Denver Stormwater Plan Ruffles Feathers

The Platte to Park Hill project would install new stormwater detention facilities at a golf course near Downtown Denver. Opponents to the project say it’s a burden on the neighborhood and a benefit to development interests farther down the watershed.

1 minute read

May 19, 2016, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Denver Golf Course

The City Park Golf Course's proximity to Downtown Denver makes it a popular location for photographers. | Arina P Habich / Shutterstock

"Critics of Denver's plan to improve the flow of stormwater toward the South Platte River voiced their concerns about the city's push to create a stormwater detention area at City Park Golf Course Saturday morning," reports Katy Canada.

The opposition claims the plan "exclusively benefits development-rich communities in the Platte Valley" while leaving the burden on "long-standing historic neighborhoods." In this case, the burden is the closure of the golf course for two years, the removal of 150 trees, and the demolition of the clubhouse on the site.

The Platte to Park Hill project, as its called, includes three additional components, reports Canada: "a larger outfall on the river at Globeville Landing Park; a new mile-long open drainage channel along 39th Avenue from Franklin to Steele streets, lined with 12 acres of new open space that directs storm runoff toward pipes leading to the outfall; and the creation of a second detention area on the northeast corner of Park Hill Golf Club, to slow the flow of stormwater northward."

Critics of the project compare its methods to that of a widely-criticized project to widen I-70.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016 in The Denver Post

Aerial view of homes on green hillsides in Daly City, California.

Depopulation Patterns Get Weird

A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.

April 10, 2024 - California Planning & Development Report

Aerial view of Oakland, California with bay in background

California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million

Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.

April 11, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Young woman and man seated on subway car looking at phones.

Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features

It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.

April 19 - BGR

Ohio state capitol dome against dramatic lightly cloudy sky.

Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production

A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.

April 19 - Daytona Daily News

Aerial view of Interstate 290 or Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago, Illinois.

Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant

Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.

April 19 - Streetsblog Chicago

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.