1974:
- Mayor Bill McNichols asks Joe Shoemaker to serve as Chairman of the Platte River Development Committee (P.R.D.C.)
- Mayor provides one time funding source of $2 Million
- Mayor and Chairman co-appoint 8 other committee members:
Dana Crawford
Marjorie Hornbein
Dan Trujillo
Potts Berglund
Hiawatha Davis
Philip Milstein
John Zapien
- P.R.D.C. sets five primary goals:
Reclaim South Platte in Denver (10.5 miles) environmentally and establish River as a recreationally boatable amenity
Create open space parks, and natural areas throughout River in Denver
Create concrete hike-bike-maintenance path along the River in Denver
Connect River improvements to existing park/recreational amenities
Insure that each improvement continues or expands the flood carrying capacity of the River
- Confluence Park is completed and dedicated (one of four original projects)
1976 – 1983:
- P.R.D.C. becomes the Greenway Foundation, a private 501c3 non-profit to allow solicitation and acceptance of private contributions
- Jeff Shoemaker assumes position of Executive Director of the Foundation
- The Greenway Foundation receives contributions from:
Johnson Foundation
Piton Foundation
Boettcher Foundation
El Pomar Foundation
Denver Foundation
Additional funds from Federal, State and Local Agencies are pursued and obtained
Numerous corporate/individual contributions are received
- Over 250 sources of pollution dumping into South Platte eliminated
- Concrete bike path constructed along 10.5 mile stretch of South Platte in Denver
- Remaining three original park/trail projects completed in North/Central/South Denver
- Additional 10 parks constructed on former landfill dump sites
- 10 boating obstructions replaced with boat chutes/notches
- Initial section of Cherry Creek bike path constructed (between Market St. and Confluence Park – birthplace of Denver)
- Weir Gulch and Lakewood Gulch tributary trails are initiated.
- River Ranger program initiated (youth employment program) to assist with maintenance of various parks and trails.
Greenway Foundation History: