2000s

2000-2001:

Greenway Preservation Trust Campaign receives $3.1 Million in commitments providing annual support for:
YOUTH EDUCATION – Using high school aged guides as “teen teachers”, supervised by adult certified teachers, this nationally recognized indoor/outdoor education program (known as S.P.R.E.E. – South Platte River Environmental Education) allows thousands of elementary and middle school aged students to learn about the significance of the South Platte to the creation and current core city redevelopment of Denver.
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT – 12-15 high school/college students are employed each summer to serve as Punt the Creek tour guides – escorting thousands of local and visiting adults and children to float along Cherry Creek in LoDo while listening to a historical overview of one of Denver’s most significant historic areas.
CULTURAL/COMMUNITY EVENTS – Each summer, a series of free concerts (Confluence Concerts) are held at Confluence Park during Thursday evenings in July, allowing thousands of individuals to experience a great evening alongside the River at Denver’s birthplace. In late September, the annual South Platte RiverSweep a.k.a. NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) Fest is held up and down the River throughout the 30 mile metro-Denver area. Hundreds of River enthusiasts of all ages give up a day to patrol the channel, banks, trails and parks of the South Platte to remove litter and debris, while gaining a better understanding of the value of the River to our community.
ONGOING ENHANCEMENTS – Each year, the Greenway Preservation Trust will provide funds to matched 2:1 by local park/river maintenance districts to add additional environmental and recreational enhancements to the River

2002-2003:

Efforts continue on the Cherry Creek South Greenway in Arapahoe and Douglas counties – over 20 miles of the 26 mile open space corridor are completed and actively used.
Recreational and Riparian Improvements are constructed along the River, enhancing the corridor for wildlife habitat.
Enhancements and Renovations to Confluence Park Plaza are initiated and completed (2002)
Partner with the City and County of Denver to determine site for world-class Skateboard Park along the River.
Greenway Foundation serves as local project sponsor for $5 Million improvement to the River corridor between the City and County of Denver and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Foundation also a key player in pursuing approval and funding from USACE/Congress for an additional $18 Million of improvements along the River in central Denver.
South Platte River Greenway recognized by the Bruner Foundation as one of the nation’s best Urban Reclamation Projects.
South Platte River Greenway recognized by Sunset Magazine (March – ’02) as the “West’s Best Urban Riverfront”.
Design efforts for the renovation of former Xcel Energy Sub-Station site at Confluence Park into a one acre open space park site are completed and construction of the improvements is initiated.

2004-2005:

Greenway Foundation celebrates the completion of the Greenway Preservation Trust Campaign. Initial goal of $5 Million is met and exceed with total commitments of over $6 Million.
Expansion/enhancement of Confluence Park is completed – over $1.5 Million of ecological/riparian enhancements are included.
Greenway Foundation receives “Award for Excellence” from the El Pomar Foundation
Efforts initiated to provide additional in-stream flows within the channel of the South Platte River (Chatfield Reallocation Project) to provide both ecological and recreational benefits to the River
Design and fundraising effort initiated to create the Downtown Children’s Playground.
Design and funding efforts initiated to enhance “off street” paths and underpasses along the Cherry Creek Greenway in Denver.
Venice on the Creek – Denver’s Gondola celebrates its 10th Anniversary
New cultural event established – River Flicks – bringing free family movie nights to the River at Confluence Park.
Efforts initiated to obtain funding to create an Aquatic Resource Management Plan for the South Platte River.

2006:

Greenway Foundation receives Downtown Denver Partnership Award for the expansion/enhancement of Confluence Park. Award is given collaboratively to the Foundation, the C&C of Denver and Xcel Energy.
Proposal to restore and expand historic Bell Park along Cherry Creek, adjacent to Larimer Square, in conjunction with a new residential development is announced. Greenway Foundation is asked to oversee the design and construction of the greenspace portion of the project if approved by the C&C of Denver.
Construction of Downtown Children’s Playground begins.
Chatfield Reallocation Project receives needed Congressional funding due to the support of the Colorado delegation and the collaborative efforts of over 20 local partners

2007:

Planning efforts begin to create a new benefit run to be held in 2008 – the Mile High Mile-a one mile course beginning and concluding at the Colorado State Capitol.
Greenway Foundation partners with the City of Brighton to collaborate with USACE for the creation of riparian and corridor improvements along the South Platte River in Adams County.
A partnership with the Arts Student’s League is initiated to create the annual “Art on the River” program – a juried art contest for adults as well as an open participation for S.P.R.E.E. School students
Phase I of the Downtown Children’s Playground is dedicated.
Chatfield Reallocation Project receives additional Congressional funding.
Funding for Cherry Creek Corridor project is initiated.

2008:

Mile High Mile is launched on 6.1.08 in partnership with Governor Bill Ritter’s office. Over 350 participants of all ages participate in this inaugural event ranging from 8 to 84.
Phase II of the Downtown Children’s Playground is completed.
Chatfield Reallocation Project continues to move forward with landmark local, state and federal engagement and support – politically and financially. Two significant decisions occur through these collaborative efforts – a savings of $20 Million for the cost of storage of the additional 20,000 a.f. of water and the non-federal sponsor (C.W.C.B.) is allowed to serve as the overseer of environmental and recreational mitigation efforts, both of which will reduce related costs and time of construction.
4th Annual Reception on the River is held to celebrate the significance of the River and its tributaries. Past speakers include US Senator Ken Salazar, Governor Bill Ritter, Mayor John Hickenlooper, Congresswoman Diana DeGette, and Dept. of Natural Resources Directors Russell George & Harris Sherman. 2008 Speaker features Councilwoman Judy Montero
Funding for Cherry Creek corridor project is obtained and final design is initiated with a project construction completion date of 8.1.09
Ongoing programs including SPREE (South Platte River Environmental Education), Confluence Concerts, River Flicks and the South Platte RiverSweep continue to grow in quality of content/entertainment and number of participants involved.
Art on the River returns with increased engagement of both adult and student entrants.
Partnership with the C&C of Denver’s Parks Dept. is initiated to create a Master Plan for the northern section of the South Platte River in Denver known as RINO (River North).

2009:

Cherry Creek Corridor Project is completed – a $1.75 Million addition to the 13+ mile Cherry Creek Greenway in Denver/Arapahoe County below Cherry Creek Reservoir/State Park. This approx. 2 miles of off-road hard surface trail between Holly St and Oneida St. allows the thousands of daily trail users to enjoy the corridor without a single at-grade street crossing.
The River North (RINO) Greenway Master Plan is completed and the River South (RISO) Greenway Master Plan is initiated and completed thanks to support from the State of Colorado, the C&C of Denver, UDFCD and Denver Water. The two plans created a “renewed vision” for the 10+ mile section of the South Platte River Greenway in Denver. In addition, the Foundation partners with Denver’s Park and Recreation Dept. to obtain a Planning Grant from GOCO that will allow for the assimilation of the two Plans as well as establish a prioritization list for the implementation of the projects and programs recommended within the Plan.
Mile High Mile returns for a second year; Art on the River, through its youth component (in conjunction with SPREE) initiates the Mile High Mural – a series of 12x8 murals which will be installed along the walls of Cherry Creek in LoDo.
The Greenway Foundation, in partnership with numerous other River “stakeholders” establishes an effort to improve the water quality of the South Platte River in the Denver Metro area known as PURE (Protect Urban River Environment).
The Foundation’s Education Program (SPREE); Venice on the Creek; and numerous special events including Confluence Concerts, River Flicks, South Platte RiverSweep and Reception on the River return in increasingly strong fashion.

Greenway Foundation History: