HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 - RESO - 29 - Adopt WR Open Space Mgmt PlanCITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 29 Series of 2023
TITLE: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2023 CITY OF WHEAT
RIDGE OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge adopted an Open Space Management Plan in 2002; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City of Wheat Ridge, when necessary, to undertake review of existing documents and update these documents; and
WHEREAS, the consultant to the Parks and Recreation Department, in conjunction with a technical advisory committee, has produced a plan which was reviewed with the Parks and Recreation Commission; and
WHEREAS, recommendations from residents, staff, elected officials,
stakeholders, and Parks and Recreation Commission members have been incorporated into the plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, as follows:
1. The City Council of the City of Wheat Ridge hereby adopts the 2023 City ofWheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan attached as EXHIBIT A.
2. The 2023 Open Space Management Plan shall supersede the 2002 Open
Space Management Plan.
DONE AND RESOLVED this 22nd day of May 2023.
________________________________
Bud Starker, Mayor
ATTEST:
Steve Kirkpatrick, City Clerk
City of Wheat Ridge
Open Space
Management Plan
May 2023
EXHIBIT A
PREPARED BY:
Prepared For:
City Of Wheat Ridge Parks And Recreation Department; Parks, Forestry, And Open Space Division
Jana McKenzie, FASLA, LEED-AP; Principal
Taylor Broyhill, AICP; Associate Planner & Project Manager
Andrew Newman, Senior Biologist
Dan Arseneau, PLA; Landscape Architect
Matthew Little, GIS Technician
Julie Capp, Biologist and Environmental Planner
with support from
Scott Belonger, PE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CITY COUNCIL
Bud Starker, Mayor Judy Hutchinson, District I Janeece Hoppe, District I Rachel Hultin, District II Scott Ohm, District II Amanda Weaver, District III Korey Stites, Mayor Pro Tem, District III Valerie Nosler Beck, District IV Leah Dozeman, District IV
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Cambria Rollo, Chair, District I Ralph Habben, District I Karen Stanley, District II Catherine Rooney, District III Catherine Samaniuk District II Kathy Koniz, District III Pat Cervera, District IV Patrick Quinn District III John Route, District II (former member)
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Karen O’Donnell, CPRE; Parks and Recreation Director Brandon Altenburg, CPRP; Grant and Special Project Administrator Danielle Moore, Marketing Specialist
Parks, Forestry, and Open Space Division Benny Paiz; Parks, Forestry, and Open Space Manager Andrew McDonald; Forestry and Open Space Supervisor Susan Bennett, CIG; Environmental Interpreter
Steve Leyba, Open Space Operations John Slattery; PWM I Kelsey Carter, Operations Support Technician
SPECIAL THANKS to the following departments and organizations who contributed their time, expertise, and knowledge to the development of this plan: Wheat Ridge Communications, Wheat Ridge Community Development and Engineering, Wheat Ridge Police Community Services Team, Wheat Ridge Homeless Navigator, Jefferson County Open Space, Clear Creek Integrated Watershed Management Plan, and Wheat Ridge Active Transportation Advisory Team.
THANK YOU to the hundreds of Wheat Ridge residents who contributed their ideas, feedback, and support to this plan.
For thousands of years, indigenous people cared for the lands that now comprise the city’s open space. This Open Space Management Plan seeks to not only conserve and manage these lands for future generations, but to acknowledge the past and honor indigenous peoples’ history, culture, legacy of stewardship, and long-standing relationships with the Wheat Ridge landscape by continuing to conserve the land and the natural communities that inhabit the city’s open space to the best of the Division’s capabilities.
SPECIAL FEATURES
EXHIBIT 01: PEAKS TO PLAINS STATE TRAIL 39
EXHIBIT 02: KIPLING CROSSING ANALYSIS 85
EXHIBIT 03: MEETING THE MOMENT: HOMELESSNESS IN PUBLIC SPACES 87
CASE STUDY 01: CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN 88
CASE STUDY 02: OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE WORK PROGRAM 89
EXHIBIT 04: BEAVER MANAGEMENT 95
EXHIBIT 05: TABOR LAKE TRAIL AND RESTORATION 97
CASE STUDY 03: BALANCING RECREATION & SHORELINE HEALTH 99
EXHIBIT 06: WEST LAKE CONSERVATION TRAIL EXPANSION AND SOCIAL TRAIL RECLAMATION 101
EXHIBIT 07: CLEAR CREEK TRAIL OFF-STREET ALIGNMENT 102
CASE STUDY 04: TRAIL-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT 111
MAPS
MAP 01: REGIONAL CONTEXT 13
MAP 02: WHEAT RIDGE GREENBELT 15
MAP 03: PEAKS TO PLAINS TRAIL 38
MAP 04: GREENBELT PLANNING AND MAINTENANCE SECTIONS 49
MAP 05: SECTION 1- COORS TO YOUNGFIELD 50
MAP 06: SECTION 2 - YOUNGFIELD TO PROSPECT 52
MAP 07: SECTION 3 - PROSPECT TO KIPLING EAST 54
MAP 08: SECTION 4 - KIPLING EAST TO ANDERSON PARK 56
MAP 09: SECTION 5 - ANDERSON TO JOHNSON PARK 58
MAP 10: SECTION 6 - JOHNSON TO CREEKSIDE PARK 60
MAP 11: SECTION 7 - CREEKSIDE TO HARLAN STREET 62
MAP 12: LEWIS MEADOWS 64
MAP 13: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ZONES 81
MAP 14: RIPARIAN AND HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS 93
MAP 15: PROPOSED TRAIL CONNECTIONS AND TRAILHEADS 103
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: FOUNDATION ..........................................................6
PURPOSE 8
PLANNING PROCESS 8
OPEN SPACE VISION 9
IMPORTANCE OF OPEN SPACE 10
REGIONAL CONTEXT 12
COMMUNITY PROFILE AND HISTORY 14
OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE PRINCIPLES 20
RELEVANT PLANS AND STUDIES 22
CHAPTER 2: EXISTING CONDITIONS .................................26
CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE 28
NATURAL RESOURCES 28
RECREATION RESOURCES 36
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES 48
CHAPTER 3: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ........................66
STAGE 1: LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY 69
STAGE 2: PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALTERNATIVES 72
STAGE 3: DRAFT PLAN ENGAGEMENT 75
CHAPTER 4: MANAGEMENT PLAN ........................................76
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT 78
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ZONES 80
PLAN GOALS 82
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS BY GOAL 84
CHAPTER 5: IMPLEMENTATION .............................................114
PLAN MONITORING AND UPDATES 116
LAND ACQUISITION 117
OPERATIONS AND STAFF CAPACITY 118
PROJECT PRIORITIZATION 120
CAPITAL PROJECT PRIORITIES AND COSTS 122
IMPLEMENTATION PHASING 123
FUNDING ANALYSIS 124
ACRONYMS
AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE Base Flood Elevation
CDOT Colorado Department of Transportation
CDPHE Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
CNHP Colorado Natural Heritage Program
CPTED Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
CPW Colorado Parks and Wildlife
CTF Conservation Trust Fund
GOCO Great Outdoors Colorado
JCOS Jefferson County Open Space
LWCF Land and Water Conservation Fund
MHFD Mile High Flood District
P2P Peaks to Plains Trail
PFOS Parks, Forestry, and Open Space Division
PHB Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon
City of Wheat Ridge6
Purpose
Planning Process
Plan Vision
Importance of Open Space
Regional Context
Community Profile & History
Management and Maintenance Principles
Relevant Plans and Studies
FOUNDATION
CHAPTER 1:
Open Space Management Plan 7
City of Wheat Ridge8
This plan updates the city’s first open space management plan, adopted in 2002. The purpose
of this plan is to establish a framework for priorities and provide specific management
direction for natural, scenic, and recreational resources within the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt,
Lewis Meadows, and any future open space acquisitions. The Wheat Ridge Open Space
Management Plan seeks to balance outdoor recreation use with the protection, enhancement,
and effective management of natural resources for long-term sustainability and stewardship.
Emphasis is placed on habitat values that sustain the function and connectivity of the natural
landscape while providing for a high-quality visitor experience to the city’s open spaces
and the Clear Creek Trail. Implementation of the Plan will assist the Wheat Ridge Parks and
Recreation Department, and notably, the Parks, Forestry, and Open Space Division (PFOS) in
its efforts to conserve, enhance, and manage these areas for present and future generations.
PURPOSE PLANNING
PROCESS
A biophilic city is a green city, a city with abundant nature and natural systems
that are visible and accessible to urbanites. It is certainly about physical conditions
and urban design—parks, green features, urban wildlife, walkable environments—
but it is also about the spirit of a place, its emotional commitment and concern
about nature and other forms of life, its interest and curiosity about nature, which
can be expressed in the budget priorities of the local government as well as in the
lifestyles of its citizens.*
* Beatley, Timothy. 2011. Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature into Urban Design and Planning. Island Press.
BIOPHILIC CITIES
Open Space Management Plan 9
OPEN SPACE VISION
The Wheat Ridge community envisions a future
where open space is stewarded as a wondrous,
wild, and renewing sanctuary for present and
future generations of plant, animal, and human
communities. Wheat Ridge Open Space balances
recreation with conservation and restoration of
natural ecosystems.
City of Wheat Ridge10
Protected open space provides a multitude of benefits for ecosystems, wildlife, and human
society*:
*Brown, JD and Helen Santiago Fink. 2022. Planning for Biophilic Cities. American Planning Association, PAS report 602
Nature and biodiversity. Cities remain hosts to significant biological richness despite urban development. Through open space
planning and management, cities can
conserve and enhance unique ecosystems, facilitate wildlife connectivity across the
urban landscape, and inspire personal
connections to the larger living world.
Nature and health. Contact with nature improves baseline physical and mental
health through the prevention of chronic
health problems such as obesity, anxiety, depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Long term studies identify that
proximity to parks and greenspace has a
direct effect on levels of physical activity and better health outcomes. Individuals
with access to nature have less mental
distress, less anxiety and depression, greater well-being, and healthier cortisol profiles.
Nature and resilience. Open space
conservation aids in resiliency by fostering
social and landscape resilience in the face of consequences of climate change, natural
disasters, economic uncertainty, and
various other shocks and stresses that cities experience and will face with greater severity in the future. Direct resiliency benefits
include reduced urban temperatures, flood and stormwater control, and improved air and water quality. More indirect resiliency
benefits include improved social cohesion
and pro-social behavior. Accessible, safe, and healthy open spaces can be the social
glue that helps bring communities together.
Nature and public safety. The presence of nature has a documented effect of reducing aggression and crimes associated with
increased aggression. Two explanations are
the positive psychological influence of time spent in nature to support recovery from
mental fatigue, and increased community
cohesion and its resulting positive influence on community trust and bonding.
Nature and economic prosperity. Open
space planning and land management
support sustainable infrastructure in the form of nature-based solutions
for stormwater, carbon sequestration,
flood control, and clean air that will not depreciate over time like traditional gray infrastructure alternatives. Open space and
low-impact recreation infrastructure, such
as trails, increases property values, supports commercial vibrancy, and fosters a happy
and healthy workforce.
10
IMPORTANCE OF OPEN SPACE
Open Space Management Plan 11
City of Wheat Ridge12
Wheat Ridge occupies 9.5 square miles in Jefferson County, primarily comprised of urban and suburban development that is strategically positioned adjacent to Interstate 70 between the state capital and the Rocky Mountains. The city is partially named for the prominent natural ridge that traverses the area.
Wheat Ridge is a home rule city that operates under the council-manager form of government. The city has eight City Council members representing four districts. The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission also includes representatives from each of the four districts.
Clear Creek bisects the city as it extends east toward its eventual confluence with the South Platte River. The City of Golden and Coors Brewing are located upstream on Clear Creek while the cities of Arvada and Denver are located downstream, north and east of Wheat Ridge. Wheat Ridge is a participating jurisdiction in the Clear Creek Integrated Watershed Management Plan that aims to maintain a consistent dialogue between major land managers and water users within the watershed including municipalities, agricultural uses, industry, environmental, and recreation user groups who have a significant interest in the health of Clear Creek.
REGIONAL CONTEXT
Open Space Management Plan 13
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MAP 01: REGIONAL CONTEXT
City of Wheat Ridge14
COMMUNITY PROFILE AND HISTORY
Wheat Ridge is home to 33,000 residents, with a median age of 45.8. The city is predominantly white with a significant Latinx population
that comprises 23% of the population. Over 46% of residents possess a college degree. Forty-eight percent of homes are owner-occupied, a 3% decrease since 2010. The median household income is $73,231, compared to the state median of $80,184. The Colorado School of Mines is located nearby and has been a reliable partner for research and
engineering studies related to the Clear Creek and the Clear Creek Trail. Wheat Ridge manages approximately 373 acres of open space within the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt and Lewis Meadows properties.
The Greenbelt encompasses the Clear Creek riparian corridor and floodplain as the creek flows from west to east through the city to its
eventual confluence with the South Platte River. The city’s segment of the Clear Creek Trail extends for seven miles within the Greenbelt along Clear Creek providing a major recreation destination and commuter corridor for cyclists.
HISTORY OF OPEN SPACE IN WHEAT RIDGE
The Clear Creek plain within and around modern-day Wheat Ridge once comprised the ancestral lands of the Oceti Sakowin (Sioux), Cheyenne, and Ute nations prior to displacement by European-American settlers in the mid 1800s. Other nations including the Apache, Arapaho, and Shoshone also used Clear Creek as a passageway.
Clear Creek was a fur trapping and trading corridor in the 1840s until gold was discovered in nearby Arvada in 1850. Arapahoe Bar located in Clear Creek within Wheat Ridge is a popular location where gold panning is still allowed. By 1860, gold prospectors had moved west into the foothills and mountains, abandoning their operations in the plains, but not before contaminating Clear Creek with mine tailings and mill effluent carrying heavy metals and chemicals.
The Clear Creek valley in and around present-day Wheat Ridge quickly became the breadbasket of Colorado, contributing
in part to the city’s name. Irrigation ditches were constructed to support the burgeoning agricultural economy of the region. Many of the 50+ ditches that were established along Clear Creek prior to Colorado statehood branched from the creek in or near the Greenbelt open space.
In the 1920s, gravel and sand mining operations sprung up along Clear Creek in Wheat Ridge. Tabor, West, Bass, and Prospect Lakes are remnants of former gravel pits. Residential and commercial development adjacent to Clear Creek was limited due to the industrial land uses, allowing for the establishment of three parks and recreation districts that now comprise the Greenbelt.
Soon after Wheat Ridge incorporated 1969, efforts to construct a trail within the contiguous open space now known as the Greenbelt were successful and thus the Clear Creek Trail was established.
Source: Wheat Ridge Parks And Recreation 2021 Annual Report
Open Space Management Plan 15
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In 1972, residents of Jefferson County approved a one-half cent sales tax to raise money for open space purchases. Voters altered the plan in 1987 to allow funds to be used for the development of parks and recreation facilities.
In 2000, the City of Wheat Ridge purchased
land it was leasing around Tabor Lake
and between Miller Street and Youngfield
Street from the Coors Brewing Company,
adding this land to the Greenbelt while
Coors retained water storage rights in the
lake. Improvements to Interstates 70 and
76 resulted in additional lands and funding
to extend the Greenbelt and trail east from
Johnson Park to the city boundaries.
East of Wadsworth Boulevard, Wheat Ridge
manages the trail even though it crosses
through the City of Arvada. Partnerships
with Arvada, the City and County of Denver,
Jeffco Open Space, and the Colorado
Department of Transportation (CDOT) have
been essential to managing the trail as it
traverses multiple land managers between
Johnson Park and Creekside Park at the I-70,
I-76, and Wadsworth interchange.
Lewis Meadows is situated along Lena Gulch
(currently managed by Denver Water). Lena
Gulch flows through Lewis Meadows and
empties into Clear Creek within the city’s
Greenbelt.
The Greenbelt, Lewis Meadows, and P2P are
managed by the Parks, Forestry, and Open
Space Division of the Wheat Ridge Parks and
Recreation Department.
City of Wheat Ridge16
WHEAT RIDGE GREENBELT
The Wheat Ridge Greenbelt is the larger of Wheat Ridge’s two open space properties, stretching five miles along Clear Creek and consisting of more than 300 acres. The Greenbelt is bounded on the west by the new Clear Creek Crossing development on Youngfield Street, on the east by Harlan Street, and on the north and south by various residential and commercial properties. The Greenbelt is located within the 100-year floodplain of Clear Creek, where the elevation varies from 5,450 to 5,280 feet. The Greenbelt is generally flat with a gradual slope from southwest to northeast and is surrounded by development, which immediately abuts its borders.
Since the City of Wheat Ridge’s incorporation in August 1969, the Parks, Forestry and Open Space Division of the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department has managed the city’s open space land, striving to balance conservation with often heavy recreational use. The Wheat Ridge portion of the Clear Creek Trail has become a valuable open space amenity for Wheat Ridge residents, providing opportunities for hiking, bicycling, and nature experiences. Simultaneous to supporting various forms of self-directed recreation, the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt provides habitat for a wide array of native wildlife and vegetative species, including
federally threatened species.
Natural Resource Value
The Wheat Ridge Greenbelt provides an important wildlife corridor and habitat for a wide range of vegetative and wildlife species. In terms of vegetation, remnant examples of naturally occurring riparian communities include the plains cottonwood/chokecherry riparian woodland type and the plains cottonwood/western snowberry riparian woodland type. In addition to these important riparian communities, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) includes the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt in its Prospect Park Potential Conservation Area that supports the globally rare Ute ladies’-Tresses Orchid. This Potential Conservation Area also may contain the only known occurrence of a species of earthstar fungus that was discovered during the CNHP biological inventory in 2000. In addition to important vegetation communities and vegetative species, the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt and Lewis Meadows provide important habitat for a number of wildlife species such as great blue heron, red-tailed hawk, red fox, beavers, grassland songbirds, and various migratory waterfowl.
Area Overview and Surrounding Land Uses
The Greenbelt is truly an oasis within the west Denver metro region that is almost entirely built out over decades of development. There is no transition from residential and commercial development to conserved lands which presents unique
challenges for resource conservation and land management, but also allows the Clear Creek Trail and Greenbelt to be easily accessible by seven different trailheads along its five-mile stretch, among many additional neighborhood access points. New access to the trail and Greenbelt are in progress as redevelopment occurs within the city.
While the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt properties have historically been hayed, cropped, and grazed, much of it has remained free from residential, commercial, and non-mining industrial development, although such land uses have occurred and continue to occur in close proximity.
Clear Creek Crossing and Lutheran Hospital anchor development along the Greenbelt at the western end near one of two locations where the Clear Creek Trail crosses underneath I-70. In addition to relatively dense single-family and multi-family residential on the south side of the Greenbelt, most of the city’s parks and recreation facilities are located immediately adjacent to Greenbelt properties and serve as trailheads. Land uses along the north side of the Greenbelt include a higher concentration of commercial uses interspersed with residential neighborhoods off of 44th Avenue.
Open Space Management Plan 17
Property Ownership
The City of Wheat Ridge owns the majority of parcels that comprise the Greenbelt in fee title. A handful of parcels that contribute to the intact riparian corridor and natural aesthetic of the Greenbelt are owned by semi-public entities such as Prospect Recreation and Park District, Jefferson County, Jeffco Housing Corporation, and Northwest Lakewood Sanitation District, which owns the Miller Street Trailhead parcel. Several private residential properties include the riparian corridor and extend to or across Clear Creek. These floodplain areas of the residential lots are undeveloped and present as contiguous Greenbelt lands.
In some locations, property records have become unclear after decades of real estate transactions and conflicting surveys. This leads to occasional disagreement with adjacent property owners and maintenance challenges for staff. The east end of the Greenbelt and Clear Creek Trail present their own complex ownership challenges where the trail extends below the I-70 and I-76 interchange within CDOT right-of-way and crosses into the City of Arvada. In this location, the city manages the trail, but must coordinate with CDOT and Arvada for maintenance and law enforcement, and any future improvements to Otis Street Trailhead.
Ownership related to water bodies within the Greenbelt is equally complicated. Coors Brewing retains water storage rights in Tabor and Prospect Lakes. The City owns the creek bottom within the Greenbelt, but does not
own Clear Creek, furthering complicating management decisions related to public access.
Visitor Demographics and Use Patterns
Most visitors to the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt come to engage in self-directed recreation on the Clear Creek Trail, conservation trails, fishing at the Greenbelt lakes, or nature observation. Clear Creek Trail users return regularly and frequently to the Greenbelt, with most (58%) visitors reporting that they have used the Trail multiple times per week within the last year, according to a Trail User Survey conducted in October 2022. While most Greenbelt visitors are there to use the trail, respondents to a community-wide questionnaire conducted for this plan indicated that the natural setting of the trail is the most important benefit that the Greenbelt provides. Respondents also demonstrated overwhelming support for maintaining the Greenbelt as wildlife habitat and protecting water quality of Clear Creek.
Visitors most frequently access the Greenbelt by driving their personal vehicle to Anderson Park. Ninety-three percent of trail users are white and represent a range of age groups when visiting the Greenbelt. According to the online questionnaire, the most commonly cited barrier to visiting the Greenbelt is safety concerns related to people experiencing homelessness (49%). For detailed results of the community-wide questionnaire, trail user survey, and other public engagement efforts, see Appendix A.
City of Wheat Ridge18
Open Space Management Plan 19
LEWIS MEADOWS
The ten-acre Lewis Meadows is located southwest of the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt just off of 34th Avenue and is surrounded entirely by private residential homes. Lewis Meadows is situated within the 100-year floodplain of Lena Gulch and became designated open space in 1972 when residents from Jefferson County approved a one-half cent sales tax to fund open space purchases. The meadow is managed as a natural area for habitat protection and conservation purposes as the
primary management objective.
Natural Resource Value
Lewis Meadows features stands of mixed cottonwood, mixed shrub, and mesic grasses and is a popular area for dog walking. Lewis Meadows serves as a floodplain park, receiving overflows of Lena Gulch, which traverses the middle of the site.
Area Overview and Surrounding Land Uses
Situated in the southeast corner of Wheat Ridge, Lewis Meadows is nestled within the Applewood Villages neighborhood and is surrounded by single-family residential homes. There is no formal trailhead for parking, thus the primary visitors to Lewis Meadows are residents of the surrounding neighborhood. The meadow is encircled by a soft surface crusher fines walking loop. In the summer, the city hosts goats at Lewis Meadows as part of a grazing program to efficiently and cost-effectively maintain vegetation.
Property Ownership
Lewis Meadows open space is comprised of four parcels. The primary, largest parcel was purchased with funding from the Jeffco Open Space tax and continues to be owned by Jefferson County. Over time, the city has acquired adjacent parcels that follow Lena Gulch in an effort to purchase flood prone lands within the Lena Gulch floodplain. The entire Lewis Meadows open space is managed by the City of Wheat Ridge.
Visitor Use Patterns
Due to its secluded nature, 69% of respondents to the first public questionnaire never visit Lewis Meadows. In fact, a significant number of respondents to the pubic questionnaire were not aware of Lewis Meadows or did not know its location. Those who do visit Lewis Meadows go there to walk and observe nature. Due to the low volume of visitors, many residents of the surrounding neighborhood use the meadow as an off-leash dog park contrary to city leash laws for open space.
City of Wheat Ridge20
OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT AND
MAINTENANCE PRINCIPLES
The Wheat Ridge Parks, Forestry, and Open Space (PFOS) Division manages the natural resources throughout the city’s open space system by maintaining, restoring, and conserving native ecosystems, managing recreational uses, and educating the public. Staff are committed to working cooperatively with other agencies, research institutions, and citizen interest groups in the management of natural resources and recreational use of the city’s open space.
OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
Ecosystem Management. An ecosystem approach to natural resource management attempts to manage and maintain fundamental ecological processes as well as individual species and features. It
identifies factors that might interfere with the natural processes or threaten the balance of elements, with the goal of maintaining natural abundance, diversity, and the ecological integrity of plants and animals.
Balancing Restoration with Human Use and Public Safety. Balance
the need for restoration with the need for human use and public safety.
Natural Resource Inventories and Surveys. Complete inventories of plants, animals, and soil testing are to be completed and updated based on field studies and management needs.
Cooperation and Collaboration. Working in cooperation with other agencies and citizens, minimize the impact of human development such as noise, light, water pollution trends or flows, toxic substances, threats to scenic views, threats to sensitive species, pesticides, and fire hazards.
Migratory Animal Management. Ensure the preservation and enhancement of habitat critical to migratory species. Related actions shall include:
• Upgrade water quality where possible
• Cooperation in population monitoring and data gathering for the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and CPW
• Preserve wildlife corridors within the city’s boundaries
OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PRINCIPLES
It is the intent of the PFOS Division to limit maintenance activities to only those actions that are necessary to conserve the natural state of open space lands while ensuring public health and safety.
Some maintenance activities require timing considerations, such as performing trail work during periods of low recreational use or outside of sensitive breeding or nesting seasons. The PFOS Division follows established guidelines for maintaining open space lands and assets related to:
• Vegetation and mowing
• Trail maintenance
• Drainage areas
• Fire fuel mitigation
• Wildlife
• Hydrologic features
• Visitor impacts (litter, graffiti, vandalism, camping)
Open Space Management Plan 21
City of Wheat Ridge22
RELEVANT PLANS AND STUDIES
Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan (2002)
• 2002 assessment of existing conditions and framework for the protection of natural, scenic, and passive recreational resources for the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, Lewis Meadows, and future open space acquisitions.
• Goals developed with City staff focus on natural resources, community and partnerships, education, and recreation.
• Objectives and recommended actions fall into several categories: vegetation; wetland and riparian areas; water resources; wildlife; threatened, endangered and rare species; environmental education and outreach; and visitor use, recreation, trails, and signage.
• Due to rapidly changing population and demographics of the Front Range and the availability of new land management financial tools, the plan is intended to be dynamic and regularly updated and revised.
• Management zones distinguish between areas more suited for resource protection or restoration and areas more suited for visitor use.
• Additional staff dedicated to on-the-ground management identified as necessary to plan implementation.
Colorado School of Mines Tabor Lake Trail Plan (2022)
• For a proposed trail at Tabor Lake in the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt open space area, a combined concrete and crusher fines trail is suggested as the best trail design based on accessibility, cost, design feasibility, safety, nature preservation, and community input.
• Trail design intends to address major erosion issues in area, fulfill ADA and create areas for safe lake shore visitor access.
• Suggests erosion mitigation in the project area by installing culverts or a drainage system that does not drain to Tabor Lake.
• Project predicted to have no effect on rookery and cormorant nesting due to distance between project and island.
• A bird blind will also be installed, with a location suggested based on feasibility, view quality of the cormorant rookery, and surrounding aesthetic. Each category was weighted based on community input, with view quality and surrounding aesthetic being the most important.
• A picnic table area will also be installed, with a location suggested based on safety, feasibility, disturbance of the cormorant rookery, surrounding aesthetic, and erosion control contribution, with safety and feasibility considered the most important aspects.
• Lake access point locations are being explored, as are the impacts of collocating access points with the bird blind or picnic table area.
Jefferson County Trails Plan (2020)
• Identifies strategies for improving trail conditions and providing convenient, equitable access to the outdoors for all
• Public Priority #1: Develop more local trails to area destinations
• Public Priority #2: Create more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors close to home
• Public Priority #3: Increase safety on trails and at crossings
• Goal #1: Improve connectivity across the region
• Goal #2: Increase equitable access
• Goal #3: Create safer experiences
Open Space Management Plan 23
Colorado School of Mines Greenbelt Erosion Control Plan (2022)
• Proposes solutions for erosion issues in a 0.4 mile stretch of Clear Creek Trail in the City of Wheat Ridge, which mitigate safety and accessibility issues associated with concrete, fencing, and slopes down to the retention pond and creek.
• Recommendation #1: install a system of retaining walls with weep holes for drainage.
• Recommendation #2: plant native vegetation and backfill the retention pond slope for slope stability.
• Recommendation #3: incorporate a cross slope on the trail for water removal.
• Project budget estimated at approximately $5.3 million with an approximate 2-month construction timeline.
• The trail would need to be shut down during construction, requiring construction of the tiered retaining walls to occur in spring or fall to minimize impact to visitors.
• Analyzes performance, budget, and scheduling risks, and suggests risk
mitigations.
Wheat Ridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (2010)
• Presents a framework for a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian network in Wheat Ridge
• The previous phase of the Master Plan creation consisted of an inventory of existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities and identification of future routes based on input from the public and City staff. Inventory is included in the document.
• Includes inventories origins and destinations, regional routes, and potential funding sources for plan implementation.
• Evaluates and prioritizes proposed routes and identifies specific facility types for each
• Develops and recommends multi-modal typical roadway cross-sections.
• Aside from the Clear Creek Trail, the existing bicycle and pedestrian network in the City is sparse and discontinuous, as are sidewalks along the arterial and collector roadway system.
• Recommendation #1: Require bicycle and pedestrian level of service calculations for conceptual designs of all roadway improvement projects (before and after the subject improvements).
• Recommendation #2: Complete conceptual level corridor designs for the top-ranking bicycle
and pedestrian corridors.
Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2015)
• Master Plan based on staff and community input as well as research and analysis of Wheat Ridge’s existing parks and recreation system.
• Indoor recreation facilities at the Recreation Center and several park sites are in need of updating and expansion to meet increasing public demands, and there is significant interest in additional trails and trail system connectivity.
• Maintaining growth at a sustainable rate is a key component of the Master Plan to ensure that development does not outstrip the City’s ability to generate resources required to operate and maintain the park and recreation system.
• Five recommended goals and strategies fall into several focuses: recreation, existing facilities and level of service, maintenance, and finances. Goals are also given a priority level.
• Provides inventory of existing facilities and level of service, with the Greenbelt and recreation center having the highest demand by the public.
• Provides list of failing components identified during site assessments with recommendations to meet public expectations.
City of Wheat Ridge24
Wheat Ridge Urban Forestry Maintenance & Management Program Guide (2020)
• Program Guide updated in 2020 providing a 20-year framework for achieving urban forestry maintenance, public engagement, and administrative goals.
• Goal #1: maintain community trees at optimum levels of stocking, health, age and species diversity, and ensure trees are appropriate for the site.
• Goal #2: engage with the public through raising awareness and encouraging involvement in the active management of community trees.
• Goal #3: develop, maintain, and enforce community forestry goals and recommendations through funding and action.
• Objectives are included for each goal to act as measurements towards goal progress.
• Recommended actions are also included for each goal intended to ensure overall goals are met.
Forthcoming Plans (2023)
• 44th Avenue Sub-area Plan
• Clear Creek Integrated Watershed Management Plan
• Peaks to Plains Trail – Plains Section Strategic Plan
Other relevant Plans
• Wheat Ridge Weed Management Plan (2003)
• Wheat Ridge Wildfire Management Plan (2003)
• Wheat Ridge Comprehensive Plan (2009)
• Prospect Lake Water Quality Report (2018)
• Wheat Ridge Open Space Biological Inventory (2010)
• Wheat Ridge Greenbelt Signage Inventory (2021)
• Wheat Ridge ADA Transition Plan (2019)
• Wheat Ridge Strategic Action Plan (2019)
• Wheat Ridge Historic & Cultural Resource Management Plan (2021)
• Wheat Ridge Public Art Management Plan (2014)
• Wheat Ridge Economic Development Strategic Plan (2009)
Open Space Management Plan 25
City of Wheat Ridge26
Climate and Climate Change
Natural Resources
Recreation Resources
Opportunities and Challenges
EXISTING CONDITIONS
CHAPTER 2:
Open Space Management Plan 27
City of Wheat Ridge28
CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
* Western Regional Climate Center At The Desert Research Institute;
The Wheat Ridge Greenbelt is located along the western edge of the Great Prairie and thus has highly variable weather. The climate is semi-arid with a strong seasonal variation in temperature, abundant sunshine, and relatively low precipitation. High temperatures average between 82-89°F between June and August, and low temperatures average between 17-25°F between November and March. Winters are cold but are characterized by significant temperature swings. Average rainfall in the vicinity of Wheat Ridge open space is about 18.64 inches per year. January is the driest month and May the wettest month. Average annual snowfall is approximately 82 inches, with average annual snow depth of one inch.*
Climate change presents a variety of threats to the natural environment, such as reducing snow cover and the changing availability of water, prolonged drought conditions that are conducive to the invasion and spread of non-native species, pests, and catastrophic wildfire, habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation for plants and wildlife, and the resultant loss of biodiversity. Protecting native plants and animals is best guaranteed through habitat conservation and restoration. The recommendations of this plan include land management, conservation, and recreation management actions to mitigate impacts from climate change and other threats to the environment.. Climate change challenges will continue to change
terrestrial and aquatic conditions within the Clear Creek corridor in the future. Warmer temperatures and changes in the amount and timing of snow may drastically change the landscape within the Greenbelt and Clear Creek corridor. Snow is melting earlier in the spring, and as temperatures rise, surface waters and the plants and animals that depend upon them are particularly vulnerable to changes in temperature and moisture. Ever-changing climatic conditions will make predicting resource trends increasingly challenging. As climate change compounds impacts on natural resources, data used to predict future conditions may become increasingly more uncertain.
NATURAL RESOURCES
SOILS
Soil in the Greenbelt and Lewis Meadows was produced by the action of soil-forming processes on parent rock or alluvium that was accumulated through erosion and deposition. The Greenbelt is within the natural floodplain of Clear Creek and Lewis Meadows is within the natural floodplain of Lena Gulch. Therefore, most of the soils in the Wheat Ridge open space areas are at moderate risk of periodic flooding and high water tables.
Soils are a determining factor in selecting and planting vegetation and constructing trails,
and they are the substrate that is manipulated for planting, storing and transmitting water, and supporting diverse plant communities. Good soil conditions exist when water, air, plant roots, and microorganisms are able to move freely through and within the root zone of the soil. Because soil characteristics vary across any landscape, it is important to know the soil characteristics of the property. Prior to revegetation of upland areas, a thorough soil analysis should be conducted. Specific soils mapped by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service include Alda loam, Alda-Niwot Complex, Torrifulvents, and
Ustic Torriorthents. Detailed descriptions of each soil type are provided below.
Alda Loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes. This is a deep, somewhat poorly drained soil on alluvial valley floors, low terraces, and floodplains. Permeability of Alda soil is moderate and available water capacity is low. Water and wind erosion are low hazards. A seasonal water table is at a depth of 24 to 36 inches in spring and summer. This soil is occasionally flooded for brief periods in spring and summer.
Open Space Management Plan 29
Alda-Niwot Complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes. The areas of this complex are on alluvial valley floors abandoned meander belts, and low terraces. The Alda soil is deep and somewhat poorly drained. Permeability is moderate and available water capacity is low. Water and wind erosion are low hazards where soil is exposed to these elements. A seasonal high water table is at a depth of 24 to 36 inches in spring and summer. The Niwot soil is deep and somewhat poorly drained. Permeability is moderate and available water capacity is low. A seasonal high water table is 6 to 18 inches deep in spring and summer. This complex is subject to occasional flooding in spring and summer.
Torrifluvents, 0 to 3 percent slopes. Torrifluvents are the dominant soil type in the Greenbelt. These soils are gravelly, deep, excessively drained, and underlie most of the flat floodplain areas within the Greenbelt. They are easily eroded and depleted, and have poor water holding capabilities. Runoff is slow, and water erosion is a severe hazard. These soils are subject to occasional flooding in spring and summer.
Ustic Rorriothents, 15 to 50 percent slopes. Ustic Rorriothents are loamy soils that are found on slopes adjacent to Clear Creek. These are shallow to deep, well-drained soils on eroded, active hill slopes adjacent to drainages. Permeability of these soils is moderate to slow, and the available water capacity ranges from low to high. These soils underlie the ridge south of Clear Creek along the eastern portion of the Greenbelt. Runoff is rapid and water erosion is a severe hazard.See the USDA’s web soil survey to learn more: https://websoilsurvey.Nrcs.Usda.Gov/app/websoilsurvey.Aspx
City of Wheat Ridge30
HYDROLOGIC FEATURES
Clear Creek
* 2014 Upper Clear Creek Watershed Plan; Clear Creek Consultants and Matrix Design Group
Clear Creek is located in the north-central front range of Colorado within the South Platte River Basin. It flows from west to east extending from the Continental Divide 45 miles west of Wheat Ridge in western Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties to the confluence with the South Platte River in Denver. The upper Clear Creek watershed lies within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. As such, a large portion of the watershed is relatively undisturbed by human development. Sport fishing for salmonids (e.g., trout) occurs in upper reaches of the drainage.
Water quality has historically been degraded by mine drainage and industrial uses within central and lower portions of the watershed. Beginning with railroads, the Clear Creek corridor has been extensively developed for transportation including U.S. Highways 6 and 40 with Interstate Highway 70 constructed along Clear Creek in the 1960’s. Communities and towns were developed along Clear Creek originally to serve the mining industry. Contamination from past mining and milling operations and natural mineralization is a significant issue in upper Clear Creek upstream from Wheat Ridge. Historically, several segments of upper Clear Creek were impaired by trace metals (cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc) that exceeded the standards established
to protect aquatic life.* Additionally, Clear Creek is a conduit for surface water flows and stormwater drainage that often carries oils, fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides that further degrade water quality.
Section 303d of the Clean Water Act lists Clear Creek as having the following impairments: E. coli, sediment, temperature, and ammonia (CDPHE WQCC 2018a). Water quality testing of Clear Creek has not been conducted by Wheat Ridge and is a recommendation of this plan.
Clear Creek has a bedrock and boulder channel for most of its course through the mountains. On entering the plains, Clear Creek remains a single thread channel. Its substrate grades from cobble to gravel to sand as gradient decreases.
Clear Creek is generally a gaining stream, with flows increasing with distance downstream in proportion to drainage area. Lower elevation portions of the watershed have lower precipitation amounts and therefore a lower watershed yield. Flows in Clear Creek can be impacted by droughts due to low winter snow accumulation. Stream flow conditions are highly variable in Wheat Ridge due to upstream water diversions for drinking water ,as well as source water for the Loveland Ski Area, Molson-Coors Brewing Company, Xcel Energy, and several ditch companies. Today, Clear Creek is highly channelized and largely isolated from its natural floodplain.
Open Space Management Plan 31
Lena Gulch
Lena Gulch flows from Clear Creek south to the Maple Grove Reservoir through the middle of Lewis Meadows, which is located within the floodplain of the gulch.
Irrigation Ditches
Irrigation is essential to support most agriculture in Colorado’s dry climate. Among the first irrigation water rights are those on the Lee and Baugh Ditch, which now irrigates Prospect Park. Other early ditches include Slater, Brown and Baugh, and Oulette and Wadsworth. Each of these ditches flows out of the north side of Clear Creek in or near Wheat Ridge. The Risdon Ditch flows from the south side of Clear Creek through the Greenbelt.
Lakes
The Wheat Ridge Greenbelt is home to four lakes that are remnants of earlier gravel mining operations: Wes Lake, Bass Lake, Tabor Lake, and Prospect Lake. Today these lakes provide habitat for wildlife including waterfowl and numerous freshwater fish species. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) periodically stocks them with warm water sport fish such as largemouth bass, bluegill, and perch.
City of Wheat Ridge32
HABITAT TYPES
Dominant habitat types are profiled below; however, site-specific habitat mapping was not conducted for this planning effort. Details can be found in the city’s most recent biological resources inventory completed by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program in 2000. Chapter Four of this plan recommends updating the biological resources inventory of the city’s open space lands.
Factors affecting plant communities, habitat characteristics, and habitat condition include natural disturbances, soil types, topography, hydrology, wildlife interactions, invasion by non-native plant species, land use, and land management. Although the Greenbelt may appear to be in a “natural” state, indicators of disturbance include: historical gravel mining, channelization of Clear Creek, historic livestock grazing, invasive, non-native plant species infestations, and heavy recreational use.
In the arid climate and highly developed metropolitan area, Clear Creek and the Greenbelt form an urban riparian corridor that natural attracts a variety of wildlife species, many of which are dependent on wetlands for all or part of their life cycles.
Riparian areas, even naturally fragmented areas, can form corridors that link many different habitat types and wildlife populations along the drainage gradient they occupy.
Wetland
Wetlands are located throughout the
Greenbelt within the floodplain of Clear Creek and around the lakes. Detailed wetland delineation has not been performed for the study area. The wetlands that are shown on maps are general locations and will need for detailed mapping to be conducted prior to construction of any facilities. Wetland vegetation is dominated by cattails (Typha spp.) in the wetter portions, while the edges support a mixture of herbaceous and woody species. Herbaceous species include smooth brome (Bromus inermis) and showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) that provides suitable habitat for the federal candidate species, monarch butterfly. The Bass Lake wetlands area is home to more than 100 species of migratory birds making it one of the top birding spots in the Denver metropolitan area.
Open Waters/Lakes
The four lakes and associated wetlands provide foraging, resting, and breeding habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. A wide variety of avian species inhabit the lake areas and wetlands including double-crested cormorants, heron, and mallard among many others. Tabor Lake is home to a colonial nesting island inhabited by double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Mammalian predators such as red fox (Vulpes vulpes), raccoon (Procyon lotor), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) may also occasionally forage in these areas.
Freshwater Aquatic
Clear Creek provides habitat for numerous fish, amphibian, reptile, and invertebrate species. Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have historically been documented in Clear Creek through Wheat Ridge, although trout populations are significantly larger upstream. Representative amphibian and reptile species observed in this habitat include common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), gartersnakes (Thamnophis spp.), western chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata), and American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus). A wide variety of aquatic invertebrates inhabit the area around Clear Creek and serve as prey and pollinators in the ecosystem.
Grass and Forb Dominated
A cover of grass and forb species dominates this vegetation community. Some individual trees and shrubs may be present, but they are a minor component of the total cover. Several areas of this community type in Wheat Ridge’s open space have been previously disturbed and planted with introduced pasture grasses.
Shrub Dominated
A cover of shrubby species dominates this type of community assemblage. Grass and forbs may be present beneath the shrub canopy. Individual trees may also be present but do not account for a significant portion
of the total cover.
Open Space Management Plan 33
Cottonwood Gallery / Willow and River Riparian
Tree species dominate the cover in this vegetation community type. An understory of woody shrubs and an herbaceous ground cover are often present beneath the canopy. Native and non-native cottonwood (Populus spp.) species dominate the floodplain areas near Clear Creek. Also present in the canopy along the floodplain are other non-native trees such as Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia). According to the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas (Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership 2016), plains riparian habitat (e.g., cottonwood/willow gallery) comprises only three percent of Colorado’s land area, but has a disproportionately high species richness and density of breeding birds.
Representative avian species utilizing this habitat include Bullock’s oriole (Icterus bullockii), black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia), northern flicker (Colaptes
auratus), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), house wren (Troglodytes aedon), American robin (Turdus migratorius). Raptors such as, Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), and American kestrel (Falco sparverius) have been documented in the Greenbelt. This habitat type also provides potential nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), although no bald or golden eagles or their nests were documented during field reconnaissance in the summer of 2022.
In addition to the species described above, this habitat system provides dispersal migratory corridors for mammals.
Representative mammal species that are typical in this habitat include beaver (Castor canadensis), American mink (Neovison vison), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), raccoon (Procyon lotor), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), coyote (Canis latrans), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Vegetation associated with irrigation ditches also provides a small about of habitat, cover, and connectivity for wildlife movement in an urban environment.
In upland areas, other species replace cottonwoods. Cottonwood-dominated areas may consist of large, widely spaced older cottonwoods with a grassy understory (gallery forest), or may be dominated by dense stands of smaller and younger trees with no significant understory vegetation (riparian forest). Typically the riparian forest areas are dominated by non-native willow species (Salix xpp.).
City of Wheat Ridge34
SENSITIVE SPECIES
Ute Ladies’-Tresses
The Ute ladies’-tresses orchid (Spiranthes diluvialis) is a rare, perennial species endemic to the western United States in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and, historically, in eastern Nevada. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the orchid as threatened in 1992.
The orchid is found within a two-mile linear range within the Greenbelt and is part of a larger riparian/floodplain community complex. The orchid has been known to exist in the area since 1981. The most recent comprehensive survey and inventory of Ute Ladies’-Tresses was conducted in 2010 by Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) biologists and documented the orchid in seven of the previous 18 locations where the orchid was present in 2000. Since then, PFOS staff have conducted periodic surveys. Chapter Four of this plan recommends conducting a new detailed survey to update the inventory and inform the development of a species management plan. There is a critical need for detailed continual integrated management in order to prevent further loss of orchid populations within the Greenbelt. The continued viability of Ute ladies’-tresses orchid along the Greenbelt hinges on the integration of water management, vegetation management, recreation management, and a sound monitoring program.
Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse
Wetlands, combined with the dry landscapes that are adjacent to them, are prime habitat for the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), a federally-listed threatened species. Typical habitat for Preble’s meadow jumping mouse is comprised of well-developed plains riparian vegetation with adjacent, relatively undisturbed grassland communities and a nearby water source, such as Clear Creek. These riparian areas include a relatively dense combination of grasses, forbs, and shrubs. The wetland seeps and riparian areas along the Creek provide suitable habitat conditions for this subspecies. A site-specific survey to determine the presence of this subspecies was conducted in 2000 during the city’s most recent biological inventory. No individuals were captured or documented, despite habitat
conditions that would support this species.
Bald Eagles
The Greenbelt provides suitable nesting, foraging, and roosting habitat for bald eagles. Eagles have been sighted in the area, however, no eagles or nests were documented during the 2022 field reconnaissance of the Greenbelt. This plan recommends conducting a raptor nest inventory with subsequent monitoring over a period of several months.
Earthstar
A seemingly rare species of earthstar fungi was documented in the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt during the CNHP survey in 2000. Earthstars belong to a group of fungi called Gasteromycetes, or “stomach fungi.” Their fruiting bodies are a stomach-shaped sacs filled with dry spores. They locate directly on the ground or on rotten wood. The earthstar recently documented in the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt is thus far known worldwide only from this location.
Open Space Management Plan 35
Credit: Nathan Peterson, Center for Biological Diversity
City of Wheat Ridge36
RECREATION RESOURCES
TRAILS
Clear Creek Trail
* 2022 Clear Creek Trail User Survey
Soon after the city incorporated in 1969, efforts to construct a trail within the contiguous open space now known as the Greenbelt were successful and thus the Clear Creek Trail was established.
Today, the Clear Creek Trail is a regional multi-use trail connecting Golden to Denver. Seven miles of the Trail traverse the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt. The trail follows Clear Creek for most of the way through the city’s
Greenbelt. In 2007, the Clear Creek Trail Received “National Recreation Designation” for the section within the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt.
Visitors access the trail via seven trailheads
and multiple neighborhood access points. Additional access is being developed such as a multi-use path connection from the east side of Wadsworth Boulevard that is being constructed in conjunction with CDOT’s
expansion of the roadway. The trail is also a popular commuting route for cyclists because it provides a safe and direct off-street connection to multiple destinations within Golden, Wheat Ridge, and Denver. In
recent years, trail visitation has increased dramatically resulting in a corresponding increase in complaints of user conflicts between pedestrians, dog walkers, and cyclists.
Property Ownership
The Clear Creek Trail is located within the city’s Greenbelt and therefore is subject to the same nuances of property ownership
that are documented in the previous section on the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt. The city owns the majority of parcels that comprise the Greenbelt and trail site. However, in some locations, property records are unclear
after decades of real estate transactions and conflicting surveys. There are a few locations where the trail may cross private property without easements in place. Chapter four of this plan recommends
procuring professional survey services to confirm ownership or locations where the city should secure formal easements.
The east end of the Greenbelt and Clear Creek Trail present their own ownership
challenges where the trail extends below the I-70 and I-76 interchange within CDOT right-of-way and crosses into the City of Arvada. In this location, the city continues to manage the trail, but must coordinate with
CDOT and Arvada for maintenance and law enforcement, and any future improvements to Otis Street Trailhead.
Trail User Profile
Half of all visitors to the Clear Creek Trail live in Wheat Ridge, while half live outside of city limits within one mile of the trail. The
majority of trail users visit the trail because it is close to where they live.
Ninety-three percent of trail users are white and represent a broad range of age groups when visiting the trail.* Eighty-eight percent
of trail visitors are over age 35 according to the Trail User Survey conducted in October 2022 as part of this planning process.
The average trail user visits alone on a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday and travels
to the trail in a personal vehicle, although many others (37%) walk or bike to the trail. The vast majority of visitors walk or run between 1-3 miles. Anderson Park is the most frequently used trailhead and
most visitors start and end their trip along the trail somewhere between Youngfield Street and Anderson Park. Trail users return regularly and frequently, with most (58%) visitors reporting that they have used the
Clear Creek Trail multiple times per week in the last year. See Chapter 3: Community Engagement and Appendix A for detailed results of the Trail User Survey.
Open Space Management Plan 37
CLEAR CREEK TRAILQUICK FACTS
TOTAL MILES: 16
WHEAT RIDGE MILES: 7 SURFACE: 8 – 10ft. concrete TRAILHEADS: 7 USERS: Pedestrians, cyclists, mobility devices, equestrians
City of Wheat Ridge38
MAP 03: PEAKS TO PLAINS TRAIL
Peaks to Plains
Trail (65 Miles)
CITY AND
COUNTY
OF DENVER
South Platte
Greenway
(28 Miles)
6
ARVADA
BOULDER
WHEAT RIDGE
WINTER PARK
ADAMS COUNTY
ARAPAHOE
COUNTY
BOULDER
COUNTY
CLEAR CREEK
COUNTY
DOUGLAS
COUNTY
GILPIN COUNTYGRAND COUNTY
JEFFERSON
COUNTY
PARK COUNTY
SUMMIT COUNTY
WELD COUNTY
BLACK HAWK
BRECKENRIDGE
DILLON
FRASER
GEORGETOWN
GOLDEN
GRANBY
IDAHO SPRINGS
LAKEWOOD
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Disclaimer: This information/map is the property of theJefferson County Open Space Program (JCOS), Jefferson County, Colorado and is copyrighted material. Reproduction,manipulation or distribution of this product is prohibitedwithout the prior written consent of JCOS staff. JeffersonCounty does not warrant the completeness, accuracy, orcorrectness of this product, its use for any purpose, andshall not be liable for damages of any kind arising from useof the product or for any errors or inaccuracies.
Peaks to Plains Trail
Data Sources: Jeffco Open Space, Jeffco ITS, USGS, NHD,CDOT
Trail Corridor Collaborative
^_Denver
0 52.5
Miles
Scale is 1:198,000 when printed at 11"x17"
Last Revised 12/1/2020
ÜPeaks to Plains Trail (65 Miles)
South Platte Greenway (28 Miles)
Mountains
(35.5 Miles)
Plains
(16 Miles)
Canyon
(13.5 Miles)
Mountains (35.5 Miles)
Plains (16 Miles)
Canyon (13.5 Miles)
City of Arvada
City of Golden
City of Lakewood
City of Wheat Ridge
Other City or Town
Public Land
Apex Park & Recreation District
Prospect Recreation & Park District
Open Space Management Plan 39
EXHIBIT 01:
PEAKS TO PLAINS STATE TRAIL
The Peaks to Plains (P2P) Trail is a 65-mile trail of regional and statewide significance that will serve the over three million Denver metro region residents of the largest urban population center in Colorado. The P2P will connect four counties and seven cities, with an elevation change of
over one mile from the Continental Divide at Loveland Pass to the South
Platte Greenway in Adams County.
For the purpose of local planning and collaboration, the P2P Trail is organized into three sections – Plains, Canyon and Mountains. The Plains Collaborative is responsible for the section between Golden and the
South Platte Trail, including the City of Wheat Ridge.
Within Wheat Ridge, the existing Clear Creek Trail will be designated as a section of the P2P Trail and co-branded with wayfinding signage.
To learn more about the P2P visit, https://www.jeffco.us/3792/Peaks-to-Plains-Trail
City of Wheat Ridge40
Conservation Trail
The city maintains a crusher fines Conservation Trail that diverges from the Clear Creek Trail at West Lake and extends east for 1.5 miles to Miller Street Trailhead. The Conservation Trail provides hikers and nature-seekers with a quiet, more secluded hiking experience along the south side of Clear Creek and around Bass Lake. Only hiking and mobility devices are permitted on the Conservation Trail to limit impacts to the surrounding habitat.
On the south side of Bass Lake, the Conservation Trail transitions to an elevated boardwalk through the Bass Lake Wetlands. This area is home to more than 100 species of migratory birds and is a top birding destination in the Denver metro area. The 550-foot long boardwalk features an ADA accessible bird blind near the southeast corner of Bass Lake and additional observation platforms making it an ideal location for wildlife observation and photography.
Open Space Management Plan 41
Social Trails
A significant network of ad hoc social trails established over time by pedestrians exists within the Greenbelt. These trails are created when hikers repeatedly travel over the same path and establish a trail by trampling vegetation. Social trails are often the result of pedestrians seeking the most efficient route to a destination. In the case of the Greenbelt, they are established in pursuit of creek access and hiking experiences in a more natural, backcountry setting.
The area south of West Lake and along the Conservation Trail are two locations where a network of social trails have developed. These trails are not part of the city’s official trail system and are not maintained by PFOS staff. In some cases, social trails are innocuous and serve a clear purpose, but in many locations, these trails endanger sensitive habitat, cause erosion, and can lead to the spread of invasive species.
City of Wheat Ridge42
WATER BASED RECREATION
* 2014 Upper Clear Creek Watershed Plan; Clear Creek Consultants and Matrix Design Group
Clear Creek
Clear Creek is the centerpiece of the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt. The Greenbelt is near the base of Clear Creek’s alluvial outwash from the mountains, where the stream historically began a more meandering course through a broad floodplain. Today, Clear Creek is highly channelized and largely isolated from its original floodplain. Fed by cold water from high alpine lakes and streams, Clear Creek provides habitat for limited populations of brown and rainbow trout, which makes it a popular destination for anglers. However, Clear Creek serves as a conduit for surface water flows and stormwater drainage which significantly reduces overall water quality from its natural condition.
Clear Creek is used extensively for wading, fishing, and small-scale recreational placer mining such as at Arapahoe Bar. From its headwaters to Golden, Clear Creek and its tributaries are classified for Class 1 Recreation and meeting the standards that have been established to protect that use.*
Although entering Clear Creek within Wheat Ridge is not an officially permitted recreational use within the city, certain locations within the Greenbelt are popular destinations for summertime wading, such as the area locally known as “The Beach” near Anderson Park.
CLEAR CREEKQUICK FACTS TOTAL LENGTH: 66 miles
WHEAT RIDGE MILES: 5 PERMITTED USES: Fishing and wildlife viewing
Open Space Management Plan 43
West Lake
As its name suggests, West Lake is the western-most within the Greenbelt. Non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks, and fishing are permitted activities in West Lake. Swimming is not permitted in any of the city’s lakes. The south end of the lake is historically characterized by wetlands, but in drier years a network of social trails have been established by curious Greenbelt explorers.
WEST LAKEQUICK FACTS
APPROX. AREA: 21 acres
SHORELINE DISTANCE: 4,365 LF
PERMITTED USES: Non-motorized watercraft, fishing, wildlife viewing
City of Wheat Ridge44
Bass Lake
Bass Lake is the premier fishing lake within the Greenbelt and is periodically stocked by CPW with warm water sport fish such as largemouth bass, bluegill, and perch. The 550-foot-long Bass Lake Boardwalk along the south end of the lake is equipped with ADA compliant wildlife observation platforms and a bird blind, providing a peaceful escape and ideal location for birding and photography.
BASS LAKE
QUICK FACTS
APPROX. AREA: 5 acres
SHORELINE DISTANCE: 1,956 LF
PERMITTED USES: Sport fishing and wildlife viewing
Open Space Management Plan 45
Prospect Lake
Prospect Lake is the eastern-most lake along the Greenbelt and located at Prospect Park. Like Tabor Lake, Prospect Lake was purchased from Coors Brewing who maintains water impoundment rights and therefore influences how the lake and water are used.
In the summer of 2022, a severe blue-green algae bloom was observed in Prospect Lake resulting in fish-kill of large species like catfish and carp. The city mitigated the algae bloom by supplementing the lake with fresh water and has developed a lake management plan to prevent this occurrence in the future at all city lakes.
PROSPECT LAKE
QUICK FACTS
APPROX. AREA: 11 acres
SHORELINE DISTANCE: 2,881 LF
PERMITTED USES: Non-motorized watercraft, wildlife viewing
City of Wheat Ridge46
Tabor Lake
In 2000, Wheat Ridge purchased land it was leasing around Tabor Lake from Coors Brewing Company, adding this land to the Greenbelt while Coors retained water storage rights in the lake. Tabor Lake is the city’s largest lake and a popular destination for wildlife viewing due to the significant nesting island located in the center of the Lake. The nesting island has provided important habitat for herons and other waterfowl, and in recent years has been colonized by cormorants. Conditions of the island habitat are severely degraded and the city prohibits non-motorized watercraft in the lake during nesting season from March through mid-August.
The city is currently seeking funding to implement a plan to establish a trail that circumnavigates the lake. This project will formalize existing social trails that have developed around the lake and provide direct multi-use path connection from 44th Avenue to the Clear Creek Trail along the west side of the lake. The other 2/3 of the trail that will encircle the lake will be constructed of crusher fines and be limited to hiking and pedestrian use only to limit impacts to sensitive birding habitat.
TABOR LAKEQUICK FACTS
APPROX. AREA:
25 acres
SHORELINE DISTANCE: 4,389 LF
PERMITTED USES:
Seasonal non-
motorized watercraft,
sport fishing, wildlife
viewing
Open Space Management Plan 47
City of Wheat Ridge48
OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES
During the summer of 2022, a team consisting of landscape architects, biologists, trail engineers, and open space planners conducted a series of site visits throughout the Greenbelt, Clear Creek Trail, and Lewis Meadows. The findings of the site visits and subsequent analysis are documented in the following map and photo series as opportunities and challenges. The Greenbelt is divided into seven planning and maintenance sections. This section is organized accordingly. Analysis of Lewis Meadows follows the Greenbelt analysis.
Open Space Management Plan 49
MAP 04: GREENBELT PLANNING AND MAINTENANCE SECTIONS
City of Wheat Ridge50
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Open Space Management Plan 51
GREENBELT SECTION 1 COORS TO YOUNGFIELD TRAILHEAD
Resource degradation due to informal shortcut path..
OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunity to establish parallel natural surface trail on both sides of paved trail in all feasible areas.
Opportunity to provide consistent trail character by working with Jefferson Co. to replace chain link fence on north side with post & wire that matches south side.
Opportunity to develop safe creek access in conjunction with bank stabilization per recommendations of School of Mines study.
Potential recreation access to ponds for residents of adjacent new multifamily development.
Future Connection to Lutheran Hospital and new multifamily residential
CHALLENGES
Informal shortcut path contributes to natural resource degradation.
Erosion on both sides of trail; undermining of trail surface.
Continued management of gold panning activities to minimize erosion and litter.
Low/minimal shoulder.
Tree limbs limit sight distance.
Trail pinch point due to culvert and railings.
Encampment area for people experiencing homelessness.
Trail pinch point (8ft. wide) due to culvert and railings.
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Tree limbs limit sight distance. 5
Trail pinch point due to culvert and railings.6Erosion on both sides of trail.
People experiencing homelessness encampment.Develop safe creek access in conjunction with bank stabilization .3 Management of gold panning activities to minimize erosion and litter.
Potential recreation access to ponds. 4 Low/minimal shoulder.Trail pinch point due to culvert and railings.
Establish parallel natural surface trail on both sides of paved trail
Replace chain link fence on north side to match south side.
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City of Wheat Ridge52
Section 2: Youngfield to Prospect Park (red zone)
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Open Space Management Plan 53
GREENBELT SECTION 2 YOUNGFIELD TRAILHEAD TO PROSPECT PARK
Re-establish wetland and promote health of cotton-wood gallery.
OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunity to formalize new conservation trail system; revegetate other social trails.
Opportunity to amenitize ponds with fishing decks and boat launch.
Potential to partner with Youngfield Business Plaza to provide overflow parking site for trail access on weekends.
Opportunity to re-establish wetland and promote health of cottonwood gallery.
Possible partnership to provide public trail connection when school is not in session.
Catalyze redevelopment to provide new trailhead.
44th Ave. Subarea Plan recommends Van Gordon Street improvements for bike/ped connectivity.
Continue ongoing efforts to establish natural surface trail around Tabor Lake.
44th Ave. Plan recommends Tabor Street improvements to establish north/south bike/ped connection.
Catalyze redevelopment of vacant parcels to develop small trailhead and bike/ped access from 44th Ave.
Potential seasonal overbank flooding restoration to support health of riparian canopy; balance with public safety on trail.
CHALLENGES
User safety conflict due to steep grade in excess of 15% and limited sight distance.
Weekend overcrowding at Youngfield Trailhead.
Public access encroaches on milkweed and Monarch butterfly habitat.
Public access encroaches on endangered Utes Ladies Tresses Orchids
Boardwalk not designed to accommodate bikes as mobility devices.
Need for center line striping at trail and bridge intersection.
Evergreens in declining health; further assess tree and soil conditions.
Bare ground creates conditions for erosion and diminishes user experience.
Habitat & tree stabilization needed for deteriorating cormorant nesting site.
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9 Public access encroaches on endangered Utes Ladies Tresses Orchids12
Boardwalk not designed to accommodate bikes as mobility devices13 Ongoing efforts to establish natural surface trail around Tabor Lake.13
Need for center line striping at trail and bridge intersection.
Opportunity to amenitize ponds with fishing decks and boat launch.7 User safety conflict due to steep grade and limited sight distance.
Partner with Youngfield Business Plaza to provide overflow parking site for trail access.8 Weekend overcrowding at Youngfield Trailhead.Habitat & tree stabilization needed for deteriorating cormorant nesting site.
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Sparse or non-existent tree canopy over Clear Creek degrades aquatic habitat.
Poor water quality/aquatic habitat.
Sharp curve: need for center line striping
Open parking lot frontage along trail; need for access management.
Hazardous tree abuts trail near curve.
Limited sight distance in S-curve.
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Formalize new conservation trail system; revegetate other social trails.6
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City of Wheat Ridge54
Section 3: Prospect Park to Kipling East (black zone)
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Open Space Management Plan 55
GREENBELT SECTION 3 PROSPECT PARK TO KIPLING EAST TRAILHEAD
CHALLENGES
Improvements needed at Miller St. Trailhead including ADA space; relocated or improved bike parking.
Lack of directional wayfinding.
Seasonal flooding and nuisance drainage issues.
Improve visibility of directional wayfinding at intersection and along Recreation Center parking lot.
Kipling crossing is indirect & inefficient for trail users resulting in unsafe highway crossings; consider feasibility study to evaluate underpass or at-grade crossing improvements.
Sharp corner; limited sight.
PEH encampment area: limited visibility from street or trailhead.
Vehicle encroachment on trail; consider wheel stops or offset trail location.
OPPORTUNITIES
44th Ave. Subarea Plan recommends street improvements for bike/ped connection on Parfet St.
Opportunity to formalize neighborhood access; reconfigure trail to achieve ADA-compliant slope; revegetate other social access trails.
Catalyze future development for new trail connection and trailhead along Lena Gulch.
Consider opportunity for pump track along Greenbelt.
Opportunity to establish parallel natural surface trail on both sides of paved trail.
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Lack of directional wayfinding.Sharp corner; limited sight.29
Vehicle encroachment on trail;31Seasonal flooding and nuisance drainage issues.
Establish parallel natural surface trail on both sides of paved trail.21 Improve visibility of directional wayfinding at intersection
Improvements needed at Miller St. Trailhead Kipling crossing is indirect & inefficient for trail users resulting in unsafe highway crossings.
Formalize neighborhood access; reconfigure trail to achieve ADA-compliant slope.
Consider opportunity for pump track along Green-belt.
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City of Wheat Ridge56
Section 4: Kipling East to Anderson Park (green zone)
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Open Space Management Plan 57
GREENBELT SECTION 4 KIPLING EAST TO ANDERSON PARK
OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunity for small trailhead or parallel parking with trail access on City property at Iris St.
44th Ave. Subarea plan recommends formalizing and establishing ADA-compliant public access on Hoyt Ct.
Potential alternative trail connection.
Consider formalizing legal public creek access.
Consider seasonal overbank flooding restoration to support riparian canopy health.
CHALLENGES
Limited sight distance in curve; consider center line striping.
Narrow sidewalk width does not safely accommodate the frequent use by residents to access the trail.
Narrow width, angle points, existing retaining walls, and drainage problems create safety and potential for user conflicts.
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Limited sight distance in curve.
Narrow sidewalk width does not safely accommodate the frequent use for trail access.Establish ADA-compliant public access on Hoyt Ct.
Narrow width, angle points, existing retaining walls, and drainage problems create safety and potential for user conflicts.
Consider formalizing legal public creek access.
Trailhead or parallel parking with trail access on City property at Iris St.
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City of Wheat Ridge58
Section 5: Anderson Park to Johnson Park (yellow zone)
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Johnson Park
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Open Space Management Plan 59
GREENBELT SECTION 5 ANDERSON PARK TO JOHNSON PARK
OPPORTUNITIES
Potential for future trail connection.
Opportunity for future small trailhead at Boyd’s Crossing Park.
Opportunity to amenitize this area and revegetate streambank in conjunction with potential floodway excavation.
Opportunity for revegetation or seasonal wetland creation.
Potential trail connection, in conjunction with redevelopment to provide north/south connectivity under I-70.
CHALLENGES
PEH encampment area results in litter and degradation of natural area
Very steep slope presents challenges to neighborhood connectivity to trail cost-prohibitive access.
Continue wildfire fuel mitigation.
Pinch point due to trail curve and railing pinch point.
PEH encampment area resulting in litter and resource degradation.
Dangerous entrance/exit onto Wadsworth from Johnson Park; often icy in the winter due to flooding.
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Pinch point due to trail curve and railing pinch point.
Dangerous entrance/exit onto Wadsworth from Johnson Park;
Steep slope presents challenges to neighborhood connectivity
Continue wildfire fuel mitigation.
Future small trailhead at Boyd’s Crossing Park.
Opportunity to amenitize this area and revegetate streambank.
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City of Wheat Ridge60
Section 6: Johnson Park to Creekside Park (blue zone)
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Open Space Management Plan 61
GREENBELT SECTION 6 JOHNSON PARK TO CREEKSIDE PARK
OPPORTUNITIES
Road improvements & JCOS grant will enable establishment of ADA-compliant connection from east side of Wadsworth.
Pursue opportunity to amend City boundaries so that complete length of trail maintained by Wheat Ridge is within City boundaries.
Build upon funded drainage and trail upgrade with additional Otis St. trailhead improvements.
CHALLENGES
Drainage issues will require slope improvements to correct.
PEH encampments under I-70, limited visibility of the trail from street, and lack of lighting result in trail user safety concerns.
Existing concrete obstructions limit usable width beneath the bridge; consider removal.
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Limited visibility of the trail from street and lack of lighting result in trail user safety concerns.
Existing concrete obstructions limit usable width beneath the bridge; consider removal.
Implement additional Otis St. trailhead improvements.
Drainage issues will require slope improvements.
Road improvements & JCOS grant will establish connection from east side of Wadsworth.
Amend City boundaries so trail maintained by Wheat Ridge is within City boundaries.42
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City of Wheat Ridge62
Section 7: Creekside Park to Harlan Street (brown zone)
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Open Space Management Plan 63
GREENBELT SECTION 7 CREEKSIDE PARK TO HARLAN STREET
OPPORTUNITIES
Opportunity to improve wayfinding that directs users to north section of trail via Gray St.
Potential future off-street alignment option.
CHALLENGES
Degraded water quality in Clear Creek; former WWTP and runoff from materials plant on north side of creek.35
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Degraded water quality in Clear Creek; former WWTP and runoff from materials plant on north side of creek.
Opportunity to improve wayfinding that directs users to north section of trail via Gray St.35
Potential future off-street alignment option.36 44
City of Wheat Ridge64
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Open Space Management Plan 65
LEWIS MEADOWS LEWIS MEADOWS
OPPORTUNITIES
Potential future trail alignment along Lena Gulch.
Consider future opportunity to excavate creek to get houses out of the floodplain.
CHALLENGES
Lewis Meadows often used as off-leash dog park contrary to management objectives for the property.
Neighborhood concern regarding wildfire fuel accumulation.
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Neighborhood concern regarding wildfire fuel accumulation.
Potential future trail alignment along Lena Gulch.37
Consider future opportunity to excavate creek to get houses out of the floodplain.38
46
Lewis Meadows often used as off-leash dog park contrary to management objectives for the property.45
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City of Wheat Ridge66
Summary of Community Input:
Stage 1: Listening to the Community
Stage 2: Preliminary Recommendations & Alternatives
Stage 3: Draft Plan Engagement
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
CHAPTER 3:
Open Space Management Plan 67
City of Wheat Ridge68
Purposeful and sincere outreach was critical to cultivating public trust, gaining a thorough understanding of community needs, and building a sense of ownership and support for implementation of this plan. The development of the Open Space Management Plan included multiple opportunities for residents, advocates, and community leaders to engage and provide input. Knowledge gained through this process was critical to developing a plan that will effectively guide management of the city’s open space and trail system through 2033 and beyond.
Over the course of the planning process, the project team engaged the Wheat Ridge community through a variety of methods in-person and online. The following pages summarize results from three phases of community engagement. Detailed engagement results can be found in Appendix A.
2022
STAGE 1: LISTENING
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STAGE 2: PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS
STAGE 3: DRAFT PLAN
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE
Open Space Management Plan 69
STAGE 1: LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY
The first stage of stakeholder and community engagement for the City of Wheat Ridge Open Space and Trail Management Plan, the Listening stage, took place from July through August 2022. This stage of outreach included of a robust series of engagement opportunities that engaged a total of 330 Wheat Ridge stakeholders at the time of this publication.
The PFOS Division and planning team utilized a variety of engagement tools to gather valuable feedback from community stakeholders regarding their experiences, challenges, opportunities, and values related to Wheat Ridge Open Space and the Clear Creek Trail. The purpose of these conversations was to:
»Stimulate community-wide awareness of the planning effort
»Solicit candid feedback from a broad cross-section of the Wheat Ridge community
»Identify key themes, opportunities, local values, and a future vision for open space and trails in Wheat Ridge
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS BY EVENT
City Council & Stakeholder Interviews 11
Parks & Recreation Commission Listening Session 7
Pop-up Engagement Booth: Carnation Festival 65
Online Questionnaire #1 257
Virtual Public Workshop 6
TOTAL 346
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Over the course of the summer, the project team engaged the Wheat Ridge community through a variety of methods including in-person and online engagement opportunities, highlighted below.
CITY COUNCIL AND
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
A total of nine (9) stakeholder interviews were conducted in July 2022. Two (2) interviews were conducted with Wheat Ridge City Council members. Seven (7) interviews were conducted with representatives from Sustainable Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County Open Space, City engineering and floodplain management, the 44th Avenue Sub-area plan, City Planning, and the Clear Creek Integrated Water Management Plan collaborative. Interviews were conducted via telephone or video conference and engaged stakeholders to identify opportunities, local values, and future aspirations for Wheat Ridge Open Space and the Clear Creek Trail. These interviews were fruitful in identifying other stakeholder contacts for additional
interviews to be conducted this fall.
PARKS & RECREATION
COMMISSION LISTENING
SESSION
The project team conducted a listening session during a special virtual meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) on July 18, 2022. Current members of the PRC participated in the discussion and offered insights on the strengths, opportunities, challenges, future trends, and balance between resource protection and recreation experience.
POP-UP ENGAGEMENT AT
THE CARNATION FESTIVAL
The project team staffed a pop-up engagement booth on Friday (8/12/22) and Sunday (8/14/22) at the City’s popular Carnation Festival. Approximately 65 festival-attendees visited the booth to learn more about the project, scan a QR code for the online questionnaire, and provide their insights via interactive presentation boards and one-on-one conversations.
ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE #1
The first of two community-wide online questionnaires launched on July 6th and was open for public response through August 15th, 2022.The questionnaire was structured to collect information on public use of the City’s open space assets including barriers to visitation, values, priorities, and satisfaction with resource and asset management. A total of 168 complete responses plus 89 partial responses were collected for a total of 257 questionnaire responses.
VIRTUAL PUBLIC
WORKSHOP
A virtual public workshop was held on August 31, 2022 to engage in a deeper exploration of the online questionnaire responses. The discussion focused on diving deeper into some of the more notable results of the questionnaire and the motivations or context behind each response. The virtual format provided a convenient engagement opportunity for community members who are unable to attend in-person events. Six (6) members of the public participated in the virtual workshop.
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EMERGING THEMES
Six key themes emerged consistently throughout all engagement events
»Proactive Stewardship. Preserving and improving healthy wildlife habitat and riparian areas of the Greenbelt.
»Access & Connectivity. Develop new or enhance existing trail access points to improve connectivity and relieve overcrowding of existing trailheads. Formalize social trails that provide a natural trail experience and useful connections to neighborhoods and other destinations and do not degrade or threaten critical habitat.
»Safety. Primary threats to the perception of safety include the presence of people experiencing homelessness and conflicts or potential conflicts between different user groups.
»Trail Etiquette. Need for courtesy and proper trail etiquette between different user groups. This is primarily a user-education and enforcement challenge.
»Trail Character. Invest in signage, interactive educational interpretation, trailside amenities and facilities.
»Partnerships. Leverage regional partnerships within the Clear Creek watershed and with adjacent municipalities to provide a coordinated approach to trail improvements and a consistent user experience in terms of maintenance and trail character. Partnerships will also greatly expand the City’s competitive advantage for grant funding.
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STAGE 2: PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS AND
ALTERNATIVES
The second stage of stakeholder and community engagement for the City of Wheat Ridge Open Space Management Plan, the Alternatives & Preliminary Recommendations stage, took place from September through December 2022. This stage of outreach included opportunities that engaged a total of 221 Wheat Ridge community members. The purpose of these conversations was to solicit feedback and understand the level of support for preliminary recommendations and proposed concepts.
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS BY EVENT
Joint Open House 35
Trail User Survey 168
Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting 7
Virtual Community Focus Group 6
Online Interactive Maps 5
TOTAL 221
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Over the course of the fall, the project team engaged the community through a variety of methods including in-person and online engagement opportunities, highlighted below.
JOINT OPEN HOUSE
A joint open house event with the 44th Avenue Subarea Plan was held on September 27, 2022 at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center in the evening. Participants reviewed preliminary recommendations maps and big ideas related to trails and trailheads; riparian restoration and habitat protection; and general Greenbelt and trail-corridor wide improvements. Attendees signaled their support for preliminary recommendations by placing a sticker dot next to the concepts they felt were most important. Participants also had the opportunity to submit new ideas and feedback through written comments or in one-on-one discussions with PFOS staff and the planning consultant.
PARKS & RECREATION
COMMISSION MEETING
At their November meeting, Parks and Recreation Commissioners received a project update, including preliminary recommendations. Commissioners provided feedback on key concepts and ideas.
Open House attendees review maps, leave comments, and discuss preliminary recommendations with PFOS staff.
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VIRTUAL COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUP
A virtual public workshop was held on November 30, 2022 to engage in a deeper exploration of draft preliminary recommendations. The discussion focused on notable concepts that received mixed community support at the open house. Participants volunteered new ideas for consideration and shared concerns and observations with the planning team. The virtual format provided a convenient engagement opportunity for community members who are unable to attend in-person events. Six (6) members of the public participated in the virtual workshop.
ONLINE INTERACTIVE MAPS
A series of three online maps presented the information from the in-person open house in a digital format. The interactive maps were hosted on the project website via What’s Up Wheat Ridge. Maps included preliminary recommendations for trails and trailheads; riparian restoration and habitat protection; and general Greenbelt and trail-corridor wide improvements. Visitors to the site could learn more by clicking on information icons in the location of each proposed recommendation. Users were instructed to place their own pins and leave comments on the proposed ideas or add new ideas to the map. In total, 18 pins were placed through the online mapping activity. Despite lower interaction with the maps, the site was visited by 44 unique visitors, indicating that maps served an informational/educational purpose.
TRAIL USER SURVEY
An online Trail User Survey launched on October 14th and was open to data collection for one month. The purpose of the survey was to capture data on trail users and their experience during, or shortly after, their visit to the Clear Creek/Peaks to Plains Trail within Wheat Ridge to produce a snapshot of user demographics, habits, and perceptions at a single point in time. The survey was deployed via QR codes on temporary signs placed along the trail and at all trailheads and major access points.
Approximately 580
members of the Wheat Ridge
Community were engaged
through this planning process.
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STAGE 3:
DRAFT PLAN
ENGAGEMENT
The final series of opportunities allowed participants to review and provide feedback on the draft plan through an in-person open house event and online review.
DRAFT PLAN OPEN HOUSE
The launch of the online review period coincided with a community-wide open house held on March 30, 2023 at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center. As
the final public engagement event, the open house presented attendees with an overview of plan highlights, featured a project prioritization activity, and celebrated the result of the planning year-long process: a comprehensive Open Space Management
Plan that sets the direction for the next 10 years of open space and trails in Wheat Ridge. Seven members of the community participated in the open house.
ONLINE REVIEW
On March 17, 2023, the draft plan was published for public review through the What’s Up Wheat Ridge project website. Community members commented directly on the plan using an online tool. In addition to adding their own comments, residents could also review other comments and indicate their agreement or disagreement to create an interactive digital community dialogue. The draft plan was viewed 640 times! Six members of the community submitted a total of 13 comments through the online tool.
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Adaptive Management
Resource Management Zones
Plan Goals
Recommended Actions by Goal
MANAGEMENT PLAN
CHAPTER 4:
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ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
* Williams, B.K., R.C. Szaro, and C.D.. Shapiro. 2009. Adaptive Management: The U.S. Department of the Interior Technical Guide. Adaptive Management Working Group, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC. Available: https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/TechGuide-WebOptimized-2.pdf
Wheat Ridge PFOS uses an adaptive management framework to achieve its open space goals and increase restoration success for the benefit of the long-term health of open space lands. An adaptive management approach provides a process for decision-making and action under uncertain conditions based on the best available science, and re-evaluating and adjusting decisions as more information is acquired. It is a flexible approach that recognizes uncertainties, considers multiple possible solutions, and allows for adjustments in the field. This iterative and interactive approach aims to identify opportunities for more efficient open space management, so that Wheat Ridge can adopt context-specific practices while reducing maintenance expenses and responding to potential stressors before they become major issues. Adaptive management can reduce uncertainty associated with management actions, provide long-term savings, and improve conservation and management effectiveness.*
Open spaces are complex ecosystems influenced by natural processes and human activity. Strategies to restore and maintain open space systems should seek to address all the factors that affect the health of the land and ecosystem. Adaptive open space management is structured around a cycle of planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, adjustment, and reporting. Once land managers develop a baseline understanding of how objectives for open space areas are being achieved and the effectiveness of current strategies, new information gathered from monitoring is used to evaluate the situation and the results, followed by the development of new solutions as needed. New solutions and strategies are then implemented, monitored, and the cycle begins again. It is important to document and report results to establish a record of strategies that are successful and strategies that are not. This cycle provides flexibility in open space management, allowing adaptation in response to new goals and challenges.
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Step 1. Plan
Conduct baseline inventories and develop objectives for open space management. The adaptive management process begins with inventory of open spaces and identification of desired outcomes and milestones specific to the Resource Management Zones identified in the next section of this plan. The general objective is protection and enhancement of natural, scenic, and recreational resources.
Step 2. Implement
Utilize land management strategies to achieve open space objectives. PFOS can implement effective management strategies based on the characteristics of each Resource Management Zone to achieve objectives through thoughtful land stewardship and sustainable land management.
Step 3. Monitor
Collect data to measure progress toward open space objectives. Monitoring is vital in assessing the progress of open space conservation, maintenance, and enhancement. Monitoring efforts are guided by, each of the stated goals and actions of this plan. One strategy for reducing monitoring costs is to involve residents (i.e., citizen scientists) to assist in monitoring efforts. Recommendations for citizen science programs are included in the Recommended Actions section of this chapter.
Step 4. Evaluate
Assess monitoring data to evaluate progress toward open space objectives based on defined criteria or targets that measure the success of management efforts. Evaluate and document results to establish a record of strategies that are successful and unsuccessful.
Step 5. Adjust/Adapt
Modify planning and policies based on the evaluation of data so improve achievement of open space objectives. Adaptation allows PFOS staff to adjust their plans and policies to improve the performance of open space areas based on data. This is the time to redesign or reconsider management approaches based on new findings.
Flexibility is an important component of adaptive management. Potential responses to the results of the previous steps will include a range of options such as: additional monitoring, research, consultation with experts, revising goals and success criteria, and/or an active intervention (such as invasive species removal).
Step 6. Report
The adaptive management framework is an iterative cycle of planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment, which requires effective reporting. With this understanding, the city’s open spaces should be inventoried and monitored on a rolling schedule at least once every three years according to the Planning and Maintenance Sections and Lewis Meadows identified in Chapter 2. Areas of known habitat degradation and high levels of recreational use should be prioritized for monitoring and reporting.
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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ZONES
In an effort to balance resource protection with recreational use, the PFOS Division manages open space according to four Resource Management Zones. The zones distinguish between areas more suitable for resource protection or restoration and areas where higher levels of recreation use and visitation are acceptable. Significant factors influencing the management zones include:
»The protection of valuable wildlife habitat and migration corridor along Clear Creek
»The protection of the federally threatened and sensitive species
»Delineation of the Potential Conservation Area by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program
»Restoration potential for upland and riparian habitat
»Location of existing structures and infrastructure
»Locations of significant recreational uses
Based on these factors, the Resource Management Zones are defined accordingly:
People Intensive Zone. The People Intensive Zone is delineated with the objective of concentrating visitor infrastructure including parking, restrooms, and picnic facilities in one area. Management. Activities in the zone should concentrate on outreach and on mitigating user conflicts.
Active Natural Zone. The Active Natural Zone encompasses the paved Clear Creek Trail, riparian areas on the north side of Clear Creek, the lakes, and the lake margins within the Greenbelt. This zone best represents the delicate balance of conservation and recreation. Recreation resources coexist in conservation areas such as Tabor Lake. As such, this zone provides significant opportunity for education and interpretation of natural resources, restoration efforts, and responsible recreation.
Passive Natural Zone. The Passive Natural Zone includes areas along the Greenbelt restricted to passive recreational activities. These areas have strong potential for restoration and a high potential for public education and interpretation due to high visibility along the Clear Creek Trail.
Conservation Zone. The Conservation Zone encompasses an area on the south side of Clear Creek that extends from Kipling Street west approximately 2.5 miles to the city’s western boundary (but does not includes Youngfield Trailhead). This zone includes Lewis Meadows and has the highest value for flora and fauna when viewed at both the community and landscape level. Recreational uses should be restricted to designated trails. All trailheads and access points should include education, interpretation, and regulatory information. Significant effort should be made to reclaim and revegetate social trails in this zone.
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Arapahoe Bar
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Kipling EastTrailhead
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Johnson Park
Otis St.
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Creekside
Park
Lewis Meadows
MAP 13: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ZONES
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PLAN GOALS
The six equally-important goals listed below guide the PFOS Division’s management and enhancement of the city’s open space assets and support realization of the Vision stated in Chapter 1. Each goal is supported by specific
actions for meeting or making substantial progress toward achieving the goal.
[PS] Prioritize Safety to address real or perceived threats to health, well-being, and security of
open space and trail visitors
[LP] Leverage partnerships within the Clear Creek watershed, adjacent municipalities, community
organizations, and volunteer groups to provide a coordinated approach to management,
maintenance, stewardship, and consistent user experience.
[AC] Expand access & connectivity to the Clear Creek Trail as the backbone of the city, connecting
neighborhoods to each other, to nature, outdoor experiences, and community destinations.
[SC] Practice proactive stewardship, conservation, and adaptive resource management
for healthy habitat and riparian areas.
[EC] Enhance visitor experience & trail character by investing in amenities and facilities.
[EI] Educate, inform, and inspire all user groups to practice trail etiquette, respect the natural
environment, and obey regulations through an understanding of management practices.
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RECOMMENDED ACTIONS BY GOAL
Recommended Actions are organized according to each of the six Goals and provide specific direction for achieving the stated Goal. Actions are supported by maps, case studies, concept plans, and schematics that provide an example, illustration, or resource that may prove helpful in implementing the action. Actions associated with land acquisition and operations are contained in Chapter 5: Implementation.
GOAL (PS): PRIORITIZE SAFETY TO ADDRESS REAL OR PERCEIVED THREATS TO HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND SECURITY OF OPEN SPACE AND TRAIL VISITORS.
General Paved Trail Improvements
PS.1 As a short-term solution, install post and rail (or similar) fencing for safety along the ~.4 mile stretch where the trail is undermined by erosion near Arapahoe Bar.
PS.2 Continue working with the Colorado School of Mines or licensed engineer to further design and implement the Clear Creek Erosion Mitigation Proposal for the ~.4 mile stretch of eroding trail near Arapahoe Bar.
PS.3 Install security lighting at all underpasses, minimizing light trespass and impact to nearby habitat.
PS.4 Work with Police Department to develop an emergency response location system.
PS.5 If the opportunity presents, work with CDOT to include trail underpass at Kipling Street if the vehicular bridge over Clear Creek is
replaced in the future.
PS.6 Pursue a feasibility and traffic study at the Kipling crossing that includes bike and pedestrian crossing counts to determine appropriateness of installing a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon or signalized solution.
PS.7 Ensure that phone numbers for law enforcement agencies are posted on Greenbelt and trail signage.
Open Space Management Plan
Throughout the planning process, there has been consistent community support for identifying a solution to the inconvenient alignment of the trail crossing at Kipling Street. Currently, the trail takes travelers south for approximately half a mile – enough of an inconvenience that it encourages unsafe behavior as trail users frequently take the most direct route straight across Kipling Street despite the lack of crossing infrastructure.
While a detailed feasibility study conducted is necessary to fully determine the most appropriate recommendation for this crossing, the planning team conducted a preliminary evaluation and determined the following:
• Grade-separated crossings (under or overpass) are not feasible due to significant constraints imposed by floodplain regulations and proximity to Lena Gulch. Infrastructure required for an under or overpass would raise base flood elevation (BFE ) within the 100-year floodplain, an impact that would be allowed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
• An at-grade crossing is the most feasible option; specifically, a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB )(also known as a HAWK signal). This signal is activated trail users and flashes red to stop traffic. A conceptual diagram of this potential treatment is illustrated here. Installation of a PHB in this location would facilitate a safe surface crossing while minimizing potential conflict points between trail users and vehicles while minimizing delays to traffic.
Alternatively, the city could consider fully signalizing the intersection and converting the existing right-in, right-out driveway at the Kipling West Trailhead into a full-access driveway. A more complete evaluation and comparison of the crossing options is provided in Appendix C: Kipling Crossing Memorandum.
Any modification to the traffic pattern will require a detailed study by a traffic engineer that includes user counts to document the number of pedestrians and cyclists crossing Kipling at this location via the existing underpass and crossing directly over the street between the Kipling West Trailhead to the trail on the east side of Kipling. Any assessment should involve the CDOT Region 1 engineer.
EXHIBIT 02:
KIPLING CROSSING ANALYSIS
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User Conflicts
PS.8 Establish parallel natural surface trail for walking or hiking on both sides of the Clear Creek Trail where feasible.
PS.9 Improve trail section near I-70 and Youngfield trailhead: regrade to begin descent further east to achieve a gentler grade that reduces cyclists’ speed before the turn; widen the trail under I-70 to reduce potential for user conflict; trim overhanging tree branches that obscure sight lines.
PS.10 Add center line striping and warning strips at bridge and street intersections, underpasses, and sharp turns.
PS.11 Widen narrow sections of trail to 10ft. with 2ft. shoulders per the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities.
PS.12 Establish designated trail access points from parking at Prospect Park using vegetation as barriers, designated walkways, or fencing.
PS.13 Pursue improvement of tight turn at the north end of the trail bridge at the Kipling East trailhead to improve sight lines and safety of turning radius for bicycles and mobility devices.
People Experiencing Homelessness
PS.14 Continue collaborating with the city’s Homelessness Navigator to connect those in parks who are experiencing homelessness to available resources, services for permanent housing, and the Severe Weather Shelter Network.
PS.15 Conduct safety and education training for Parks, Forestry, and Open Space (PFOS) staff on outreach techniques, crisis intervention, and Mental Health First Aid.
PS.16 Allow access to restroom facilities during the day. New restroom facilities or replacement/retrofit of existing facilities should incorporate design best practices according to Community Policing through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles.
PS.17 Continue working with the Police Department’s Community Services Team and rangers to enforce regulations and address issues or disturbances that are beyond the capacity of PFOS staff or create dangerous situations. Support hiring for new ranger positions and active patrol of the Greenbelt and Clear Creek Trail.
PS.18 Explore the potential to pilot a workforce program that employs people experiencing homelessness to assist with maintenance of Clear Creek Trail and Greenbelt.
Open Space Management Plan
The crisis of homelessness plays out in public spaces across the Front Range and is highly visible in the city’s Greenbelt. Safety concerns and other impacts related to people experiencing homelessness were cited frequently by city staff and the community throughout the public engagement process.
The National Recreation and Parks Association states that “Homelessness across the United States continues to be a serious social and public health issue; one that is often an outcome of deeper societal problems, such as the lack of economic opportunity, the high cost of housing, lack of access to quality healthcare, systemic racism, domestic violence, and substance use and mental health disorder.” Recent challenges, such as the corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic and rising inflation/cost of living, compound conditions for housing instability for millions of U.S. residents.
As front-line service providers, park, recreation, and open space agencies are faced with the decision of how to address community members experiencing homelessness. Many agencies across the country are providing for basic needs (food, hygiene facilities) and connection to other assistance networks. However, homeless assistance is not within the primary mission scope for most park, recreation, open space, and trail agencies. Much of the necessary work involves competency that lies outside of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department current offerings and mission. At the same time, significant financial and operational burden has been placed on the Department and PFOS Division because of increased maintenance, sanitation, and management that does fall within the purview of their service delivery.
While homelessness is a complex nationwide issue that no single park or open space agency can solve, localized solutions can make a difference. The key is to identify strategies that align with the mission and capacity of the agency to realistically pursue. Parks agencies and the PFOS Division should focus on elements within their control such as:
• Coordination and cooperation with partner agencies and jurisdictions
• Programs within the Department’s purview (e.g., workforce/maintenance worker programs)
• Staff training on communication strategies and interactions with people experiencing homelessness
• Communications and messaging around homelessness that combats biases and does not promulgate misinformation
• Empathy for fellow humans experiencing tremendous difficulty
EXHIBIT 03: MEETING THE MOMENT:
HOMELESSNESS IN PUBLIC SPACES
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Public restrooms that are designed using the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
can be an effective way to meet community needs by deterring vandalism and inappropriate behavior. This will lead to reduced maintenance costs and improved user experience for the public. Well-designed restrooms create dignified spaces for people and encourage a reciprocity of
respect for the amenities that cities provide. The Portland, Oregon’s Portland Loo is a well-known example of public restroom design and location that employs CPTED principles.
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CASE STUDY 01: CRIME PREVENTION
THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
Credit: https://portlandloo.com/gallery/
Open Space Management Plan
The City of Lakewood Community Resources Department is
currently piloting a work program for People Experiencing Homelessness. The Department contracts with Denver-based nonprofit Bayaud Enterprises to administer the program and provide support services for program participants as they transition into the workforce. In Lakewood, program
participants perform maintenance work and fire fuel mitigation. Workers pay is $20 per hour and includes the cost for Bayaud to provide program oversight and management. Lakewood Community Resources staff report that the program has been successful thus far. The City of Boulder
has also recently conducted a similar pilot program.
CASE STUDY 02: OPEN SPACE
MAINTENANCE WORK PROGRAM
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GOAL (SC): PRACTICE PROACTIVE STEWARDSHIP, CONSERVATION, AND ADAPTIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR HEALTHY HABITAT AND RIPARIAN AREAS.
General Actions
SC.1 Work with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program and Nature Conservancy, or an environmental consulting firm, to update the 2000 Wheat Ridge Open Space Biological Inventory.
SC.2 Support efforts of the Planning Department to amend the development code to incorporate biophilic development provisions related to improving biodiversity, bird-friendly structures, dark skies, green roofs, green streets, habitat protection, native species, and/or urban canopy.
Embrace the need for native species diversity for the sake of
humans and nonhumans alike; reverse wherever possible losses in
species biodiversity, native habitat, and ecological connectivity;
and envision cities as landscapes where biodiversity can coexist,
regenerate, and even flourish with urban density. This requires
considerations for how biodiversity is managed on city owned and
managed lands, as well as private property. *
* Brown, JD and Helen Santiago Fink. 2022. Planning for Biophilic Cities. American Planning Association, PAS report 602.
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Vegetation
Noxious weed and invasive species management
SC.3 Continue implementation and update of the Wheat Ridge Open Space Weed Management Plan; increase weed control as budget allows.
SC.4 Implement cultural weed management techniques by re-establishing all disturbed vegetation through seeding or planting of native materials.
SC.5 Continue trimming and thinning of vegetation in strategic areas to reduce wildfire fuel mitigation, illegal camping opportunities, and icing on the trail. When identifying sites, avoid thinning over Clear Creek so as not to reduce shade that lowers water temperatures for aquatic species in the summertime.
SC.6 Investigate large areas of duckweed in Clear Creek. Determine whether it is detrimental or beneficial.
SC.7 Regularly clean maintenance equipment to wash away seeds from noxious weeds and invasive species, ideally between use in
different locations within the Greenbelt.
SC.8 Minimize ground disturbance and soil compaction resulting from construction and maintenance activities by limiting heavy equipment trips and turnaround sites.
SC.9 Reclaim disturbed areas immediately to reduce the chance of weed infestation.
SC.10 Reduce the spread of noxious weeds along trails during mowing operations by mowing prior to seed maturation.
SC.11 Require contractors to comply with preventative measures to limit spread of noxious weed and invasive species.
SC.12 Continue to seek funding for weed control through the Colorado Weed Management Grants, CPW, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and other aligning programs.
SC.13 Survey and document noxious weeds and invasive species every three years.
SC.14 Annually survey trail margins for weed infestations.
SC.15 Develop and adopt a noxious weed control ordinance.
SC.16 Continuously monitor the city’s lakes for Eurasian Watermilfoil.
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Revegetation and Restoration
SC.17 Continue and increase native tree and shrub planting programs as budget allows.
SC.18 Target revegetation efforts with native trees and shrubs in areas of greatest need in the as identified on Map 14, Riparian and Habitat Restoration Projects, including:
»South bank of Tabor Lake
»Tree cover over Clear Creek to cool water temperatures for aquatic species in the Lakes area of the Greenbelt
»North and south banks of Clear Creek between Anderson and Johnson Parks.
SC.19 Document the PFOS Division’s current successful practices to develop a formal planting and maintenance program to establish native riparian trees and facilitate efficient removal of hazard trees from Clear Creek.
Sensitive Species
SC.20 Coordinate with Colorado Natural Heritage Program to conduct a new survey of Ute Ladies Tresses Orchid and develop a protection and management plan for the species that includes monitoring transects and permanent photo points for annual comparison. Consider closing areas to public access if necessary.
SC.21 Coordinate with Colorado Natural Heritage Program to inventory earthstar fungus and develop a protection and management program for the species.
SC.22 Re-establish and/or promote wetland health along the southern margin of West Lake and promote health of Cottonwood gallery on south side of West Lake.
SC.23 Assess evergreen tree health and soil conditions on the south side of the Clear Creek Trail and east of Bass Lake. Apply treatment or remove and replace trees that are not likely to recover.
SC.24 Establish a protocol for annually assessing and documenting changes to wetlands and riparian corridors and their functions through vegetation surveys, visual assessments, and photographs.
Key Resource:
Colorado State University
Cottonwood Management
Quick Guide
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Proposed Riparian Area Restoration & Habitat Preservation
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MAP 14: RIPARIAN AND HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS
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Wildfire Prevention
SC.25 Continue implementing and regularly updating the Wheat Ridge Open Space Wildfire Management Plan.
SC.26 Explore the use of prescribed burns to preserve or enhance wetland and riparian plant community diversity.
Wildlife
SC.27 Continue implementation of and update the Open Space Wildlife Management Plan.
SC.28 Develop a species management plan for beavers in coordination with CPW.
SC.29 Leave dead or decaying trees that are not hazardous to provide aquatic and wildlife habitat.
SC.30 Conduct system-wide surveys, using consistent protocols each year, on a rolling basis for mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. (E.g., survey mammals & birds in year 1, fish and invertebrates in year 2, reptiles and amphibians in year 3 until completing the cycle. Then start again.)
SC.31 Initiate an annual Greenbelt butterfly census during host-plant blooming that incorporates public participation.
SC.32 Support enforcement of the city ordinance that prohibits feeding wildlife.
SC.33 Continue supporting the Police Department in implementation of their Coyote Management Plan.
Sensitive Species
SC.34 Maintain an up-to-date list of federally listed and candidate endangered species in Colorado.
SC.35 Monitor wetlands known to support or that may support breeding amphibian populations.
SC.36 Continue habitat enhancement programs, including constructing artificial habitat for species of concern. Identify opportunities to assist with integrated pest management (e.g., bat roosts to help control mosquito populations).
SC.37 Conduct a raptor nest inventory during leaf-off and subsequent activity monitoring during nesting season (March 15 through July 31).
SC.38 Improve bird habitat at the Tabor Lake colonial nesting island and the West Lake beach area.
SC.39 Continue seasonal closures to protect sensitive species such as waterbirds and raptors during courting and nesting.
Open Space Management Plan
1. Assess the impact: document the extent of dam building and any associated flooding, as well as the impact on vegetation, water quality,
and wildlife.
2. Determine management goals: For example, control beaver populations, reduce the impact of dam building, or provide habitat for beavers while minimizing their impact on other species.
3. Consider non-lethal options: Non-lethal management options, such as
installing beaver deceivers or flow devices, can be effective in controlling the impact of beaver dam building. These devices allow water to flow through the dam, reducing the risk of flooding and preserving the benefits of the dam for other species.
4. Implement habitat management: Habitat management techniques,
such as removing trees that are prone to being damaged by beavers, can reduce the impact of beaver populations. By providing alternative sources of food and materials, you can discourage beavers from damming streams and rivers. Identify areas where it is appropriate to allow beaver dams to remain and create or re-establish wetlands.
5. Monitor and evaluate: Regularly monitor the beaver populations and their impact on the natural area. Evaluate the effectiveness of management actions and make changes as necessary.
6. Collaborate with stakeholders: Collaborate with local communities, land managers, and other stakeholders to develop a management plan
that meets the needs of both the beavers and the natural area.
EXHIBIT 04: BEAVER MANAGEMENT
95
Beavers are important ecosystem engineers that can have both positive and negative impacts on a natural area.
Credit: Tom Koerner USFWS
City of Wheat Ridge96
Hydrologic Features
Lakes
Water Quality
SC.40 Implement the recently developed Lake Management Plan to improve water quality. Regularly evaluate and update the plan.
SC.41 Develop a water quality monitoring program for the city’s lakes.
SC.42 Develop public advisement program for algae bloom management.
SC.43 Establish the baseline bathymetry of each of the city’s lakes.
SC.44 Work with Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) Division of Wildlife Research to regularly receive fish survey data or conduct fish surveys of each lake if needed.
SC.45 Explore options to increase the amount of surface runoff that discharges into the lakes by connecting to nearby storm sewer systems and ditches.
Recreation Management
SC.46 Reduce erosion and habitat degradation along banks through access management by constructing fishing piers at Bass Lake and West Lake at popular fishing locations away from sensitive species habitat. Restore and promote vegetation along banks through selective, rotating closures.
SC.47 Reduce erosion and habitat degradation along banks through access management by constructing a non-motorized boat launch ramp for paddlers in West Lake. Restore and promote vegetation along banks through selective, rotating closures.
SC.48 Install boat washing station at Youngfield Trailhead and other popular trailheads for non-motorized boating to reduce transfer of invasive aquatic species.
SC.49 Continue seasonal closure of Tabor Lake to boaters during avian nesting.
Open Space Management Plan
EXHIBIT 05: TABOR LAKE
TRAIL AND RESTORATION
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Tabor Lake encapsulates the opportunity to balance recreation with conservation and restoration. This illustration brings to life improvements that are envisioned with the planned perimeter trail and the opportunity to revegetate the banks immediately following trail construction (a strategy that can be replicated elsewhere within the Greenbelt). The addition of the perimeter trail provides a venue for interpreting the importance of the lake habitat and restoration efforts. Increase in visitation from the new trail will need to be balanced with equal investment in restoration to maintain environmental quality and protect vulnerable habitat such as the colonial waterbird nesting island in the center of Tabor Lake.
City of Wheat Ridge98
Clear Creek
SC.50 Work with Mile High Flood District to acquire basic flood hydrology data for Clear Creek from their 2016 study, including but not limited to, flood magnitude vs. frequency data for both snowmelt and rainfall events; mean low water levels; and mean high water levels.
SC.51 Coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on any projects that may disturb wetlands to determine any permitting requirements for jurisdictional wetlands.
SC.52 Avoid disturbances to the existing wetland and riparian areas on the City’s open space, and conduct wetland surveys and delineations when disturbance is necessary. When wetland disturbance is necessary, consult with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for permitting requirements. Wetland disturbance is defined as dredging or the placement of fill material within a wetland or below the Ordinary High-Water Mark within a stream channel.
Water Quality
SC.53 Develop a water quality monitoring program for Clear Creek.
SC.54 Maintain integrity of natural drainages and stormwater systems, through regular inspection, debris removal, and cleanout as necessary.
SC.55 Enforce against violations of water quality regulations such as pollution point or area sources, and unmitigated surface erosion and sedimentation.
SC.56 Work with the Community Development and Public Works Departments to further require and incentivize stormwater runoff control best practices in new development projects and construction zones. Restore and promote vegetation along banks through selective, rotating closures.
Recreation Management
SC.57 Pursue additional study to address legality (ownership and liability) and water quality concerns related to allowing and facilitating public access into Clear Creek for recreation.
SC.58 Establish fencing priorities to protect other wetland and riparian areas susceptible to visitor use disturbance.
SC.59 Revegetation of stream bank areas adjacent to the Denver Blue Formation near Anderson Park .
SC.60 Temporarily restrict access to degraded stream banks and restore with native vegetation. Restore and promote vegetation along banks through selective, rotating closures.
Open Space Management Plan 99
CASE STUDY 03:
BALANCING RECREATION & SHORELINE HEALTH
Fossil Creek Reservoir Bird Observation & Fishing Pier
Non-motorized boat launch Recommendations for recreation management at the city’s lakes include construction of a designated fishing pier and construction of a non-motorized boat ramp or dock. While these amenities would provide an improved user experience, their primary purpose is to minimize uncontrolled human impact to the shoreline of lakes where fishing and non-motorized watercraft are currently permitted such as Bass Lake (fishing) and West Lake (non-motorized boating and paddling). Limiting water access to singular locations with the appropriate infrastructure mitigates shoreline erosion due to the steepness of the banks. This recommendation originated in the 2002 Open Space Management Plan as a strategy for protecting sensitive species from trampling by anglers and other visitors seeking to access the water.
City of Wheat Ridge100
Streambank Stabilization
SC.61 Avoid mowing riparian buffer along stream bank and drainages to encourage shoreline vegetation and bank stabilization.
SC.62 Continue working with the Colorado School of Mines or engage an environmental consultant to analyze areas of streambank degradation and erosion to develop a specific restoration plan appropriate for each degraded site. To the extent feasible, restrict the use of physical streambank protective measures only where necessary to conform with the existing corridor, or to protect existing infrastructure.
SC.63 Consult with MHFD to study the feasibility of restoring Clear Creek as a natural stream. Encourage restoration by maintaining shallow, stable base-flow channels with wide, vegetated floodplains to mimic natural streams. Stream and floodplain management strategies should anticipate a certain amount of streambank instability, while the stream re-establishes an equilibrium regime and meander pattern.
Floodplain
SC.64 Work with MHFD to enact projects in the Clear Creek Master Plan that both remove developed properties from the floodplain and restore, enhance, or enlarge natural areas along the channel.
SC.65 Restore seasonal overbank flooding to support health of riparian canopy while balancing safety of trail users near Prospect and Anderson Parks north of 44th Avenue. Coordinate with MHFD planned improvements to the existing encasement downstream from this location to take place in 2025.
SC.66 Construct wetland area to seasonally inundate the south bank of Clear Creek Between Anderson and Johnson Parks; immediately north of 44th Avenue.
SC.67 Re-establish natural or seminatural hydrology of the floodplain to establish stronger connection between Clear Creek and its floodplain.
If necessary and feasible, remove any existing artificial levees, or areas of artificial fill, along the stream or within the natural floodplain.
Conservation Trail & Social Trails
SC.68 Extend the Conservation trail south and west of West Lake to Youngfield Trailhead as suggested in Exhibit 06, West Lake Conservation Trail Expansion and Social Trail Reclamation. Revegetate and reclaim all other social trails to limit human impact to a single corridor that avoids wetlands and habitat of sensitive species such as the Monarch butterfly and other sensitive flora. Partner with adjacent property owners, such as the RV dealership, to explore opportunities for shared site improvements and revegetation.
SC.69 Inventory and evaluate all social trails within the Greenbelt to identify candidate trails for formalization; reclaim and revegetate all other social trail, especially those located in or near wetlands, sensitive habitats, or in weed-infested areas.
Open Space Management Plan 101
EXHIBIT 06: WEST LAKE CONSERVATION TRAIL
EXPANSION AND SOCIAL TRAIL RECLAMATION
This plan recommends targeted formalization of beneficial social trails and aggressive reclamation of all others – a strategy supported by the community as one of the top future actions that the city should take within the Greenbelt, according to the community-wide online questionnaire.
West Lake is a prime location to implement this approach, as illustrated in the concept here. Social trails weave through wetlands and areas that provide habitat to sensitive species, such as the Monarch butterfly. However, the popularity of this area presents an opportunity to establish an extension of the city’s Conservation Trail, acknowledging that many Greenbelt visitors desire a more natural or backcountry walking experience and visitor access the area will likely continue regardless of city intervention.
While this concept improves the recreation experience of the Greenbelt, it is intended to better protect natural resources from human impact by restricting access to a single trail corridor and protecting sensitive habitat areas.
City of Wheat Ridge102
GOAL (AC): EXPAND ACCESS & CONNECTIVITY TO THE CLEAR CREEK TRAIL AS THE BACKBONE OF THE CITY, CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS TO EACH OTHER, TO
NATURE, OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES, AND COMMUNITY DESTINATIONS.
New Trails and Connections
AC.1 Support re-establishment of trail connection and new paved trails internal to the Clear Creek Crossing development and Lutheran Medical Center.
AC.2 Explore alignment and feasibility of a trail that ties into the larger community trail system to the Wheat Ridge Historic Park.
AC.3 Support the development of the Tabor Lake perimeter trail for low-impact recreational use such as walking running, and birding. Incorporate recommendations and findings from the Tabor Lake Trail Study for design and multi-use path connection to 44th avenue via Van Gordon Street.
AC.4 Support city efforts to improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities along Tabor Street as suggested in the 44th Avenue Subarea Plan.
AC.5 As ditches, such as Lena Gulch, are abandoned, evaluate opportunity for City acquisition for future trail corridors and open space.
AC.6 As a short-term solution, improve clarity of trail direction at the Harlan Street terminus by improving visibility and frequency of directional signs as trail users approach the intersection and navigate the neighborhood bikeway.
AC.7 Work with City and County of Denver and Arvada to construct an off-street connection between the Clear Creek Trail terminus at Harlan Street and under 52nd Avenue where the trail continues north as identified in the 2019 City of Arvada Clear Creek Corridor Plan.
AC.8 Support city efforts to improve formalize the Clear Creek Trail connection at Hoyt Court as suggested in the 44th Avenue Subarea Plan and improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities at this location.
The City of Arvada’s 2019 Clear Creek Corridor Plan identifies an off-street connection from Harlan Street to the north side of 52nd Avenue as an a key opportunity area and major priority of the Arvada
community. The plan provides detailed alignment and trail character recommendations as well as cost estimates for construction. The City of Wheat Ridge should work with Arvada to implement this recommendation.
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ARVADA BICYCLE MASTER PLAN
Bicycle Facility ToolboxThe City anticipates using seven different bikeway facility types to build the Proposed Bicycle Network. The facilitytypes, described below, should be applied in Arvada using best practice standards such as those developed by the%QIVMGER%WWSGMEXMSRSJ7XEXI,MKL[E]ERH8VERWTSVXEXMSR3JƤGMEPW %%7,83
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SidepathsSidepaths are bi-directional paved routes for bicyclists, pedestrians,and other non-motorized uses. Sidepaths are often located parallel toexisting streets within the right-of-way, particularly those that are ofhigher speed and volume. Due to the proximity to the road, sidepaths may not be appropriate where there are lots of driveways/side streetaccess. All access point crossings must be carefully designed.
Appropriate Context: Arterials
Existing Arvada Examples:Wadsworth Bypass
Separated Bike Lanes
Separated bike lanes are bicycle facilities that are physically separatedfrom both the street and sidewalk. Vertical separation can providephysical separation from motor vehicles using curbs, planters, or on-street parking. The separation increases the comfort, thereby reducingXLIXVEJƤGWXVIWW7ITEVEXIHFMOIPERIWGERFISRIHMVIGXMSREPSRIEGLside of the street, or bi-directional on one side of the street.
Appropriate Context: Collector streets, arterials
Existing Arvada Examples:Oberon Road (note that this facility is nota standard separated bike lane)
Trails
A shared-use path or trail can be located along a road right-of-wayor in an independent right-of-way such as a stream valley, greenway, along a utility corridor, or an abandoned railroad corridor.
Appropriate Context: Parks, greenways, utility corridors, abandonedrailroad corridors
Existing Arvada Examples:Ralston Creek Trail, Little Dry Creek Trail
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS
TRAIL CREEK CROSSING
TRAIL STREET CROSSING TRAIL UNDERPASS
CREEKSIDE TRAIL
SIDEPATH
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CLEAR CREEK TRAIL AT GRAY STREET
CLEAR CREEK TRAIL AT 52ND AVE
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EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE
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REGIONAL TRAIL UNDERPASSAT 52ND AVENUE PER MILE HIGH FLOOD DISTRICT 2008 CLEAR CREEK DRAINAGE PLAN
STRIPED TRAIL CROSSINGAT 52ND AVENUE PER 2018 DENVER MOVES: PEDESTRIANS & TRAILS PLAN (INTERIM CONDITION)
OPEN SPACE RESTORATIONPROPOSED ACQUISITION OF INDUSTRIAL USE FOR FUTURE OPEN SPACE
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OPPORTUNITY SITE #1 52nd Avenue and Clear Creek Trail Links
| OPEN HOUSE #1CITY OF ARVADACLEAR CREEKCORRIDOR PLAN
Opportunity Site #1: 52nd Avenue and Clear Creek Trail Links - Recommended Improvements Map
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EXHIBIT 07: CLEAR CREEK TRAIL OFF-STREET ALIGNMENT
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AC.11
AC.4 AC.13
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Arapahoe Bar
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Proposed Trailheads and Trail Connections
Lewis Meadows
Open Space Management Plan 103
MAP 15: PROPOSED TRAIL CONNECTIONS AND TRAILHEADS
City of Wheat Ridge104
Trailheads and Access Points
Existing Access
AC.9 Pursue bicycle/pedestrian and accessibility improvements to existing Clear Creek Trail access on Parfet Street. Consider adding sharrows to the street and paving the connection for mobility devices and reduced maintenance.
AC.10 Pursue bicycle/pedestrian and accessibility improvements to existing Clear Creek Trail access on Garrison Street. Consider adding sharrows to the street and paving the connection for mobility devices and reduced maintenance.
AC.11 Improve and maintain existing neighborhood access at Oak Street and 41st Place by removing stairs and reconfiguring trail to achieve ADA-compliant slope; revegetate other social access trails.
AC.12 Improve access at Hoyt Street for ADA compliance by replacing existing stairs with a ramp similar to Hoyt Court.
AC.13 Support efforts to improve ADA compliance of trail connection at the 44th Avenue bridge as suggested in the 44th Avenue Subarea Plan.
AC.14 Establish small trailhead at Boyd’s Crossing Park by adding parking, trail signs, and amenities.
AC.15 Improve Miller Street Trailhead with ADA parking and bicycle parking.
AC.16 Work with Arvada and CDOT to share costs for improving Otis Street Trailhead with paved parking, reconfigured fencing for easier trail access, and trailhead amenities.
New Access
AC.17 Work with property and business owners of the Youngfield Business Plaza to explore potential partnership for a weekend overflow trailhead with formalized public access.
AC.18 Consider Kullerstrand Elementary site as potential trailhead location as the property is repurposed.
AC.19 Establish small trailhead on city property at Iris Street.
AC.20 As opportunity presents, pursue easement for north-south trail connection under I-70 on Carr Street as property along 48th Avenue redevelops.
AC.21 Expand management and maintenance responsibilities to include the new Wadsworth Trail connection.
Open Space Management Plan 105
City of Wheat Ridge106
GOAL (EI): EDUCATE, INFORM, AND INSPIRE ALL USER GROUPS TO PRACTICE TRAIL ETIQUETTE, RESPECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND OBEY REGULATIONS
THROUGH AN UNDERSTANDING OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
Signs and Installations
Wayfinding and Regulatory
EI.1 Build upon recommendations of the 2021 Sign Inventory and Recommendations and the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt and the Peaks to Plains Trail Signage Moodboard to develop a comprehensive wayfinding plan, prepared by a design firm that specializes in such plans. The plan should include design specifications for a sign family incorporating the Peaks to Plains brand. The new sign system should replace current signs by consolidating Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, Clear Creek Trail, and Peaks to Plains branding in a singular, clear, and cohesive system as illustrated in the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt & Peaks to Plains Trail Signage Moodboard. Include overpass street identification in the sign family.
EI.2 Begin implementation of wayfinding immediately as funding allows and as current signs reach the end of their useful life. Consider cost savings in production and installation by replacing all instances of a sign type at one time (e.g., replace all regulatory signs at the same time rather than piecemeal).
EI.3 Provide trailhead signs that explain ADA compliant features including trail length, width, surface, and slope characteristics of each trail segment.
Education and Interpretation
EI.4 Identify locations for new, creative and compelling interpretive kiosks or interactive installations to engage trail users on topics such as responsible recreation, environmental education, Leave No Trace principles, trailside fitness, historical sites and events, preventing spread of invasive species, etc.
Key Resource:
P2P & WRG Moodboard
and Report
Open Space Management Plan 107
Messaging Campaigns
EI.5 Develop educational, visually compelling, and creative multi-media messaging campaigns to address pertinent Greenbelt visitor and trail user issues.
EI.6 Revise any printed and digital materials, including the city website, that convey the location of the federally listed endangered Ute Ladies Tresses Orchid.
Programs
EI.7 Formalize outreach program to assist homeowners with appropriate landscaping, which avoids invasive species.
EI.8 Develop Citizen Science initiatives to support staff with additional capacity to complete wildlife surveys, butterfly counts, inventory invasive species, monitor habitat health, and assess public impacts.
EI.9 Develop a program for staff-guided and self-guided nature walks and birding excursions for the public
EI.10 Consider developing a Greenbelt Ambassador program in which volunteers are trained to answer questions and offer information to Greenbelt and trail visitors on common Greenbelt issues and questions.
EI.11 Establish an environmental education center within an existing Parks and Recreation facility near the Greenbelt that interprets Greenbelt ecology and related subjects.
Regulatory Review
EI.12 Review current permit requirements for organized groups visiting the city’s parks, open space, and trails to ensure appropriate size threshold for triggering the permit and update as needed. Require participation in the city’s Leave No Trace program.
EI.13 Review and update parks, open space, and trails regulations on a regular basis to ensure alignment with best management practices, community values, and the recommendations of this plan.
Messaging Topics
»Stay designated trail to prevent habitat degradation
»Leash laws, trail etiquette, and waste removal for dog walkers
»Cyclist speed limit, proper passing etiquette, and yield hierarchy
»Importance of cleaning watercraft to avoid spread of invasive species
»Educate anglers about aquatic invasive species and the vectors for spreading
»Remind equestrians to move waste from trail; use weed-free forage or pelletized feed before and while visiting the Greenbelt
»Wetland functions and benefits
»Impacts of stormwater drainage on Clear Creek water quality
»Living with wildlife
»Native plant alternatives to invasive ornamental plants
»Litter pick up
City of Wheat Ridge108
GOAL (EC): ENHANCE VISITOR EXPERIENCE & TRAIL CHARACTER BY INVESTING IN AMENITIES AND FACILITIES.
Amenities
EC.1 Include pedestrian and bicycle amenities and furnishings such as seating, informational kiosks, waste receptacles, bike parking, and repair stands at formalized entry points to the Greenbelt.
EC.2 Identify locations to increase frequency of available restrooms and water bottle refill stations along the Clear Creek Trail.
EC.3 Identify locations to increase frequency of dog waste collection stations along the Clear Creek Trail.
EC.4 Support ongoing efforts to assess the historic barn at the Recreation Center to evaluate feasibility of conversion into a trailside amenity. If viable for future use, conduct further public outreach to determine preferred uses.
EC.5 Improve Johnson Park as a destination for trail users and close to non-maintenance vehicles rather than investing in driveway and drainage improvements needed to keep public vehicle access open.
Maintenance
EC.6 Continue trash and litter removal within the Greenbelt.
EC.7 Continue offering community yard-debris disposal days to reduce illegal dumping of yard and garden waste in the Greenbelt.
EC.8 Maintain a two-foot mowed shoulder on both sides of the Clear Creek Trail where possible.
EC.9 Trim vegetation that obscures sight lines for trail users on a weekly basis as needed with special focus on ingress/egress locations, turns, curves, grade changes, underpasses, bridge and street intersections.
EC.10 Continue snow removal operations, as needed, on the Clear Creek Trail to maintain the corridor for active transportation commuters.
EC.11 Address graffiti immediately to discourage further vandalism.
Open Space Management Plan 109
Built Environment
EC.12 Protect open space and trails through regulatory processes such as development review, land dedications, transfers of development rights, and sensitive site design that encourages compact development and minimizes environmental impacts.
EC.13 Work with the Economic Development, Community Development, and Public Works Departments to support Trail-oriented Development and redevelopment that activates site and building orientation toward the trail corridor and prioritizes publicly oriented uses on ground floors that provide a destination for trail users and support alternative transportation via the Clear Creek Trail . Consider joint maintenance agreements with trail-adjacent businesses for facilities and improvements that serve trail traffic such as bike racks, trash receptacles, lighting, and business wayfinding signs.
Johnson Park Trailhead
In addition to safety issues due to limited sight distance at the driveway location on Wadsworth, the Johnson Park Trailhead is often closed due to persistent ice and flooding. Maintaining the driveway surface so it can be opened and safe is a challenge for city staff.
City of Wheat Ridge110
Trail Standards
EC.14 Adopt the following standards and specifications, as Department policy, for trail types within the City to provide for consistency in maintenance and user experience for each trail type.
Trail Type Function & Uses Tread Width Corridor Width Clearance Grade Signs
Regional Trails
Regional Trails accommodate the greatest number of users and are the major spines in the trail network, providing connections to adjacent communities and key destinations. Regional Trails should paved to provide a stable and durable surface, and often have double-loaded parallel attached or detached crusher fines trails.
Minimum 10ft. Paved with 2ft. Shoulders; Preferred 12ft. Paved with 4ft. Parallel crusher fines
30ft.12ft. Vertical; 3ft. Shoulders
ADA accessible at 5% with 8.3% maximum grade if necessary; 2% cross-slope
Regulatory, wayfinding, interpretive, mile or confidence markers
Collector or Neighborhood Trails
Collector Trails connect neighborhoods to Regional Trails and other destinations. Collector Trails are typically 8 feet wide, paved to provide a stable and durable surface, and may have a parallel attached or detached crusher fines trail.
8ft. Paved with 3ft. Parallel crusher fines 20ft. 10ft. Vertical; 2ft. Shoulders
ADA accessible at 5% with 8.3% maximum grade if necessary; 2% cross-slope
Regulatory, wayfinding, confidence markers
Conservation Trail
The Wheat Ridge Conservation Trail system is comprised of Single-use Singletrack Trails located in more back-country or natural settings within the Greenbelt or around the city's lakes. Conservation Trails are either a natural surface or crusher fines for pedestrians and mobility devices only.
3-4ft. Natural surface; crusher fines, and relatively flat
8ft.8ft. Vertical; 1.5ft. Shoulders
ADA accessible at 5% with 8.3% maximum grade if necessary; 2% cross-slope
Regulatory, wayfinding at intersections, confidence markers and interpretative kiosks in key locations
Regional Trail Neighborhood Trail Conservation Trail
Open Space Management Plan 111
CASE STUDY 04: TRAIL-ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT
Trail-Oriented Development refers to site development & architectural standards that activate building orientation toward the trail with features such as:
»Direct pedestrian connectivity
»Windows
»Pedestrian-scale entrances
»Landscaping
»Pedestrian-scale lighting
»Signage that addresses the trail
»Bike parking
»Trail-facing public art or murals
»Seating
»Screening that is no more than 50% opaque to provide for safety and security
City of Wheat Ridge112
GOAL (LP): LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN THE CLEAR CREEK WATERSHED, ADJACENT MUNICIPALITIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND VOLUNTEER
GROUPS TO PROVIDE A COORDINATED APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT, MAINTENANCE,
STEWARDSHIP, AND CONSISTENT USER EXPERIENCE.
Adjacent Trail Managers
LP.1 Work with Arvada to adjust city boundaries so trail segments managed by Wheat Ridge are fully within the city’s jurisdiction.
LP.2 Coordinate wildlife surveys and studies with Jeffco Open Space and other agencies, such as the Audubon Society, to share data and resources. Maintain database of results.
Private Property owners
LP.3 Actively involve Greenbelt-adjacent property owners in implementation of this plan.
LP.4 Work with Greenbelt-adjacent property owners to educate on the impacts and prevent inefficient use of fertilizer or pesticides adjacent to Clear Creek and Lena Gulch.
LP.5 Work with ditch companies to implement wetland Best Management Practices to minimize adverse natural resource impacts.
LP.6 Determine maintenance responsibility for various irrigation ditches including Lee and Baugh, Lane, Brown and Baugh, and Oulette ditches.
LP.7 Work with neighboring landowners to execute habitat enhancement projects.
LP.8 Formalize any verbal management agreements with Greenbelt-adjacent property owners through a written agreement.
Peak to Plains Collaborative
LP.9 Continue participating in the Peaks to Plains Collaborative and support implementation of the strategic plan in Wheat Ridge by adopting a co-branded sign system on the Clear Creek Trail.
Clear Creek Integrated Watershed Management Plan
LP.10 Continue actively participating in the Clear Creek Integrated Watershed Management Plan to:
»Document and understand needs and issues related to environmental, recreational, and consumptive uses of land and water in the watershed.
»Monitor land use upstream of the City’s open space for negative impacts to the water quality of Clear Creek in Wheat Ridge.
Open Space Management Plan 113
»Understand how impacts to Clear Creek within the Greenbelt affect water quality downstream.
»Contribute to local and regional efforts to improve water quality of Clear Creek.
»Prepare a Watershed Master Plan in accordance with FEMA guidelines to provide guidance in protecting/enhancing the natural and beneficial functions of floodplains while also strengthening protection of properties from flooding.
Community Organizations
LP.11 Partner with local committees and organizations; such local scout programs, service clubs and advocacy organizations; to establish volunteer-based program to assist with open space maintenance in support of City staff operations.
»Continue existing program for tree care.
»Expand to include an invasive plant species/noxious weed management program.
»Expand to include a beaver management program.
LP.12 Develop an Adopt-a-Trail program to facilitate volunteer litter collection by community organizations, businesses, and individuals once per month.
Indigenous Communities
LP.13 Work with area Tribes and other Sovereign Nations to correctly interpret, honor and provide access to sacred lands and ceremonial sites within Wheat Ridge Open Space.
Other Public Agencies
LP.14 Continue to work closely with Urban Drainage and Flood Control as needed on projects with the city’s Public Works department.
LP.15 Consult with CPW on significant habitat enhancement projects.
LP.16 Review utility easements within open space areas and ensure that maintenance provisions do not compromise management goals and objectives.
LP.17 Continue working with CDOT to improve Otis Street Trailhead and manage the Greenbelt and Clear Creek Trail where it crosses CDOT land or right-of-way under I-70.
LP.18 Support the open space protection programs of other agencies, land trusts, and organizations in the County by leveraging open space funds and jointly acquiring properties as appropriate as was done to establish Lewis Meadows.
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Plan Monitoring and Updates
Land Acquisition
Operations and Staff Capacity
Project Prioritization
Capital Project Priorities and Costs
Implementation Phasing
Funding Analysis
IMPLEMENTATION
CHAPTER 5:
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The Open Space Management Plan provides a wide-ranging framework of management strategies and recommendations to guide decision-making across multiple levels of community action from City government to partnerships with allied state agencies and civic organizations. The true impact of this plan will come from diligent and consistent efforts toward accomplishing the actions identified in the plan to achieve and sustain the community’s vision for open space and the Clear Creek Trail.
This chapter addresses critical topics for plan implementation, operations, project prioritization and phasing, and funding.
PLAN MONITORING
AND UPDATES
Planning for continued success of city’s open space program is an ongoing practice. PFOS staff should review progress on plan implementation each year when developing the department’s annual report, budget, and capital improvement plan.
Staff should regularly monitor progress toward achieving the plan’s goals and track implementation. A full plan update should occur every 10 years to reflect completed actions, respond to new opportunities, identify solutions to unanticipated challenges, and keep current on technological innovations and the emergence of new best-practices in open space and trail management.
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LAND ACQUISITION
Acquiring open space in Wheat Ridge is increasingly challenging due to several factors:
»Scarcity of available land that meets conservation values
»High cost and competition
»Increasing demand (and associated management costs) for outdoor recreation
»Limited staff capacity and funding for ongoing maintenance
Despite these challenges, the city continues to invest in the enhancement of the Greenbelt and Clear Creek Trail as major contributors to quality of life in Wheat Ridge, a source of pride for residents, and a destination for enriching outdoor experiences in the Denver metro area. The recommendations of this plan reflect the reality of limited open space acquisition opportunities by primarily directing action toward restoration of existing open space lands and improvements to the Clear Creek Trail and connectivity as identified in Chapter 4: Management Plan. However, the city can position itself to take advantage of acquisition opportunities as they arise and effectively manage the existing open space lands by taking the following actions:
LM.1 Amend Administrative Policy #601-01 (Appendix D) to include meeting the recommendations of the Open Space Management Plan as a criterion for considering land acquisition.
LM.2 Evaluate opportunities for acquiring new open space, that meets the City’s conservation values, as property develops.
LM.3 As opportunities present, acquire land for establishing new trailheads, access points, or trail connections, as identified on Map 15, Proposed Trail Connections and Trailheads, especially properties that are located within the floodplain.
LM.4 Procure an accurate boundary survey of the entire Wheat Ridge Greenbelt to identify locations where additional study and action is needed.
LM.5 Participate in citywide comprehensive planning and small area planning efforts to ensure alignment with the OSMP.
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OPERATIONS AND STAFF CAPACITY
Currently, the PFOS Division is comprised of 26 staff members including the Division Manager, Forestry and Open Space Supervisor, and Environmental Interpreter. Division staff includes 12 maintenance workers, two of which are dedicated specifically to open space. PFOS resource specialists work on a variety of projects related to land acquisitions, natural resource conservation, recreation planning, open space management, lake management, and volunteer coordination. The PFOS Division is also supported by staff from other Parks and Recreation Divisions on tasks such as grant procurement, special projects, community outreach, and communications.
Seasonally, the PFOS division receives support from the Community Services Division of the Wheat Ridge Police Department who provide 1.5 FTE rangers to patrol the Greenbelt and trail from April to as late as December, depending on weather. The Community Services Division aims to staff three Greenbelt rangers each season but has experienced significant challenges in hiring and retaining rangers in recent years. The Division plans to extend the duration of the ranger employment period or establish the position as a year-round employee.
Volunteers also play a special role in supporting open space management operations. The PFOS Division currently manages a Greenbelt tree stewardship program and organizes multiple volunteer days for tree care and litter clean-up each year. Additionally, the Division frequently partners with community organizations on special projects.
The Department completed an operations audit in March 2023 that evaluated staff capacity. The Division is currently staffed appropriately to meet operational demands. However, as trail miles expand, additional open space is acquired, recreational visitation continues to grow, and/or new programs are implemented, staff capacity should be monitored and increased as needed to ensure that the PFOS division has the resources necessary to effectively maintain and monitor open space, manage visitor use, and complete necessary restoration work within the Greenbelt.
Specific actions related to PFOS operations and staffing are recommended to ensure that the Division continues to function at a high level by making management decisions informed by the best available visitor use data:
OS.1 Continue to ensure appropriate staffing levels to provide safe and well-maintained open space and trails for high quality experiences.
OS.2 Conduct trail user counts at key access points and locations along the Clear Creek Trail to quantify user volume that will facilitate informed decisions on locations for amenities and demonstrate need when seeking grant funding. Differentiate between user-types.
OS.3 Conduct Greenbelt and trail visitor intercept surveys every few years between May and October to track changes in use, travel modes, perception of quality, identify emerging visitor needs, impact of new wayfinding system and interpretation/messaging campaigns.
OS.4 Track annual progress on completed actions of this plan and report results as part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s Annual Report.
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PROJECT PRIORITIZATION
To prioritize projects that best meet the needs of the community despite limited funding sources, the following criteria are proposed for project evaluation. The criteria are grouped according to four overarching categories: Financial Viability, Immediate Need, Benefit-driven and Opportunity-driven. All projects should demonstrate financial viability prior to inception. Projects that address immediate public health and safety needs, code compliance, and Federal and State requirements should take precedence over other choices. It is also critical to address deferred maintenance needs to provide a high quality and safe arts, parks and recreation system. As funding and resources become available, or as citizen needs evolve, prioritization may change in response to new opportunities, constraints or community preferences.
FINANCIAL VIABILITY
All projects must demonstrate that funding is available for both
capital and long-term operations and maintenance costs. The City should not take on a project that it cannot afford to maintain.
IMMEDIATE NEED
Health, Safety, Welfare And Regulatory Compliance
Does the project involve upgrades that will bring a site or facility into compliance with codes and regulations (such as ADA), and improve the health, safety, and welfare of users.
Protect Existing Investments
The project is necessary to protect the City’s current investment in facilities including lifecycle replacement and maintenance or enhancements to existing parks, trails and facilities.
BENEFIT-DRIVEN
Projects that meet the parkland and amenity needs of the community,
preserve important resources and sites, advance other community goals, complete a partially developed project, reduces long-term maintenance costs to the community, and/or serve as a potential catalyst for economic development.
Satisfies Unmet Need
Does the project satisfy urgent parks and recreation needs within the community? Does the project help to address a recreation facility/amenity shortage or unmet need?
Community Significance
Does the project or site provide benefits to many people within the community? Does the project or site contribute to the broader city vision and community goals, such as economic development, increased tourism, environmental sustainability and non-motorized connectivity?
Community Balance
Does the project contribute to the balance of needs across the community, such as geographic equity, and providing for unmet needs of segments of the population? The land or the project is located in a park or amenity-deficient area.
Completing Current Projects
Does the project help to complete ongoing phases of current projects that have yet to be finished? Completion realizes full benefit of the
project.
Long-Term Maintenance Cost
Are the future ongoing maintenance costs funded and proportionate to the benefit that the community receives? Will the project be built in a way that minimizes long-term maintenance costs and/or generates revenue and offset maintenance costs?
Economic Revitalization
Potential for project to serve as a catalyst for other investment.
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OPPORTUNITY-DRIVEN
Projects that can leverage resources and offer partnership opportunities, are easy to implement, or can reduce costs by combining into a larger project,
Partnerships For Funding
Does the project leverage available partnership or grant opportunities for funding (e.g., GOCO, CPW, CDOT, School District, County, private, etc.)
Ability To Leverage Resources
Are other projects occurring on or near the site that can be leveraged?
Ease Of Implementation
Does the project capitalize on opportunities that are easily implemented (e.g., low cost project with large gains, available property, etc.)?
Economy Of Scale
Does implementing several projects or portions of projects simultaneously save money or time (e.g., bulk purchase of materials, more efficient management, lower mobilization costs, etc.)?
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HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS
Action IDs Project Names
PS.2 Erosion Mitigation/Streambank Stabilization near Araphoe Bar
PS.3 Trail Underpass Lighting
PS.6 Kipling Crossing Feasibility Study with trail user counts
SC.18; SC.23 Evergreen Assessment and Native Tree Plantings
SC.66 Wetland Restoration/Overbank Flooding near Prospect, Anderson, Johnson Park
SC.68 West Lake Conservation Trail Expansion and Social Trail Reclamation
AC.9; AC.10; AC.11; AC.12 Improve Existing Connections: Parfet, Garrison, Oak, and Hoyt Street
AC. 15; AC. 16; EC.6 Improve Existing Trailheads at Miller St., Otis St, and Johnson Park
CAPITAL PROJECT PRIORITIES AND COSTS
Thirty-nine individual projects have been identified through this planning process as a result of community input, professional evaluation of existing site and facility conditions, and an understanding of best practices in open space and trail management. Projects include capital investment in facilities and amenities, restoration and habitat enhancement, and additional detailed planning and design work. These projects were first identified by the community through the plan’s public engagement efforts and then workshopped with PFOS staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission to evaluate costs, feasibility, and how each project meets the community’s needs through the prioritization criteria detailed in the previous section.
Eight priorities are identified below, however this plan acknowledges that priorities can and should be re-evaluated annually as needs and opportunities shift. The project prioritization criteria equip staff, appointed and elected officials, and their community partners with a framework for reconsidering priorities each year as the Parks and Recreation Department and PFOS Division develop their annual work plans.
These projects have not yet been approved for funding, but should be considered for inclusion in the city’s Annual Capital Improvement Plan. Funding sources for new projects are identified in the next section. Full cost estimates and details for all 39 projects can be found in Appendix B. Locations of projects are identified on the recommendations maps in Chapter 4: Management Plan.
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PS.1 AC. 21 PS. 4 PS.2 PS.14 SC. 56
PS.3 EI.1 PS. 9 PS.5 PS.16 SC.61
PS.6 EI.2 PS.11 SC.45 PS.17 SC.64
PS.7 EI.3 PS.12 SC.62 SC.2 EC.6
PS.8 EI.4 PS.13 SC. 67 SC.3 EC.7
PS.10 EI.5 SC.18 AC.5 SC.4 EC.8
PS.15 EI.6 SC.22 AC.7 SC.5 EC.9
PS.16 EI.7 SC.43 AC.11 SC.7 EC.10
PS.18 EI.8 SC.46 AC.13 SC.8 EC.11
SC.1 EI.9 SC.47 AC.20 SC.9 EC.12
SC.6 EI.10 SC.48 EI.11 SC.10 EC.13
SC.15 EI.12 SC.57 SC.11 LP.2
SC.19 EI.13 SC.59 SC.12 LP.3
SC.20 EC.1 SC.63 SC.13 LP.4
SC.21 EC.2 SC.68 SC.14 LP.5
SC.24 EC.3 AC.2 SC.16 LP.7
SC.28 EC.14 AC.4 SC.17 LP.9
SC.31 LP.1 AC.8 SC.27 LP.10
SC.37 LP. 6 AC.9 SC.29 LP.11
SC.38 LP.8 AC.10 SC.30 LP.13
SC. 41 LP. 12 AC.12 SC.32 LP.14
SC.42 LM.1 AC.14 SC.33 LP.15
SC.50 LM.4 AC.15 SC.34 LP.16
SC.53 AC.16 SC.35 LP.17
SC. 58 AC.18 SC.36 LP.18
SC.60 AC.19 SC.39 LM.2
SC.65 EC.4 SC.40 LM.5
SC.66 EC.5 SC.44 OS.1
SC.69 SC.49 OS.2
AC.1 SC.51 OS.3
AC.3 SC.52 OS.4
AC.6 SC.54
AC.17 SC.55
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IMPLEMENTATION
PHASING
Plan implementation is an incremental process. Some recommendations can be executed in a relatively short period of time. Other recommendations are long-term in nature and will take years of concentrated effort to achieve. Many recommended actions will depend on future staffing levels and capacity, funding, and partnerships. PFOS will work with other city departments, public land managers, and other civic organizations to identify action items that can be achieved collaboratively.
The recommendation timeframe refers to the amount of time, in years, within which each action item should be implemented. Recommendations are categorized as either short term, mid-term, long term, or ongoing.
»Short-term: achievable in less than five years
»Mid-term: achievable in 5-10 years
»Long-term: may take more than 10 years
»Ongoing: Continuous efforts
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FUNDING ANALYSIS
CURRENT FUNDING
Currently the city receives allocated funds through the Jefferson County Open Space
sales tax (.5%) and the state Conservation Trust Fund (CTF), which is supported by Colorado Lottery proceeds. These two funds support the majority of Open Space staff, maintenance, and capital projects. In
2022, Jefferson County Open Space sales tax generated $1,550,000 in revenue for the city while the CTF resulted in $350,000 in revenue. In 2023, the Conservation Trust Fund is projected to generate $320,000 and
Jeffco Open Space Sales Tax will generate $1,400,000 – a combined reduction of $180,000.
FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE
The Wheat Ridge community demonstrated many desired outcomes throughout the OSMP planning process. Therefore, successful implementation of the plan will require additional funding and partnerships. Open space acquisition and outdoor recreation management revenues across Colorado are commonly derived from these primary sources: a municipality’s General Fund, locally approved sales tax or bond revenues, and the CTF and Great Outdoors Colorado grants. The General Fund and sales tax or bond revenues serve to leverage grants, which typically require matching funds. Other grant sources across a variety of industries like health and tourism may also be available on a limited basis.
Given the projected reduction in funding from the CTF and Jeffco Open Space Sales tax, and the identification of several new capital projects in this plan, the PFOS division will need to seek additional funding to sustain operations and realize capital improvement projects. Funding sources could include the following:
Conservation Trust Fund
CTF distributes state lottery proceeds to Colorado communities and has historically been a stable funding source, although proceed amounts may vary from year to year. The city should continue to leverage this reliable funding source for projects.
Grants
The grant market continues to grow every year, but it is not a stable or predictable source of revenue. The Parks and Recreation Department regularly pursues and has been successful in securing grants for open space
and trail projects. Viable grants are available from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO ), American Walks (active transportation), CPW, Colorado Department of Public Health and Equity, Colorado Water Conservation
Board, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF ) which the Division is applying for to fund the Tabor Lake Trail. The Parks and Recreation Department’s special projects and grants administrators are essential to
the Department’s successful pursuit of grant funding. Matching dollars are required for most federal grants and many state grants. Even when matching funds are not required,
including a percentage match often provides a competitive advantage by demonstrating that the city is invested in project success.
JCOS Trails Partnership Grant Program
Jeffco Open Space operates a competitive grant program that funds $3 million per year, over five years, in trail construction projects for area partners. There are two
years remaining in the current program (2023 -2024). Jeffco Open Space can elect to continue the program and could expand eligibility to include projects other than trails. The grant provides a 25% match for local
projects and 50% for regional connections like the Clear Creek Trail. Wheat Ridge has received funds through this program for three consecutive years for trail projects and should continue to leverage this partnership
and funding source to implement projects identified in this plan.
Special Option Sales Tax (Bond Referendum)
One of the reliable potential funding sources employed by many Front Range communities is a dedicated sales tax. Sales taxes are a relatively predictable revenue stream compared to grants and other sources which often vary significantly year to year, or can become non-existent. Sales tax funds can be bonded to generate immediate funding. General obligation bonds are sold to investors and repaid with sales taxes that are dedicated specifically to their repayment. Issuing bonds with projected sales tax revenue allows a community to
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start planning, designing, and constructing projects prior to receiving all sales tax revenues required to cover project costs and therefore avoiding increased future project costs due to inflation The sales tax that funds projects, as well as the ability to issue bonds for projects, must be approved via a ballot measure by Wheat Ridge voters.
Friends Groups
These groups are formed to raise money typically for a single focus purpose that could include a trail or program that will benefit the community as a whole and their special interest. Friends groups strengthen community support and value for specific parks or facilities, and leverage the work and scope of PFOS services through stewardship, volunteer hours, fundraising and advocacy.
Interlocal Agreements
Interlocal Agreements involve contractual relationships between two or more local units of government and/or between a local unit of government and a non-profit organization for the joint usage/development of trails, trailheads, or park improvements.
Lodging Tax
House Bill 22-1117 signed into law in March 2022 allows proceeds from a local marketing district’s marketing and promotion tax and lodging tax to now be used for:
»Workforce housing & childcare
»Facilitating and enhancing visitor experiences; and
»Capital expenditures related to facilitating and enhancing visitor experiences
The legislation allows local governments to let voters decide how to allocate up to 90% of lodging tax funds to areas outside of tourism marketing.
The purpose of this bill is to help alleviate some of the major issues that cities with tourism economies are facing: shortage of workforce housing, childcare, and as it relates to this plan, outdoor recreation resources (natural and constructed) being overwhelmed with record visitation.
Allocating a portion of lodging tax for capital expenditures to facilitate and enhance the visitor experience could be used to leverage grant funds for improvements to regional assets like the Clear Creek Trail, its trailheads, the surrounding Greenbelt. Outdoor Recreation investments that enhance the visitor experience typically also improve quality of life for residents.