Article Contributed on: 4/21/2009 5:46:51 PM
After more than a decade of planning, the final section of the Big Dry Creek Trail is completed. The South Suburban Park Foundation has been working actively with project partners since 1994 to complete the final link to a 14-mile south metro trail loop via the Lee Gulch Trail. The newly completed trail will help tie together and link with the larger 450-plus mile Metro Area trail and greenway system with thousands of acres of open space, local, regional and state parks.
Flowing through neighborhoods, adjacent industrial and commercial areas, the Big Dry Creek corridor includes both natural and formal parkland. Users can follow the 10-foot wide concrete trail that closely follows the stream to reach their final destination or just meander along enjoying the natural environment and views.
The Big Dry Creek Trail not only provides vital linkages to multiple communities ( Cherry Hills Village, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Centennial, Arapahoe County, Highlands Ranch) but, the trail also provides the major link between the Mary Carter Greenway and the High Line Canal. The Mary Carter Greenway, an 8-mile multi-use trail along the Platte River connecting the City of Denver to the Chatfield State Park and the High Line Canal, a 66-mile metro Denver trail.
Join us for the ribbon cutting and Legacy 5K Walk to celebrate the Big Dry Creek Trail completion as well as the Foundation's 30 year anniversary! The 5K walk will provide the opportunity for residents to explore the newly completed Big Dry Creek Trail system.
The 5K Fun walk will begin and end at Wolf Camera ( 5295 S Broadway, Englewood) on Sunday, May 3rd. Check-in begins at 8 am, ribbon cutting at 9:00 am, walk at 9:15 am.
Pre-register as an individual for $12 ( $20 event day) or as a team of four for $25.
For the past 30 years, the Suburban Park Foundation has led the way to completing:
· The Mary Carter Greenway/South Platte River Trail, major north/south spine;
· The Discovery Pavilion at Chatfield which celebrates the joining of three of the region's major trail systems: the South Platte River Trail, the Waterton Canyon/Colorado Trail, and the Highline Canal Trail;
· The 200-foot clear span pedestrian Platte River bridge providing the vital link over the river and connecting to the Big Dry Creek;
· 10,000 Tree Project engaging more than 3,000 volunteers throughout the river corridors;
· And most recent, the Big Dry Creek Trail which provides the final link to a 14-mile trail loop.
More than $8 million has been secured by the Foundation from a wide range of public and private entities to assure project success throughout the years. Committed funding partners include Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado State Parks Trails, Federal enhancement program partnering with Colorado Department of Transportation and Denver Regional Council of Government, Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, Colorado Water Conservation Fund, Denver Water, Arapahoe County, Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, and Jefferson County Open Space.
Please visit
www.sspf.org for additional information and to register.