay to other existing trail systems.)

The project is currently in the midst of a crowdfunding campaign, which you can contribute to here. The money raised will supplement a $250,000 grant from ArtPlace America, which is primarily being used on community engagement. For approximately two years—as the final design is being finalized—ULC is looking for input on trail destinations, where public art should be located, what people want out of the project, and more. “We don’t consider it a fully fleshed out concept without receiving that public input,” says Tony Pickett, vice president of master site development for ULC.

Have an opinion? Find a short survey here, or contact the planning team directly. Also look out for five temporary installations along the proposed route over the next 18 months to get a better idea of the look and feel of the ArtWay.

This is a unique opportunity to have a true impact on a community project. Speak up.