Historic Denver opposes plans for walkway, says it's "a response to a problem that doesn't exist"

Next year, Colorado will celebrate its 150th birthday. In honor of that, Governor Polis unveiled new renderings of a pedestrian walkway project that will stem from the State Capitol down to Lincoln Veterans Park. However, not everyone is in support of it. 

Historic Denver, a nonprofit that works to promote and protect the city's many historic places, has voiced opposition to the governor's plan, stating it "serves no functional purpose and is a response to a problem that does not exist."

"I think we all need to ask ourselves, why?" said Historic Denver's CEO, John Deffenbaugh. "This is one of the most historic places in Denver. It's a National Historic Landmark."

Colorado's State Capitol was constructed in the 1890s, and Civic Center Park was finished in 1935. Its history is undeniable. According to the Governor's office, the new walkway would honor that and include artwork from Colorado artists and storytelling opportunities, among other features. But Historic Denver is not convinced.

"Civic Center Park is, its design is based on restraint, symmetry, elegance. And the bridge that is being proposed by the state is almost the opposite of those stylistic motifs. It's curving. It's highly out of place for this environment," said Deffenbaugh.

With a host of concerns, Historic Denver has taken their opposition efforts public, asking Denverites to join its petition.

"Our petition, within the first half hour, attracted almost 100 signatures in opposition of the bridge. So, we're very hopeful that over the next number of days, that's going to grow and grow as Denverites really make their feelings known about this structure," Deffenbaugh said.

Polis asserted that the Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway will improve accessibility among downtown Denver's public spaces and help revitalize the Civic Center area. He also said it would make it easier for visitors to access Lincoln Veterans Park and provide opportunities to learn about Colorado's history.

But, Historic Denver said the walkway path would not follow the routes naturally followed by pedestrians and would require them to take a longer route instead of using the at-grade crossings. They said pedestrians may choose to use the crossings at Colfax and 14th avenues instead of using the new bridge.

The Federal Highway Administration recommends above grade crossings be designed to optimize travel. "Grade separated crossings should be located conveniently so that pedestrians are not forced to go out of their way to use them. When a long detour is necessary, pedestrians and bicyclists will often choose to cross at-grade regardless of the safety conditions on the street."

Texas A&M Transportation Institute's Transportation Policy Research said these crossings offer many benefits, including increasing speed and road capacity and reducing vehicle conflicts between pedestrians and other vehicles. Although raised overpasses can help reduce risks to cyclists and pedestrians, their construction can be cost prohibitive.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, "Because they are expensive to construct, grade separated crossings should be reserved for locations where there is high demand for crossings by pedestrians, bicycles and individuals with physical disabilities and the hazards of crossing the roadway are high. Ideally, overpasses and underpasses should take advantage of the topography of a site—grade separations are less expensive to construct and more likely to be used if they can help pedestrians avoid going up and down slopes, ramps, and steps."

Historic Denver also said the proposed overpass doesn't comply with federal guidelines, city policy or the State's 2019 Cultural Landscape Report. They urged the City and County of Denver's Landmark Preservation Commission to reject the proposal and consider other measures for pedestrian safety.

A spokesperson for the Governor's office issued a statement Friday night asking Historic Denver to take part in the project and explaining why they feel the walkway is needed.

"Governor Polis invites Historic Denver to be part of the art review process and is excited by the opportunity this pedestrian bridge creates for the state to celebrate Colorado's sesquicentennial through an educational, experiential monument to our past and future.

This walkway will also provide a safe and accessible pathway for the thousands of students and visitors the Capitol and Lincoln Veterans Park see each year, and make it easier for those with a disability to access our historic Capitol. 

We appreciate all feedback and encourage anyone who wants to engage and help make sure that this new landmark best serves Coloradans. The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway will be an important statewide tribute and monument to our past and future.

Our team of expert landscape architects and designers is well versed and supportive of the National Historic Landmark guidelines that govern the park and Capitol complex, and look forward to engaging in further conversation." 

In the end, Deffenbaugh supports a project celebrating 150 years, just not this project. 

"This is being presented as a work of art when really, it's an intrusion into a historic environment that is so unnecessary. Art could be incorporated into this space in a much more effective, subtle way, without driving a lengthy pedestrian bridge across Lincoln and obscuring key views of one of the most historic buildings in the state, the State Capitol."

The project is being both privately and publicly funded and is still in the process of raising money. The Governor's office created a website where communities and businesses can contribute anywhere from $10,000 to $1.5 million towards its completion.