One of the core principles of the Division of Green Infrastructure is to ensure that all projects include partners to maximize the benefits and stretch the impact of our funding to build more green infrastructure.
Each of the projects listed on this page include city agency partners — Denver Parks & Recreation, DOTI Transportation, DOTI Wastewater, Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), or the office of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency (CASR) — or other regional partners like the Mile High Flood District (MHFD). These projects range in scale from small site-scale projects, such as the four stormwater planters at the Carla Madison Recreation Center, to larger regional projects that can impact entire neighborhoods, such as the City Park Golf Course and Globeville Landing Park projects.
As part of the 5280 Trail visioning plan, 21st Street from Benedict Fountain Park to Coors Field was highlighted as an early opportunity for a street to be transformed into a pedestrian and bicycle focused green street.
Project Completed: 2018
The intersection of 21st at Broadway, between Champa and Stout Streets, was selected as an early-action project and pilot location to be closed to vehicular traffic and repurposed to benefit bicyclists and pedestrians and to include innovative green infrastructure facilities. The project includes four separate stormwater control measures detailed in the Ultra Urban Green Infrastructure Guidelines:
- A water quality planter basin capable of capturing and treating runoff from Broadway and Champa
- Segments of green alley and green gutter separating and treating runoff from pedestrian and bicycle lanes
- A plaza with pervious pavers, tree trenches, and structural soil cells.
As part of the Green Infrastructure Implementation Strategy, the 21st & Broadway project is included in the master plan for 21st Street in the Central Platte Valley Opportunities section.
This site is included in the monitoring program being conducted by the Office of Green Infrastructure and the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment. Flow is measured and water quality samples are collected at the locations where stormwater enters and exists the planter basin.
Awards: 2019 APWA Trails Award
A 12-acre recreational greenway along 39th Avenue between Franklin and Steele streets.
Project completed: 2020
The City and County of Denver, through the work of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) and Denver Parks and Recreation, constructed a 12-acre recreational greenway along 39th Ave between Franklin and Steele streets. The new open space includes many community amenities such as multi-use trails, an outdoor amphitheater, a playground, and a shared street, while also providing conveyance and storage to reduce flood risk for nearby homes and businesses.
While flood risk reduction was a primary driver of the project, water quality was also greatly improved with 55 streetside stormwater planters (SSPs) that intercept stormwater runoff from surrounding streets prior to entering the open channel. There are several unique examples of SSPs including on the shared street on the north side of the channel, the street edge along the south side of the channel, and continuing on Steele Street to the east end of the project.
The stormwater improvement project, built to mitigate recurrent flooding issues in this area of town, fulfills community desires for new outdoor recreational space, water quality and improved connections for traveling.
Two of the streetside stormwater planters have been monitored using synthetic runoff tests to quantify hydrologic performance like volume storage capacity and runoff reduction.
A corridor reconstruction including almost 100 streetside stormwater planters (SSPs) treating approximately 16 acres of impervious area that would have otherwise drained directly into the South Platte River.
Project completed: 2018
Brighton Boulevard has been a central transportation thoroughfare connecting downtown Denver and I-70 for more than 70 years. The Brighton Boulevard Redevelopment Project designed and constructed critical public infrastructure (e.g. cycle track, sidewalks, curb/gutter, on-street parking and more) on Brighton Boulevard, helping establish Brighton Boulevard as a gateway to Denver.
The project stretches nearly 2 miles from 29th Avenue in the south to Race Street in the north and weaves together the critical transportation upgrades, pedestrian environment, a major bicycle track, and the first major Green Infrastructure project in Denver. The project includes almost 100 streetside stormwater planters (SSPs) treating approximately 8 acres of impervious area that would have otherwise drained directly into the South Platte River.
Five of the SSPs have been monitored using synthetic runoff tests to quantify hydrologic performance like volume storage capacity and runoff reduction, and three others have been monitored during natural rain events.
Brighton Boulevard Site Map
Awards:
A sustainability strategy for the city's newest rec center, and the first stormwater planters built in the right-of-way in Denver
Project Completed: 2018
As part of the overall sustainability strategy for the project, the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) Division of Green Infrastructure worked with Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) to design and install four street-side stormwater planters (SSPs) on Josephine Street to the west of the Carla Madison Recreation Center. These were the first stormwater planters built in the right-of-way in Denver and have served as a teaching tool to help the city iterate and improve on the implementation of ultra-urban green infrastructure facilities in the city.
In addition to the planters in the right-of-way, there are attractive bioretention areas that treat plaza and parking lot stormwater runoff. Planter beds next to the building also collect roof runoff. The entire site is a modern-day example of how green infrastructure contributes to elevated urban design.
The project was identified in Denver’s Green Infrastructure Implementation Strategy and completed in 2018. One of the streetside stormwater planters has been monitored using synthetic runoff tests to quantify hydrologic performance like volume storage capacity and runoff reduction.
Reducing flood risks in the Whittier Neighborhood, part of the larger 33rd Street Outfall project
Project Completed: 2020
Beginning in 2019, the City and County of Denver began construction to improve the stormwater system along Marion Street. This project is designed to reduce flood risks in the Whittier Neighborhood and is part of the larger 33rd Street Outfall project. As part of the larger stormwater project, the Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure funded the construction of the first stormwater curb extensions in Denver. The planters, located on Marion Street at 29th and 30th Avenues, were specifically designed to fit into the neighborhood and include gentle slopes and native or adapted plants that were selected with the help of the community.
A robust public process helped inform where the green infrastructure was located and how it should be designed to best suit the residential neighborhood. The Denver Botanic Gardens and DOTI Division of Green Infrastructure team held an on-site event with the neighborhood to share educate residents about green infrastructure and gather feedback from the community on desired aesthetics for the Marion Street green infrastructure facilities.
Public Event, July 28, 2018
Site Plans
Marion Street and 29th Avenue
Marion Street and 30th Avenue
Redesigned water quality and detention basin at La Lomita Park
Project Completed: 2020
The Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) and Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) collaborated to redesign the water quality and detention basin at La Lomita Park, formerly known as Asbury and Tejon Park.
In the early 1970s the stormwater basin at the intersection of Asbury and Tejon was converted from a drainage way into a neighborhood park. The park functions as a critical stormwater detention facility for nearly 280 acres of the community surrounding the park. Historically, the park provided very little water quality benefit due to the engineered concrete channel in the center of the park. The redevelopment project removed the concrete channel and relocated it to the edge of the park where it was rebuilt as a naturalized, vegetated water quality channel that includes play features and educational components for nearby schools. In addition, a recreation lawn and playground were rebuilt to be more functional for residents and community members.
Site Plan
Asbury & Tejon Park was renamed La Lomita Park in 2019 to honor the Abeyta family and their history in the neighborhood. In 1955 the family opened La Lomita Café, which means “little hill” in Spanish, where it stood until 1966 as a social hub for the community.
The project was completed in 2020. Water quality treatment is monitored in the upstream basin, and water levels are monitored in the downstream basin.
The publicly owned-parcel at the intersection 38th and Holly was recently transformed from a simple, unattractive stormwater bowl into a one of a kind neighborhood amenity that showcases how stormwater management facilities can and should prioritize good urban design.
Project Completed: 2020
Originally designed to provide detention during storm surges, the pond had issues with the flow splitters upstream which prevented runoff from consistently reaching the basin during wet-weather events. Significant erosion occurred at the outfalls to the basin and maintaining the forebay had become an excessive burden on operations crews.
The 38th and Holly stormwater basin retrofit project is a perfect example of the multiple benefits of green infrastructure. First, the flow diversion structures were modified so that small storms consistently enter the detention basin, which provides water quality treatment that was missing in the original design. The basin was re-graded to maximize storage and treatment during the most frequent and most polluted runoff events. The concrete trickle channel was replaced with a naturalized wetland channel, allowing for treatment of “urban drool” – which can teem with bacteria during dry weather flows.
Native wetland vegetation and 65 new trees were planted to provide habitat to birds and pollinators, making the basin a cooler and more serene place to visit. One of the two outfalls to the basin was armored with a new concrete forebay, with drive access for easy maintenance by city vacuum trucks. The other outfall was converted into a beautiful drop structure that mimics the contours of a cascading mountain stream, but with an industrial aesthetic that intentionally mirrors the surrounding neighborhood. The drop structure is flanked by rock gabion benches for sitting and greenery is seamlessly integrated into a revamped trail system that laps the basin. The addition of the drop structure and the vegetation enhancements has converted a browning, concrete-lined gulley into a multi-functioning park and amenity for the community.
Site Plan
Construction began in Fall 2018 and was completed in April 2020. Water levels are measured in the basin to quantify how often it fills and how fast it drains. This information is helpful for vegetation management.
Integrating water quality features and stormwater treatment into the design of a new riverside park
Project Completed: 2020
Images courtesy Wenk Associates
River North (RiNo) Park is a new park located in the River North Area of downtown Denver, at the intersection of 35th and Arkins Court. The Park was envisioned as a community recreation focal point, and features a large multi-purpose green space, distributed play features, an integrated water quality feature, artwork, and three repurposed buildings for community uses among other gathering spaces and park amenities.
In partnership with Denver Parks & Recreation, the Division of Green Infrastructure helped fund the development and inclusion of the integrated water quality feature and one of the first pervious paver parking areas within any Denver park. The water quality features treat runoff from Festival Street and the future 35th Ave, as well as most of the buildings and impervious areas within the park. The stormwater treatment was integrated into the design of the park as an amenity and will help tie together the landscapes in the park and the Arkins Court Promenade.
Conceptual Site Plan