COMMERCE CITY – The city will celebrate completion of a portion of the Second Creek Greenway Trail at a grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 9. Residents and neighbors are invited to strap on their walking shoes and actively participate in the event, which begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Buffalo Mesa Trailhead, near 104th Avenue and Kittredge Street.Commerce City will officially open 4.5 miles of trail, part of the regional trail that will eventually span 17 miles, from Brighton and Adams County south to Denver and Aurora.
“City Council and I are excited to open this trail segment, which provides a beautiful backdrop for hikers and bikers,” said Mayor Paul Natale. “Residents asked for more trails, and that’s what we’re giving them.”
Other trails opened by the city in the last few years include the Prairie Gateway Loop Trail and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Perimeter Trail.
“This latest addition to our trail system also shows our continuing commitment to encouraging healthy lifestyles among our residents,” Natale said.
The new portion extends from approximately 108th Avenue (west of the Buffalo Mesa subdivision) south to 96th Avenue, where it connects to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Perimeter Trail. This includes two loops, north and south of 104th Avenue.
The soft-surface trail runs along Second Creek and in open space areas adjacent to the creek. Benches and dog waste stations have been installed along the length of the 10-foot-wide trail.
“This project was chosen based on resident feedback, which ranked trails as a high priority,” said City Manager Jerry Flannery. “We strive to be responsive to our community’s needs, while also trying to be a good neighbor to surrounding communities – this project is a win-win on both sides.”
Construction of the trail was spurred by a 2007 survey of residents to help determine park and recreation priorities for Commerce City. The survey was conducted in conjunction with the city’s Strategic Plan for Recreation Programs, Services and Facilities; results ranked walking and biking trails as a top priority.
The Second Creek Greenway Trail is included in the 1999 Prairieways Action Plan (the Parks, Trails and Open Space Master Plan for the Northern Range). A more detailed plan was completed specifically for the Second Creek Greenway in 2005.
The trail has regional significance, as it will pass through Brighton, Adams County, Commerce City, Aurora, and Denver and connect to the South Platte River Greenway Trail (which is a designated segment of the Colorado Front Range Trail) and the High Line Canal Trail.
Construction costs were just more than $1 million, which includes trail design, engineering, easements and construction. Adams County Open Space grants will fund nearly half the cost of this project, with the rest funded from the city’s Park Impact Fee Fund, which is generated by new development.
Initial planning for this portion of the trail began in June 2008, with construction breaking ground in April of this year. City staff worked with DHM Design on trail design. Local contractor Belair Excavating served as general contractor.
For more information about the Second Creek Greenway Trail or the grand opening event, call Commerce City Parks Planner Traci Ferguson at 303-227-8788.
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