View from the pavilion at Citizens Park in Edgewater
Our small community is blessed to have a number of open, grass covered spaces providing natural spaces for recreation for animals and humans alike. This isn’t even including beautiful Sloan’s Lake across the street in Denver. As tax revenues build in Edgewater based on new developments at 20th and Depew as well as 25th and Gray, how should the City invest in these green spaces? What role do we as community members play in maintaining these spaces?
Here’s a look at some of the green spaces around Edgewater:
Citizens Park
Our largest park (six acres) at 24th and Chase Street is the site of softball games, community festivals, horseshoe competitions and much more. The southeast corner of the park is a drainage area for Edgewater so when we get large rain storms, that corner of the park gets saturated. This has an impact on community festivals and other events. Neighbors have noticed increased trash around the softball field from summer softball games.
Memorial Park
Edgewater’s smallest park (1/4 of an acre) is at the corner of 25th Avenue and Chase and is home to a beautiful garden as well as a gazebo. Before the Edgewater Market and Music moved to 25th and Ames, this gazebo was the site of community concerts during the market. Memorial Park is also the start of the planet walk created by Edgewater Elementary students.
Walker-Branch Park
Walker-Branch Park is shared by both Edgewater and Lakewood and is located along Harlan Street south of 18th Avenue. The new Edgewater Civic Center sits at the north end of the park. Lakewood and Edgewater are working together to convert two homes south of the Civic Center to become part of the park over the next few years.
Other Green Spaces
- Vietnamese Central Baptist Church: There is a green open space at 25th and Marshall owned by the church that neighbors use as a dog park.
- Lumberg Elementary School and Jefferson Junior/Senior High School: Though signs prohibit animals on the school fields, neighbors still use the fields for their dogs. School staff have to clean up after neighbors because of this unsanctioned use of the softball fields and football fields.
Your Thoughts and Ideas
- What would investments would you love to see in our Edgewater parks?
- What role do community members have in maintaining these green spaces?
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
We need a dog park with way to compost the dog waste on site. We need wild spaces. Sloan’s lake has been adding more wild areas. Mowing grass is a waste of resources and money. The banks of the east side of citizen park is a no brainer for a wild buffer. Planting native berry plants and fruit trees would add food sources for people and wildlife.