[South Platte Proposal]
[South Platte Proposal]
Final Proposal
Denver South Platte
The city of Denver is often viewed as the final stop before the untamed wilderness of the Rocky Mountains. Initially founded as a mining town, Denver has always had close ties to its surrounding natural environment. As the city grew and sky scrapers and apartments were built, this relationship to nature became less visible. One thing that has not changed; however, is the South Platte River which flows through the entirety of Denver. Flowing from West of South Park, in the Mosquito Range all the way across the northeastern plains, with many sections of breathtaking gold medal trout water, the South Platte River is a Colorado staple.
Often under-appreciated, the Denver stretch of the South Platte (DSP) actually boasts thriving populations of bass, carp, walleye, and even trout. In the warm summer months it is not uncommon to see schools of fish cruising a sandy bar amongst crowded city streets. Though this stretch of water has been affected by Denver’s progress, it remains the only true visual representation of the way Denver used to be. Denver’s very roots begin with panning for gold in the South Platte river. Without this historic stretch of river, the entire history of Colorado would be different, and the city of Denver would not exist as we know it. Yet, when scrolling through the Historic Denver website, there is no mention of the river. How could a resource so vital to a city’s history just be forgotten about?
Much work has been done to restore and preserve this stretch of river and its inhabitants. Preserving the river plays a crucial role in keeping Denver’s close relationship to nature and the outdoors alive. Without the South Platte River, the distant view of the Rockies would be the only indication of Denver’s proximity to nature. In a way, this river has fought against progress and gentrification to keep Denver’s identity alive and well.
A great location to witness this juxtaposition is at the REI flagship store which sits on the banks of the South Platte (1416 Platte st.). In this area, equal attention has been paid to preserving and showcasing the river as has been to the surrounding buildings. The result is a beautiful area which provides people with a place to interact socially on the banks of the DSP. It is not uncommon to find business men and women in work dress enjoying their lunch on a bench next to the river. Though it is likely that the city will continue to expand and modernize, as long as the South Platte stays put Denver will always have its identity.
The idea of Denver’s identity being that of a city with close ties to the outdoors relates to the way Mumford describes cities in his What is a City? Piece. One quote from this piece which encapsulates Denver’s relationship to the South Platte is, “the city fosters art and is art; the city creates the theatre and is the theatre.” The city of Denver fosters a love for the outdoors with the Rocky Mountains within view, yet the South Platte River gives citizens a place to “act out” this love of the outdoors within the city.
Additionally, the river adds beauty to an otherwise industrial area, supporting Mumford’s ideas that the city is a piece of art itself. The river and the trails beside it have become a place for people to congregate, with many areas having been developed to draw people’s attention. These areas are the theatre for people to express what it means to live in Denver. If people can realize how crucial the South Platte is to preserving this theatre, they would certainly do more to protect this resource.
Sadly, the current state of the Denver South Platte is far from great. A mixture of industry and pollution have turned these once crystal clear waters to a muddy brown. The banks of the DSP are a common location for homeless encampments. These encampments often leave behind garbage and other pollutants. It is not uncommon to find tires and shopping carts within this stretch of river. I myself once reeled in a ski jacket while fishing just downstream from Mile High Stadium. It is quite clear that the general public has stopped caring and would rather toss their garbage in the river than walk to a trash can. This is the mentality that I aim to change.
Because of the importance of the Denver South Platte to the city’s identity, it is crucial that the river be protected from pollution and future projects that might obstruct it. The city of Denver has done a fairly good job protecting the river from building projects; however, much more can be done to limit the amount of pollution going into the water. Trout Unlimited is an organization rooted in conserving and protecting the natural resources that we all love to enjoy. To that end, the Denver chapter of Trout Unlimited has worked hard to keep this stretch of river clean and healthy.
Historically, the Denver chapter of TU has supervised restoration projects, funded studies on the aquatic life within the river, triggered action regarding disaster relief, and promoted community use of the DSP. While these projects have, without a doubt made a great impact, with only 1500 members, much more funding is needed to fully restore this stretch of river to the thriving ecosystem it once was. Due to limited funding, Denver Trout Unlimited has been forced to limit their projects to only below the waterline. Without the full support of the city of Denver, it is likely that this stretch of river will continue to decay until it is unsuitable for any species to enjoy.
In an effort to avoid this devastating result, I propose that the city of Denver allocate at least $25,000 a year to restoration projects and river cleanups along the Denver South Platte. These funds, along with the donations raised by Trout Unlimited and other local groups would make a tremendous impact. Additionally, this would allow more funds to be allocated to creating events surrounding community use and involvement with the river. It is imperative that we give the Denver community a reason to care about the river. This means using the river for hands on field trips, teaching children to fish, and creating more spaces for people to enjoy the river socially. Once we can re-establish the connection between the people and the river it will be far easier to garner support for future projects. I do foresee that there may be some pushback at first to the idea of allocating tax dollars to protect a mucky stream; however, once the ball gets rolling and community involvement goes up, I predict this will not be an issue.
In addition to the funds allocated to restoration and preservation, it would be wise for the Denver government to promote restaurants and businesses to open up along the river. The properties along the DSP are arguably the most underutilized real estate properties in the area. The city of Denver has a beautiful and historic river flowing through its entirety, yet where are the riverside attractions? Within the city, there are very few businesses that utilize this waterfront property. Neighboring communities such as Golden and Morrison, Colorado have made the rivers that run through them an extension of the town. As a result, these towns revolve around life on the river’s edge. It is very common to see tubers, and other recreational activities going on around the river in the warmer summer months.
This is the atmosphere I would like to see created around the DSP. I have seen some businesses take advantage of this already. Trout’s and Angler’s All are two well known local fly shops which have opened up shop along the banks of the DSP. The shops use this real estate to teach beginner fishermen the basics of fly fishing. These shops have also become a place for anglers to congregate and share a beer and a fish story overlooking the river after a long day. It would be a tremendous benefit to the community if other businesses were to follow this model.
In recent years, the trend of “urban fishing” has taken hold of the fly fishing community. Once viewed as a trash fish, carp have quickly become one of the most sought after species on the fly. And luckily for Denver, the DSP is jam packed with these strange fish. The Denver Carp Slam is a relatively new annual catch and release fishing tournament within the city limits which does a lot to raise funds and awareness about the DSP. This is a fun event which has already done a lot to benefit the city of Denver, with all funds raised going back into the restoration of the river. With the funds allocated by my proposal I am hoping that more events like this will emerge and the people of Denver will begin to recognize the South Platte for the resource that it is.
The aforementioned shops, Trout’s and Angler’s All, have done wonders to promote urban fishing along the DSP. These shops hold classes, and post instructional videos designed to draw the beginner angler to the sport of fly fishing. Through their work, they have inspired many to become more passionate about our home waters here in Denver. Currently, the biggest factor keeping people away from the river is its cleanliness. With the many homeless encampments and endless litter, many parents have been forced to think twice before bringing their children to recreate along the DSP. The $25,000 allocated to river cleanups and restoration must happen in order to reverse this effect. Through time and commitment we can restore this stretch of river to its former glory.
In addition to this, one of the most important things that we as a community can do with these allocated funds is to teach the next generation the importance of the DSP to the past and future of this great city. By teaching children the importance of the DSP to the history of the city, they will grow up taking pride in the river. This pride will result in a greater likeliness to want to protect this stretch of river. This pride will also make people think twice before leaving trash on the banks. As I mentioned earlier, Historic Denver (Denver’s historical society) has no mention of the river on its website. I see no better way to spark community involvement than by the promotion of activities involving the river by Historic Denver. This organization runs tours, and works with museums all over Denver to preserve our great history. If this is truly the case, Historic Denver would be smart to include the history of the South Platte. I do not expect the DSP to clear up and return to its former glory overnight; however, if we as a community can change the narrative surrounding the river, the city’s relationship with it will be re-invigorated in the process.
I project that if my proposal is accepted, the river could be returned to a usable state for all well within five years. It is crucial that this project begins before Denver strays even further from its identity as a Western town home to residents who exemplify their love for the outdoors. On an even greater scale, cleaning the river and promoting business such as bars and restaurants to use this riverside real estate will bring new life to a city that is becoming more divided by the day. These riverside spaces will allow people from all over the city to interact and connect over a love for the outdoors and the city they live in. If this happens, Denver’s identity as the gateway to the outdoors will be re-established.
All that I have listed above shows the importance of the Historic Denver South Platte to the city and its inhabitants. The DSP allows the city of Denver to adhere to Mumford’s idea that cities foster art as well as being a piece of art themselves. It is truly amazing to think about all the good that could come from restoring this stretch of river. I am confident that the approval of my proposal will lead to a domino effect of the Denver community taking pride in our home river once again. After all, the city of Denver as we know it would not exist without the South Platte.