Westerly Creek North and Uplands

Those who use or live near Westerly Creek North (WCN) and the Uplands will be happy to hear the City has agreed to take a direct transfer of that park land from DIA and the city expects to start construction this year (see letter from Mayor Hancock).  They will be applying for a $2 million Natural Resource Damage Grant, which, if they get it (and it appears there’s a good chance they will) would be added to the existing funds for the project—$6.4 million for WCN and $3 million for Uplands.

Bike Park in the north of Stapleton?

A group of cycling enthusiasts is exploring the possibility of a bike park in Stapleton’s northernmost park land (north of 56th Ave.)

Scott Gilmore, deputy manager of parks, reminds them that Stapleton’s regional parks are turned over to the city after their completion and need to be built to meet city standards and the city’s ability to provide maintenance. He says, “Right now the city parks department is not looking at a bike park.” Proponents of the bike park understand it would require a lot of additional money and volunteer effort but are continuing to pursue the idea.

Parks Plan for North Stapleton:

Much of the parks planning in north Stapleton is driven by drainage, as is true of Greenway Park and Westerly Creek Park south of I-70.

The drawing below shows the overall parks plan in Stapleton north of I-70.

The renderings above show landscape architects’ concepts for Prairie Meadow Park. The renderings show the centrally located, 14-acre park with a flat grassy circular area in the middle, surrounded by a circular raised mound from which visitors will have an expansive view of the mountains. Concentric sidewalks surround the park and, as shown at upper right, pedestrian bridges cross over the drainage areas.

The three-acre dog park will have hills, trees, areas for more and less active dogs, and a ground surface that will drain well, won’t blow away and won’t create dust.

North of the dog park is a grassland area with trails that also serves as a storm water detention area. Both this area and the dog park are expected to have some flat bluegrass areas where kids can play.