News

DENVER – The Mayor’s Office of the National Western Center (NWCO) today announced its progress on reconnecting north Denver residents to the South Platte River by relocating rail lines, moving wastewater pipes and creating green, open space for the community and campus visitors to enjoy.

A main component of 2015’s Measure 2C, which funds the majority of the National Western Center project through the city’s lodgers tax, was a commitment to revitalize the river. “Partnerships with local and regional organizations like Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, The Greenway Foundation and the Army Corps of Engineers will allow us to remove the obstacles that currently prevent neighborhood residents from easily accessing the South Platte River,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said.  “Improving this critical segment of greenway at the National Western Center builds on the successes of the Greenway Foundation and Denver Parks and Recreation in implementing Denver’s River Vision.”

With the help of its partners, NWCO will consolidate and relocate roughly 14,000 linear feet, or almost 3 miles of railroad tracks, away from the river, seeks to bury and move 1,800 feet of a local wastewater dual pipe system known as the Delgany Interceptor, and will create 10 acres of green space.

“The riverfront open space within the National Western Center site will include recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat, greenway trail connections, a development site for a riverfront restaurant or café, and opportunities for public art and educational programming,” Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of the National Western Center, Gretchen Hollrah said. “Activating this riverfront will open this section of the river for the community to enjoy.”

“We are pleased to partner with NWCO on this important endeavor. Activating the open space between two bridges that connect to the surrounding communities is responsible stewardship,” Executive Director of the Greenway Foundation, Jeff Shoemaker said. “The transformation of the South Platte River has been a journey and reclaiming this segment of the river into a place of environmental and recreational pride is truly spectacular.”