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

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

People biking along beach path with moored ship in San Diego, California.

San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan

The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.

May 2 - SD News

Sleeping in Public

Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts

Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.

May 2 - KSL

Conductor walks down platform next to Amtrak train at station in San Jose, California.

Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement

An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.

May 2 - Streetsblog USA

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO