Capital Improvement Projects and Planning

In 2016, the city was awarded a $75,000 Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) planning grant to help fund the Big Dry Creek Recreation and Floodplain Restoration Master Plan and it has been completed! Click on Master Plan Executive Summary below to read the highlights, or click on Big Dry Creek Master Plan below to read the entire plan. City funds have been budgeted, additional grant funds have been secured and design is complete to construct floodplain restoration at the pilot project identified in the Master Plan - between East 152nd Parkway and E-470, west of York Street. The goal is to reconnect the channel to its historic floodplain and improve channel stability, water quality, wildlife habitat and ecosystem health. Construction of the channel work has been completed and floodplain restoration/wildlife habitat planting is expected to be finished in late summer! Contact Paula Schulte at 303-255-7844 or email paula.schulte@ThorntonCO.gov for more information.

Just as the South Platte River on our eastern edge and Niver Creek and its tributaries in our southwestern area, the Big Dry Creek corridor provides outstanding opportunities in the northwest portion of the city for open space preservation and enhancement as a passive recreation and wildlife habitat area. As identified in Thornton's Parks and Open Space Master Plan, Big Dry Creek is the premier ecosystem in the northwest area of the city with opportunities for year-round passive recreation while protecting, restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat and the creek's floodplain function.

Thornton voters in 1997 and again in 2013 passed a ballot initiative allowing for a .25% sale and use tax increase for parks and open space acquisition and development. Using these funds, and along with Adams County, almost 300 acres of open land along the corridor in Thornton has been preserved, mostly as natural stream bordered by undeveloped floodplain. The city owns one park facility, Thorncreek Golf Course of which approximately 44 acres are in the corridor, plus five open space parcels along Big Dry Creek totaling over 247 acres. Adams County owns two open space parcels totaling over 49 acres. While development intent for the corridor is to remain natural and be used primarily as open space with passive recreation, areas of the creek have been degraded and channelized from stream bank erosion, with resulting loss of riparian values, general floodplain functionality and valuable wildlife habitat.

A shade shelter with solar powered lighting will be installed in place of the existing children’s playground just to the east of the Thomas J. Slocum Memorial Skatepark, at 2211 Eppinger Boulevard. The project will include new benches, picnic tables, and a seat wall. Completion is expected in early 2024. For more information, please contact Andrew Tadross at andrew.tadross@thorntonco.gov.

The Eastlake Farmers Co-Operative Grain Elevator, located at 126th Avenue and Claude Court, is the centerpiece of the future historical exhibit area to be located just north of the RTD North Metro FasTracks station. The elevator was built in 1920 and on May 17, 2010 was named to the National Register of Historic Places and Colorado State Register of Historic Properties, in recognition of its contribution to the heritage of the State of Colorado. As part of its historical preservation, the elevator underwent a structural assessment. Repairs were made to its metal clad exterior and it was painted "grain elevator" white. Notice the before and after pictures! Click on "Eastlake Grain Elevator Story Node Sign" below to see an up close graphic of signage by the grain elevator.

Other historic components include railroad track donated and installed by the Union Pacific Railroad, with Thornton's Streets Division help. Aaron and Damita Holland, who met when they both worked in Thornton, are the McDonald's restaurant owners in Boulder that donated its wonderful caboose to the city. The caboose was built in 1920 as a freight car for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad and has a steel frame on its outside, making it stronger than a typical 1920-era caboose. Because of increased railroad shipping during World War II, the freight car was converted to a caboose in 1942 to provide living space for five railroad workers. It was assigned to Stapleton Airport on Quebec Street and was in use until 1977. In 1978, the caboose was restored and moved to Boulder's 28th Street McDonalds restaurant to serve as a children's party venue. Moving the caboose from Boulder to Eastlake was quite a process! The caboose is now located at the south side of the elevator.

The historic ‘Wonderful Caboose’ at approximately 126th Avenue and Claude Court has undergone a full exterior rehabilitation that included restoration of the original exterior planking, extensive painting, replacement of windows, doors and the roof, and installation of metal bollard enclosure.

An extensive renovation is underway at Grange Hall Creek Park, located at 4800 E. 110th Avenue. The project will include installation of shade shelters, playgrounds, and basketball and pickleball courts. A new irrigation system, tree plantings, site furniture, nature exploration and pollinator habitat will be incorporated that follow ‘Naturally Thornton’ concepts to reduce traditional passive turf areas on slopes and use more expanses of native grass. The park will be entirely closed until project completion in summer 2024. For more information, please contact Andrew Tadross at andrew.tadross@thorntonco.gov.

Niver Open Space has been under construction since 2021 for the Mile High Flood District Tributary M project. This project included an underpass at Huron Street, regrading of the creek to correct severe erosion, and revegetation. In September 2023, construction began on additional open space amenities including a lighted trailhead parking lot off 88th Avenue, playground facilities, trail improvements, Niver Nature Heritage Trail signage and amenities, irrigated plantings, and changes to the intersection at 88th Avenue and Conifer Road. Project completion is planned for spring 2024. For more information, please contact Andrew Tadross at andrew.tadross@thorntonco.gov.

A new box culvert under Huron Street at Niver Creek Tributary M with a pedestrian underpass will address flooding concerns as well as allow safe access for pedestrians and cyclists to Niver Open Space. This project is nearing completion in fall 2022.

MHFD is constructing a channel stabilization and realignment project from approximately Thornton Parkway east to where Niver Tributary M meets Niver Creek on the east side of Niver Open Space. The purpose of the project is to protect underground utility pipes from erosion, reduce the slope of steep banks to create a more natural creek bed and to promote access to the water. The areas west of Huron Street were completed in fall 2022. The areas east of Huron Street will be under construction from October 2022 through Spring 2023.

A new dam outlet structure and forebay with maintenance access has been completed. This will improve the function of the dam outlet and make it easier to maintain.

In 2020, Thornton completed a design to add improvements along the Niver Nature Heritage Trail in Niver Open Space. Public meetings were held to solicit input. The proposed design includes two nature play areas (over 5,000 SF) with benches, informal seating and room for children to play on boulders, huge logs and colorful concrete animals ( a snake and a turtle). The design also includes three Heritage Trail story node areas that will feature seating and educational signage about local natural history and Niver Open Space ecosystems. Construction will be coordinated with other projects managed by MHFD, beginning in 2022.

Open space improvements will be constructed that were authorized and funded by City Council in 2017 and 2021, and with an Adams County Open Space grant award. Passive recreational improvements include soft surface trails, additional site furniture, nature play areas, educational signage, trailhead parking off 88th Avenue and small gathering spaces to activate the open space and improve accessibility. Please feel free to contact Andrew Tadross at Andrew.Tadross@ThorntonCO.gov or 303-255-7707 for more information.

Passive open space improvements will be incorporated into the approximate 9.4-acre Skylake Ranch Open Land at 119th Avenue and Holly Street. Additional plantings, trails, nature play, shade and site furniture are planned based on public input and budget. Sidewalk and Union Ditch Trail connectivity will be addressed. Design is expected to be completed soon with construction planned in 2024. An Adams County Open Space grant and funds from the sale of the Denver Bronco's sale are helping to fund the design and construction. Don't hesitate to contact Paula Schulte at Paula.Schulte@ThorntonCO.gov or 303-255-7844 with questions or concerns.

Thornton has been working with MHFD, Adams County, Brighton, Commerce City and The Greenway Foundation on the South Platte River Vision and Implementation Plan. This is a once-in-a-generation collaboration that will have a lasting impact on the communities across Adams County and the Front Range region as a whole. The plan will set in motion actionable goals to restore the river’s ecological functioning, address conflicting adjacent land uses, create new connections and improved access, and reclaim the river corridor for public use, recreation and enjoyment.

The team is in the initial stages of this project. It has just concluded the “Discovery Phase” of work, which involved data collection and an inventory of everything in the river corridor such as bridges, habitat patches, animal species, invasive weeds, signage, trail connections, etc. Subsequent phases of this work will include visioning, public outreach and stakeholder engagement, which will help to formulate and obtain feedback on the plan. Please feel free to contact Andrew Tadross at Andrew.Tadross@ThorntonCO.gov or 303-255-7707 for more information.

The Thomas J. Slocum Memorial Skatepark, at 2211 Eppinger Boulevard, will be illuminated for evening use of the park. The skatepark may be closed temporarily for brief periods while the work is being completed. When the project is complete, lights will stay on until 10:30 PM. For more information, please contact Andrew Tadross at andrew.tadross@thorntonco.gov.

In an on-going effort to provide a legible, safe network of walking and biking trails throughout Thornton and to connect non-motorized travelers to key destinations, a signage plan was developed to highlight eleven trail corridors with color-coded pavement markings, map kiosks, map boards, destination signs, turn signs and bike safety signs. These wayfinding tools are being installed in phases. The first phase of installation recently completed includes Mid-Town Trail, Ditch Trail, Signal Ditch Trail and Grange Hall Creek Trail. The second phase of installation due for completion in Fall 2023 includes Niver Creek Trail, Brantner Gulch Trail, and Plains Tributary Trail. The third phase of installation will include Big Dry Creek Trail and 88th Trail and is expected to begin in Fall 2024. For more information, please contact Kelly Zuniga at kelly.zuniga@thorntonco.gov.

A shade shelter with solar lighting, new picnic tables, new benches, and trash receptacles will be added to Tuck Ditch Park at the intersection of Corona Street and Ogden Street. Completion is expected in early 2024. For more information, please contact Andrew Tadross at andrew.tadross@thorntonco.gov.

Union Ditch Trail is being converted from asphalt surface to concrete between Colorado Boulevard and Birch Drive. The project will start in October 2023 and will be completed in early 2024. Please exercise caution when in vicinity of the construction zone and stay off closed trails until they are fully re-opened. For more information, please contact Andrew Tadross at andrew.tadross@thorntonco.gov.

Three mini-shade shelters are being installed to benefit archers and their companions, along with new benches, picnic tables, and trash receptacles at the West Sprat Platte Lake Fishing Facility at 5990 E. 100th Ave. The installation will begin in October. The archery range may be closed for periods during construction. For more information, please contact Andrew Tadross at andrew.tadross@thorntonco.gov.

Thornton will be adding four pickleball courts to the existing four courts at Woodlgen-Brookshire Park. These new courts will take the place of the existing roller hockey rink. Construction will likely start in 2023 with expected completion in 2024. Thank you for your patience while the project takes shape.