1) Four NE Denver Neighborhood Groups Hold a Community Forum

In a first-of-its-kind joint meeting, four northeast Denver neighborhood groups gathered in October at the Zion Senior Center to talk to city leaders about their concerns and hopes.

The Central Park United Neighbors (CPUN), Northeast Park Hill Coalition, Montbello 2020, and the East Colfax Neighborhood Association hold meetings with and for their individual residents, but there previously hadn’t been much conversation or collaboration among all of the groups because their meetings were held on the same days and times.  Liz Stalnaker, president of CPUN, says that’s where the idea for a joint meeting came from.

At the meeting, Stalnaker talked about growth and continued development in Central Park causing issues along Central Park Blvd.  “We have crashes. I don’t know how many crashes have been in the past week or so, at least three or four that I know of.”

CPUN’s Safe Streets committee has regular meetings with the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure to find ways to mitigate the impact of growth.

Ann White, from Montbello 2020, highlighted senior health and transportation challenges at the meeting. She says there has been so much growth in the community that it feels like “we’re busting at the seams…We need help bringing monies and funds into our community to help our children and our young adults and our seniors. We have a lot of seniors that don’t have health equity. Transportation is an issue.”

East Colfax neighbors say they face issues with involuntary displacement and gentrification. Tim Roberts, president of the East Colfax Neighborhood Association, touted a food bank started in 2019 where more than $2 million worth of food has been distributed in the neighborhood.  He acknowledges that the food bank isn’t solving gentrification in any way, or creating a utopia, “but we’re at least concretely taking a little bit off of people’s grocery bill,” Roberts says.

Conversations in Park Hill center around the golf course and a development at 38th and Holly. The Northeast Park Hill Coalition is trying to “mitigate displacement,” and Roger Cobb, a board member, says: “We no longer really have a Black neighborhood. It’s not about Black, it’s about people. And I like to say working class versus BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), because that’s all of us.”

Residents at the meeting also asked questions about crime, a lack of grocery stores, and funds to help businesses along East Colfax during construction.

Denver City Councilwoman Shontel Lewis, along with City representatives from Community Planning and Development and Neighborhood Equity and Stabilization (NEST), promised to address the issues and questions.

2) A Groundbreaking at Project Worthmore

Project Worthmore, a northwest Aurora center providing services for refugees and immigrants, is expanding through a renovation of the building at 1666 Elmira St. A groundbreaking was held in mid-October.

The renovations will help staff offer additional medical, behavioral health, and legal services, promoting well-being, empowerment, and self-sufficiency.

The center opened in 2009 and will remain open during the building process. Work is expected to be completed by winter 2025.

Frank Anello, executive director, says “This expansion is a reflection of our shared commitment to empowering newcomers and fostering an inclusive community. We are immensely grateful for the generosity of our funders and the community that stands behind us…We’re breaking ground today, and we’re going to change the future of the city of Aurora.”

3) The Colfax Bus Rapid Transit Project is Underway

Construction has started for the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. The work began at Broadway and East Colfax Ave. The BRT will eventually run from Civic Center in Denver to I-225 in Aurora. Center transit lanes will run down the middle of Colfax from Broadway to Yosemite St. Fourteen transit stops will be improved with more trees and lighting, and the signals will be prioritized to reduce bus waiting time.

The construction is estimated to cost $280 million. The U.S. Department of Transportation is funding $150 million, which was presented via a ceremonial check at an event on Oct. 4. Other funding comes from the Elevate Denver Bond, the Denver Regional Council of Governments, and the City of Aurora.

At a BRT groundbreaking in October, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Park Hill resident and former Denver mayor, recalled the days 15 years ago when there were conversations about trolleys along Colfax stretching into Aurora. That plan never materialized.

He says he’s happy to now see collaboration between the two cities and the start of this project that will help the community see “the balance between light rail and bus rapid transit.”

The City has set up a small business assistance program to help support the community during construction, which is scheduled to be completed in 2027. The public can sign up for construction updates and get information at www.denvergov.org/colfaxbrt.

4) New Wildlife Mural Along Sand Creek Trail

The plants and wildlife that live in open spaces in Central Park are featured in a new mural along the Sand Creek trail. For the past four years, the non-profit Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership (SCRGP) has chosen artists to paint nature-themed murals on the old Stapleton Airport’s runway tunnel system walls. This year’s artist, Patrick Maxcy, led a team of more than 120 community members who volunteered in painting the base layer of the mural during the SCRGP’s annual mural festival. Maxcy says a project like this “helps the community foster a sense of ownership and pride in the process.”

Known for his whimsical depictions of wildlife, Maxcy featured prairie dogs, birds, and fish in the three-panel mural that is 18 feet tall and 250 feet wide. “I love inspiring others and helping create a sense of wonder for all who view the work.” Maxcy has also hidden five hearts in the mural for viewers to find.

Mo Fair, executive director of SCRGP, says next year the organization hopes to finish painting the wall with a mural that will be commissioned to honor the 25th anniversary of the trail. “Then we need to figure out a creative way to start painting murals on the opposite side,” says Fair. For more information, visit www.sandcreekgreenway.org.

5) Westerly Creek Reconstruction Project to Begin in Early November

The $14 million Westerly Creek reconstruction project near Stanley Marketplace is expected to begin in early November—several weeks later than originally planned. Nicole Ankeney, manager of Aurora Parks Planning Design and Construction, said the delay was due to permitting. “The process always takes longer than you think. There are nuances in making sure we’re compliant with all of the city codes.”

The project is designed to reduce flood hazards, enhance water quality, and increase walking and biking trails in the area. Ankeney says the bulk of the project involves major regrading and the channel for the creek will be redesigned and moved to the opposite side of the Stanley field.

In October, the Village Farm at Stanley sought volunteers to help move its planting boxes and other structures in advance of the construction. Ankeney said the goal is to have enough of the grading done by next spring so the farm can plant flowers and crops on schedule.

Bicyclists who depend on nearby trails should check the status of detours around the construction by visiting the Auroragov.org website. The construction is expected to take 18-24 months to complete. For more information about the project, see the July story in frontporchne.com.

6) A New Exhibit Lets Visitors Experience a Rainforest

Step inside a rainforest at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science where an immersive live-animal experience offers the opportunity to explore rainforest life and learn about the importance of conservation.

Guests can encounter a sloth, python, iguana, boa constrictors, and a tortoise, all living in habitats that replicate their natural rainforest environments.

“Animals of the Rainforest” is designed for all ages. Through the exhibition, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science aims to inspire a deeper understanding of rainforests’ essential role in our planet’s health and to motivate visitors to take action in the preservation of these ecosystems.

7) Neighborhood Businesses Win Medals at Great American Beer Festival

During Denver’s Great American Beer Festival in October, several local businesses won medals.

Gold: Single Varietal Cider—Mountain Rose, Haykin Family Cider, 12001 E. 33rd Ave., Aurora.

Silver: Fruit Wheat Beer—Enduro, Cheluna Brewing Company at Stanley Marketplace, Aurora.

Bronze: Chili Beer—Palisade Peak, Station 26, 7045 E. 38th Ave., Denver.

Italian-style Pilsner—Wolf of the Woods, Second Dawn Brewing, 2302 Dayton St., Aurora.