R
esidents joined the City of Englewood, Arapahoe County and Great Outdoors Colorado at an October 17 ceremony to celebrate the completion of two new bicycle and pedestrian bridges that span the South Platte River south of Dartmouth Avenue and north of Oxford Avenue.
"We are excited to support the City of Englewood as it improves the safety and ease of use of trails along the South Platte River with two new bridges," said Arapahoe County Commissioner Susan Beckman, who serves as Board Chair. "These bridges were envisioned through the South Platte Greenway Legacy Project, which is expanding the urban oasis of the South Platte River and enhancing connectivity to recreation trails for people in western Arapahoe County."
The new bridges provide direct access to the Mary Carter Greenway and the South Platte River Greenway. The Dartmouth Avenue bridge also offers a link to and from the Little Dry Creek Trail system, allowing those who use the trail to avoid heavy on-street traffic along Dartmouth.
"The bridges are part of the City of Englewood's South Platte River Open Space Plan," said Englewood Mayor Jim Woodward. "Without the collaborative efforts of the agencies involved and funding support from Englewood's portion of the Arapahoe County Open Space Tax; an additional Open Space grant from Arapahoe County; the Denver Regional Council of Government's Transportation Improvement Project funds, Miller Weingarten Realty and a Legacy Grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, these bridges would not be standing today."
The City thanked the generous citizens of Arapahoe County who, in 2003, voted to approve the Arapahoe County Open Space Sales and Use Tax. Without this support, enhancements like the Dartmouth and Oxford bridges and other open space and trails projects in Arapahoe County would not be possible. The tax stipulates that for every $1 spent in Arapahoe County, a quarter-of-a-penny is used to preserve urban and rural open space and natural areas; protect lands that preserve water quality; provide, maintain and improve neighborhood parks, sports fields, picnic facilities and multi-use trails; protect wildlife habitat and corridors; preserve agriculture and ranchlands; and enhance and maintain designated heritage areas.
Arapahoe County is currently seeking citizen input on future parks, trails and open space needs as it prepares a strategic countywide
Open Space Master Plan. Residents are invited to submit comments online at www.greenways.com/arapahoe or call Bob Finch, Arapahoe County Open Space, at 720-874-6734.