In mid-October, five hundred volunteers, under the guidance of the Volunteers For Outdoor Colorado, rehabilitated large sections of the 2.5 mile trail. The unpaid crews added new crushed stone surface material where needed, and rerouted the trail where it approached the northwest, southwest and southeast corners of the park so as to avoid conflict between trail users and those going to and from the park at those busy intersections.

Initial plans had also called for the rerouting to include moving the northern edge trail off of Virginia Ave., where winter snow and ice have created difficult running conditions through the years. DPR had suggested shifting the trail to run along the eastern edge of the north end duck pond, and sending it behind the District #21 fire station before crossing east to west well south of Virginia Ave. through a hillside grove of trees. Wildlife experts worried that the new route would impact wildlife habitat surrounding the pond, and arborists expressed concern that going through the previously undisturbed hillside could cause damage to the tree cover. Runners felt the proposed new route was not visible enough from the street, and offered safety concerns. As a result, DPR has engaged the public in an effort to come up with a more universally acceptable solution to the north edge problem. A meeting was held on Nov. 17 to gather suggestions, and since that time, DPR has been working to develop a new Preferred Alternative Route. The next meeting to view DPR’s recommendation has been scheduled for Tues., Jan. 10, 6-7:30p.m., in the Steele School Auditorium, 320 S. Marion Pkwy. For details, visit denvergov.org/parksandrecreation or email britta.herwig@denvergov.org.