Elizabeth St Neighborhood Bikeway through Congress Park Reservoir

[Bryan Wilson]

Hello,

As you know, the City of Denver recently completed the Denver Moves: Bikes Update.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f4fafe1405b6443da158f4d9e257887a

In that update, we included several wonderful plans for bike connections. One remaining hurdle is the Congress Park Water Reservoir.

In Denver Moves: Cherry Creek, we are recommending utilizing Clayton St as a Neighborhood Bikeway, but that creates what I perceive to be a significant detour for anyone trying to connect to anything like the Carla Madison Rec Center, Denver East High School, or City Park.

Instead, can we utilize Clayton to 4th, & then shift over to Columbine just North of Bromwell Elementary School?
From there, it connects North to 6th, where it connects to Elizabeth, leading to Congress Park.

We can then plan for a shared-use trail connection through the playground & then the Denver Water facility past the upper soccer fields.
Please take a look at the screenshot below where I tried to eliminate some of the proposed routes & add my suggestions.

I understand that funding will be an issue, so I will be submitting it as a proposal to the Participatory Budgeting Program to fund the construction of the trail sections through the Denver Water Facility.

Thank you in advance for your consideration!

Respectfully,
Bryan Wilson

[pc mulcahy]

I grew up and currently live in Congress park.  Let me get this straight, you are suggesting that we trash the park with a by cutting a bike path that will bifurcate the grassy area and then provide access through the water tanks just to save riders (Of which I am one) having to travel east three (3) short blocks to have access to an already paved, well maintained, gradually sloping, little used alley, that already has a crosswalk and light?  This seems like the agenda of one or very few people.

[Bryan Wilson]

No, that's not what I'm saying.

First, you need to look at the access from the South of 8th to the playground. It doesn't exist. So, we need ramps installed, ideally at Elizabeth to add ADA Compliant access to the playground & pool. This will also give riders access from the South to the playground & pool area.

Next, stand at the seasonal restroom sidewalk & look north. We can use some of the parking lot spaces to the West of the Water Reservoir Facility Entrance & then connect along the edge of the soccer fields. This will not only provide a more direct connection for riders & pedestrians, but also provide an additional connection to the upper soccer fields as well as to Congress Park from the North. The alleyway you mention is mostly a good connection, but not past the reservoir. In my experience, I see riders using the sidewalk along Josephine instead of taking the alleyway. This seems like a better alternative.

As for the grassy area that you think I'm suggesting we bifurcate, I don't understand how. I'm suggesting we follow existing paths or fence lines. This will allow more people to enjoy that space who otherwise are fenced out of it. I don't see how this is a bad thing.

I would like to know what people who actively bike to the destinations I mentioned think. Personally, as someone who actively bikes through the area, the alleyway is terrible near 11th, & can be icy for a while after a snowfall. I would much rather ride to Elizabeth & then take a street to a path that will be plowed by Denver Parks & Rec or Denver Water the same as the sidewalk along the reservoir. (I was the one who faught to get that plowed by the way.)

I would image the people who live on the North side of the park would like to have a more direct connection to the pool & playground as well, instead of having to walk all the way around. Why does it just have to be for bike riders?

I really think this would be a huge benefit to the park & allow significantly better access to it without having to rely on the sidewalk along Josephine or an alleyway.

Thanks,
Bryan Wilson

[Bryan Wilson]

Just wanted to follow-up on this request.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSktprzkWxp/?igsh=MWJpNDJiZTA5cWV3bA==

At this time, I'm simply requesting that a line be drawn to the Denver Moves bike update through the Congress Park Reservoir connecting. Elizabeth and identifying Elizabeth as a recommended neighborhood Bikeway instead of bouncing riders around Congress Park.

The idea here is to make the route as direct as possible while also connecting riders to as many amenities as possible. 

Please confirm receipt of this request & asking for support from the other impacted communities and registered neighborhood organizations. 

Thank you,

Bryan Wilson 

On Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 8:53 AM Bryan Wilson <bryan...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello,

As you know, the City of Denver recently completed the Denver Moves: Bikes Update.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f4fafe1405b6443da158f4d9e257887a

In that update, we included several wonderful plans for bike connections. One remaining hurdle is the Congress Park Water Reservoir.

In Denver Moves: Cherry Creek, we are recommending utilizing Clayton St as a Neighborhood Bikeway, but that creates what I perceive to be a significant detour for anyone trying to connect to anything like the Carla Madison Rec Center, Denver East High School, or City Park.

Instead, can we utilize Clayton to 4th, & then shift over to Columbine just North of Bromwell Elementary School?
From there, it connects North to 6th, where it connects to Elizabeth, leading to Congress Park.

We can then plan for a shared-use trail connection through the playground & then the Denver Water facility past the upper soccer fields.
Please take a look at the screenshot below where I tried to eliminate some of the proposed routes & add my suggestions.