Vanessa Abrahamson Blog: The Cherry Creek plan would restart the riverfront near the mall

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

The Cherry Creek plan would restart the riverfront near the mall

The neighborhood known as Cherry Creek is reexamining its relationship with the body of water known as Cherry Creek.

Part of a concept plan for Cherry Creek. (Architerra Group/The Greenway Foundation/Cherry Creek Area Business Alliance)

The neighborhood known as Cherry Creek is reexamining its relationship with the body of water known as Cherry Creek.

After years of discussions, the area has a vision to renovate about a mile of the creek canal and improve sidewalks around the Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

It’s only a concept plan, and it could take a few years to find money and start construction, but it could be one of the next big projects on Denver’s extensive river and greenway system, according to Jeff Shoemaker, executive director of the Greenway Foundation.

The plan was created by the foundation, the Cherry Creek Area Business Alliance and Denver Parks staff based on input from the community, he said.

The concept plan provides:

Four new bridges. A new “artificial bridge” would connect the back of the mall to the Belcaro neighborhood. A pedestrian and bicycle bridge would replace the bridge near Steele Street. And another pedestrian/bicycle bridge would cross near Garfield Street, which could be an important link for cyclists.
A new pedestrian walkway to separate cyclists from pedestrians and better walking areas around the mall itself.
A plaza with a new water feature and shade near the mall, as well as various new park features around Cherry Creek Park and City of Brest Park.
A better way to get in the creek and play.
A general cleanup of non-native vegetation.

This is how it could happen.

This thing could obviously cost millions to run, and it doesn’t have a dime on its name yet. However, the Greenway Foundation and the city have recently completed similar projects with similar timelines.

For example the “River Vision” Plan, launched in 2011, has already spawned renovations near Confluence Park and beyond.

“We will be putting up a price tag by the end of the year and also making recommendations on potential funding sources,” Shoemaker said.

He reckons it will take until 2020 to figure out the funding.

“Hopefully in three years we can put a shovel in the dirt,” he said.

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