Pickleball Courts to Replace Denver’s Gravel Lot: For years, the vacant lot at Broadway and Colfax has stood as a glaring issue for the City of Denver. Its prime location at the heart of the city has made it a site of frequent concern, drawing complaints from residents and city officials about its status as a site for vagrants and criminal activity. But now, that empty gravel space could become something entirely different: six pickleball courts.
City Moves Toward Activation
Documents submitted by the engineering firm Stantec to the Denver Department of Community Planning & Development outline plans for the lot, which could include not only the pickleball courts but also a detention pond, decorative lighting, and colorful fencing or murals that would surround the area.
These proposed designs aim to address the aesthetic and functional needs of the area, transforming it from an unused space into a vibrant community hub. Evan Dreyer, the deputy chief of staff for Mayor Mike Johnston, emphasized that the city’s efforts to improve safety at the site have been ongoing.
“We also started to think about, what could we do to try to activate that parcel more so we don’t have just an empty, vacant piece of land in the heart of downtown?” – (Dreyer)
A Vision for the Space
In January, Stantec facilitated a brainstorming session to explore ideas for the site’s future. Among the concepts considered were food trucks, art installations, urban gardens, and even a skatepark or bike park. But as Dreyer noted, pickleball was the idea that truly captured the most attention and excitement from the city and the community.
“It generated the most interest, the most excitement, and probably the most opportunity for activation.” – (Dreyer)
The lot, technically located at 1532 Lincoln Street, is part of a larger parcel leased by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) from the Cheesman Family Trust. This block houses Civic Center Station, a major transit hub for the city, and RTD has future plans for further development in the area. Due to these plans, any activation of the space would need to be temporary, with the city aiming to make the most of the area in the short term.
Challenges and Hurdles
However, transforming the lot into a community asset hasn’t come without challenges. According to RTD Public Relations Manager Tina Jaquez, several factors have hindered the site’s development.
“Development has been hindered by a number of factors, including the short remaining term of the lease (less than fifty years), drainage requirements and lack of parking/vehicle access to the site due to its location at such a busy intersection with no option for new curb cuts (driveway entrances), to name a few.” – (Tina Jaquez)
Despite these obstacles, the city and its partners continue to work toward a feasible plan that will bring new life to the area.
News in Brief: Pickleball Courts to Replace Denver’s Gravel Lot
The City of Denver is considering converting a vacant gravel lot at Broadway and Colfax into six pickleball courts to address safety concerns and activate the underused space. This pickleball project would include additional features such as decorative lighting, murals, and a detention pond.
However, development is complicated by the short-term lease and access limitations, with plans needing to be temporary. City officials are optimistic about the potential to revitalize this prime downtown site.
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