Denver Museum Nature Play & Box Canyon Waterway Project Brings Colorado’s Ecosystems to Life

/in , /by

For more than 100 years, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) has been a staple of the Denver community, gathering families to learn, discover, play and engage with the natural world. Its numerous exhibits have always fostered creativity and passion in guests young and old, but nothing will compare to the natural play experience breaking ground this month. ECI is thrilled to partner with DMNS and the City and County of Denver for the Nature Play and Box Canyon Waterway project, which will bring Colorado’s ecosystems to life through a multi-sensory outdoor venue.

 

Ecosystems, Play Elements, and More

The 4-acre space will include numerous unique elements that will appeal to multiple generations, including swings, slides, climbing features, seating and gathering spaces, a 20-foot bighorn sheep sculpture, and accessible pathways. Additionally, the historic waterway in the southeast corner of City Park will be restored and highlight Colorado’s ecosystems through play experiences.

 

A Community Effort

One of the most fascinating aspects of this project is just how much the Denver community has driven its overall vision. As part of the 2018 City Park Master Planning Process, more than 800 community members were surveyed so the end result could best match the public’s needs. Feedback included the desire for accessibility, native Colorado plants, water features, and much more. Learn more about process in this short video.

 

Long-Lasting Impacts

With more than 1.7 million people served annually by the DMNS onsite, offsite and virtually, it goes without saying that the institute is a fundamental landmark for families in the Denver area. This new outdoor space will provide learning opportunities and gathering spaces for all ages and abilities for years to come.

 

Project Players

ECI is grateful for the several project partners we have the opportunity to collaborate with, including the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, City and County of Denver, and Dig Studio. The project broke ground in January 2023 and is expected to open to the public in late 2024.

 

Visit the DMNS website to learn more about the project and vision behind it.

 

All renderings courtesy of Dig Studio.

 

 

Veterans Memorial at Riverdale Regional Park Honors Our Nation’s Heroes

/in , /by

While all community parks provide unparalleled value to the communities they serve, it is rare to find one that holds as much heartfelt meaning as the Veterans Memorial, located at Riverdale Regional Park in Adams County.

 

ECI broke ground on the Veterans Memorial in September 2021, and we are honored to lead such a prestigious project. The memorial is part of the plans that Adams County has in place for the advancement of Riverdale Regional Park, located at 9755 Henderson Road in Brighton. The purpose of this project is to provide a space that not only honors living military members – both active and retired – but also recognizes our nation’s heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.

 

The Veterans Memorial will progress throughout 2022 with the hope of opening to the public later that year. When completed, it will feature numerous unique elements, most fascinating of which being a replica of the USS Colorado battleship, which will extend into the park’s lake.

 

The County’s hope is that the memorial will also be used as a place where families can keep our country’s history alive. By having a space dedicated to veterans’ service to our nation, multiple generations can gather to tell their own stories of serving in the military and reflecting on the wars and battles that have given us the liberties we enjoy today.

 

Explore this one-of-a-kind project by viewing detailed renderings on Adams County’s website.

 

ECI participated in the Veterans Memorial Groundbreaking in September 2021. Left to right: Ted Johnson, Travis Coulter, Selina Cook, Ian Mestdagh, Scott Hill, Anna Hoehn

Showing Some Love for the South Platte River: Our Top 6 South Platte River Projects

/in , /by

The South Platte River has been an iconic landmark of Denver long before ECI was founded in 1980. Throughout history, it has been used as a water source, gathering place and recreational venue. We have been fortunate to work on several projects along the South Platte River over the past decade, and in the spirit of the month of February, we’re showing some love for some of our favorite projects in the area.

 

South Platte River Trail, Completed in 2015

For this project, we partnered with Adams County to create a recreational trail connection along the east side of the South Platte River in Brighton, running from 108th Avenue to 120th Avenue. This remote location required site prep and demolition to clear trees and undergrowth prior to installing the concrete bike path, while maintaining erosion and sediment control. A 120-foot prefabricated bridge was installed over the river, along with a 64-foot bridge to cross the Bull Seep Canal.

 

Pasquinel’s Landing Park, Completed in 2016

The renovation of Pasquinel’s Landing Park was part of the City and County of Denver’s plan to improve the ecological health and accessibility to the South Platte River corridor, while providing flood control and bank stabilization. A secondary channel was created to allow access to slow moving water, and a low water crossing provided a path to a new rock jetty for fishing. Additionally, a new ADA accessible trail and other crusher fine trails with boulder seat walls wind around the turf picnic lawn and river overlook. Many of the existing, mature trees were protected during construction, while new landscaping and irrigation was installed, along with native grass areas.

 

Grant Frontier Park, Completed in 2016

The location of Grant Frontier Park was one of the first places gold was discovered in the South Platte River near Denver. The centerpiece of the park, a 200-year-old cottonwood tree, was protected and is now surrounded by seat boulders, a plaza and picnic area. River access was restored by constructing a secondary channel and concrete jetty, separating the main park from a new island. A new playground, shade structures, walking trails and retaining walls provide additional areas of play, and a new parking lot allows for more public access.

 

Confluence Park, Completed in 2017

One of our most iconic projects, Confluence Park has been dubbed “The Heart of Denver” and posed unique challenges for our team. The ADA access area of Shoemaker Plaza at Confluence Park required extensive renovations to improve safety and usability. The process started with securing and de-watering the area with sheet piling and demolition of the plaza. During the shore work, buried coal tar was discovered, requiring the client to pause construction for one year to address water treatment and filtering. Once the new plan was finalized, ECI prioritized the safe removal of the contaminated soils. The project continued with updating the ramps and the plaza, providing safe river access, and adding new landscaping and lighting.

 

Platte Farm Open Space, Completed in 2020

Platte Farm Open Space is just a stone’s throw away from the South Platte River and is one of our most recently completed projects in the area. In collaboration with the City and County of Denver and Mile High Flood District, we created a detention pond to help with stormwater and flooding in the adjacent neighborhood. The park also included an open space with trails, landscaping and irrigation, access roads to the neighborhood, and new on-street parking. We used multiple different shoring systems throughout the course of this project, and we built the project’s log features, which include log steppers and a 220 LF Log Border.

 

Arkins Promenade, In Progress

The Arkins Promenade combines recreation and the natural environment to create a linear park along the South Platte River. Once completed later this year, promenade visitors will be able to enjoy an elevated walkway with seating areas, outdoor classrooms, and viewing platforms 16 feet above the river bank. The project will also enhance natural vegetation. Stormwater will be treated using landscape-based water quality areas, which will connect vegetated swales with chase drains and shallow conveyances. Existing outfalls that served Arkins Court as a street will be reused for the stormwater from the park and adjacent roads.

 

Here’s to many more years of improving and enjoying the South Platte River!

Let’s Finish Erie Community Park…The Final Phase Begins!

/in , /by

It’s been nearly eight years since ECI completed the first phase of Erie Community Park, and we’re back for round two! The first phase marked a pinnacle moment for ECI – and the Town of Erie – as it included the world’s first permanent outdoor Street League-certified skateboarding park. Since its opening in January 2013, the park has been used by residents and visitors alike as a place to gather and recreate. We are thrilled to announce that ECI has been selected as the general contractor to finish the last phase of this community gem.

 

Erie Community Park, located at 450 Powers Street, currently spans 41 acres and features ballfields, playground, shaded seating areas, and tennis courts. The new phase will expand on this area and include:

  • Custom shelter and restroom facility
  • Basketball courts
  • Asphalt bike pump track
  • Energy awareness-themed playground
  • Outdoor reading rooms
  • Earthwork and drainage improvements
  • Walking trails

 

ECI’s project team participated in a special groundbreaking ceremony in December 2020, along with several key players in the project: Town of Erie, Design Concepts, and Wember Inc. This project would not be possible without the generous grants from Great Outdoors Colorado, Department of Local Affairs, and the Regional Air Quality Council.

 

We look forward to sharing updates as the project progresses!

New Track and Field for Fort Collins High School

/in , /by

It’s safe to say that schools are undergoing numerous changes this year. While most of them come with a host of new challenges, we’re thrilled to add a positive change to the mix! We recently finished a complete renovation of Fort Collins High School’s track and field and are excited to share the details.

 

The project ran from July-October 2020, and improvements consisted of a new synthetic football field, new track, and new long jump and pole vault runways. The updates replaced old, worn out elements to improve safety and usability for student athletes. The endeavor was unique in that the project team was able to reuse some of the existing drainage features, adding to the project’s sustainability.

 

We couldn’t have accomplished this project without our dedicated project team. Special thanks to Poudre School District, BHA Design, Academy Sports Turf, and a strategic team of subcontractors.

 

We look forward to students using these spaces for many years to come!

RiNO Promenade: Beautifying Denver and Reclaiming Nature

/in , /by

Over the years, ECI has been fortunate to work on numerous projects along the South Platte River in Denver – Confluence Park, Platte Farm Detention Basin, and 39th Avenue Greenway, just to name a few. We are thrilled to announce that one of our newest projects, RiNO Promenade, is continuing the beautification of this region and will provide recreational opportunities for generations to come.

 

A New Space for Recreation in Denver

The RiNO Promenade will combine recreation, leisure, the natural environment, and the vibrancy of the neighborhood to create one all-encompassing linear park along the South Platte River. The elaborate outdoor space will span from 29th Street to 38th Street and connect the new River North Park at 35th and Arkins with Globeville Landing Park at 38th. Promenade visitors will be able to enjoy numerous unique elements, such as an elevated walkway with seating areas, outdoor classrooms, and viewing platforms 16 feet above the river bank to fully take in the beauty of the South Platte River.

 

In addition to providing new recreational experiences, the project will also enhance natural vegetation. Stormwater will be treated using landscape-based water quality areas, which will hydraulically connect vegetated swales with chase drains and shallow conveyances. Existing outfalls that served Arkins Court as a street will be reused for the stormwater from the Park and adjacent roads, but with added water quality areas to clean the water before it goes into the river.

 

A Vision in the Works for Years

The RiNO Promenade – and revitalization of this entire region – has been a Denver dream for many years and has involved the leadership of several entities. Two primary key players have been The Greenway Foundation and Wenk Associates.

 

The South Platte River had historically been treated as a landfill, due to the booming industrial activity in this part of Denver during past decades. With an emphasis on sustainability and environmental preservation, ideas of improvements have circulated for numerous years. Starting more than 10 years ago, The Greenway Foundation began working with the City and County of Denver to create a plan detailing how river corridor restoration could turn RiNO into one of the most thriving areas of Denver. Thanks to this organization’s tireless advocacy, several stretches of the South Platte River have undergone complex improvements in recent years that have resulted in significant environmental and economic benefits.

 

Wenk Associates has served as the project’s lead consultant and architect, as well as the master planner, since 2015. The original goal for this stretch was to accommodate population growth by creating a park where people could work and play, while also enhancing the South Platte River. Since then, the vision has evolved to meet the demographic and ecological needs of the area. Under Wenk’s leadership, the initial phase, RiNO Park, has been completed and opened to the public in August 2020. The current section, or “Promenade Phase I,” is expected to be completed in fall 2021.

 

Long-Lasting Impacts on Five Points and Globeville Neighborhoods

While all Coloradans will have the opportunity to enjoy RiNO Promenade, the project will have a profound impact on the nearby Five Points and Globeville Neighborhoods. This region has lacked comfortable green space in the past, and the new promenade will provide a much-needed flexible space for residents to gather and play in a welcoming environment, while still retaining the arts and culture landscape for which the region is best known.

 

“It is our hope that the RiNO region continues to celebrate and steward the River that is the heart of its name,” said Devon Buckels, Director of The Water Connection, the water resources and policy initiative of The Greenway Foundation. “This celebration can take the form of supporting and advocating for funding measures for continued improvements and enhancements, taking steps to protect the water quality in the River by supporting projects to clean stormwater flow before it enters the river, and welcoming people of all generations and backgrounds, RiNO residents and others, to enjoy the City’s most magnificent natural resource.”

 

Navigating Challenges and an Everchanging Landscape

As with any complex project, the RiNO Promenade won’t come without its challenges. One potential obstacle involves two major Metro Sewer interceptors that carry sewage beneath the project site to the treatment facility downstream. Furthermore, the area surrounding the project site is built on fill that is more than 100 years old, requiring the construction team to delicately treat all soils as though they are contaminated. Fortunately, ECI has ample experience responsibly dealing with contaminated soil from our work on Confluence Park in 2015-2017.

 

In addition to these known challenges, the unknown factors will also demand extra attention and flexibility. Because the neighborhoods and environment in this region are constantly evolving, the Promenade will have to adapt with its surrounding to maintain accessibility and functionality for its many visitors.

 

A Collaboration Among Numerous Entities

The RiNO Promenade is a collaboration among numerous dedicated entities. Special thanks to the following for being a part of this iconic project:

 

Owner/Client: Denver Parks and Recreation

Project Management: Denver Public Works

Client: North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative

Lead Consultant & Landscape Architect: Wenk Associates

General Contractor: ECI Site Construction Management

Project Partners: The Greenway Foundation and RiNO BID

Neighbor and Advocate: RiNO Arts District

Public Art: Denver Arts & Venues

 

We look forward to sharing updates as RiNO Promenade progresses!

 

Rendering courtesy of the City and County of Denver.

View more renderings of RiNO Promenade from the City and County of Denver here.

Pocket Parks and Plum Trees: Painted Prairie Promises a Unique Neighborhood Experience

/in , /by

You know what they say: A new neighborhood is only as good as its outdoor spaces. Or at least that’s what we say at ECI! Over the past several months, we have had the incredible opportunity of creating parks and gathering spaces at the new Painted Prairie housing development, located near DIA in Aurora. The project consisted of a main neighborhood park and five smaller pocket parks, all of which have unique features and purposes.

These parks are spread across 22 acres and will serve as communal gathering spaces for new residents. They include numerous fascinating amenities, such as custom play structures, sport fields, community gardens, sand beaches, shade structures, etc.

In many ways, Painted Prairie has been one of our most unique projects, due to the creative architectural elements designed by Civitas. For example, one of the parks is named Plum Park and is filled with different types of fruiting plum trees. Another park is named Lavender Park and features hundreds of lavender plants and wildflowers. Furthermore, there is an apple orchard in the main neighborhood park and an area called the “butterfly garden,” which is filled with flowers that naturally attract butterflies. The butterfly garden also has weaving crusher fines paths that resemble a butterfly wing.

Throughout this project, ECI self-performed much of the earthwork and several other aspects. Our team created berms, naturally occurring land formations like the “arroyo,” and wore many different hats to help all of our subcontractors with their work and transform the land into the envisioned end product. Expert scheduling and coordination was top priority in order to progress alongside the land being developed.

Special thanks to all our collaborative partners: Civitas, AquaTerra Environmental, Beanstalk Builders, BrightView Landscape, and a strategic team of subcontractors. We look forward to residents enjoying these unique outdoor spaces for many years to come!

A New Town Gathering Space: Severance Community Park Breaks Ground

/in , /by

The ECI crew has built a number of community parks over the past several years – Twin Silo Park in Fort Collins, Mehaffey Park in Loveland, Margaret Carpenter Park in Thornton, just to name a few. These projects are some of the most rewarding because we get to watch families in our community enjoy them for years to come. For this reason, we are thrilled to announce that construction for Severance Community Park has officially begun!

The project broke ground in January 2020 and is expected to conclude in the summer of 2020. The park will be located in the northwest corner of WCR 72 and WCR 23 in Severance, Colorado.

“ECI is thrilled to be part of another community park in our northern Colorado backyard,” said Ted Johnson, president of ECI. “The new Severance Community Park will provide great new amenities for Severance residents, as well as a place to gather and recreate. We look forward to incorporating local subcontractors and tradespeople during construction so they can put their footprint on a project that serves the community.”

The $2.5 million project will be delivered under the CM/GC method and consist of numerous unique aspects:

  • New turn lanes into the park
  • 26 acres of earthwork
  • A large sod field for town events
  • New parking
  • Grading and infrastructure for future baseball and softball fields
  • A sledding hill

ECI is excited to partner with the Town of Severance and Colorado Civil Group for this project. We look forward to sharing progress updates in the coming months!

A Win for the Home Team: Jefferson County Public Schools

/in , /by

After many months of hard work, we are pleased to announce that the Jefferson County Public Schools Field Improvement project was finished in late November.

 

The ECI team began the massive project in April 2019, and we are proud to share that this was ECI’s largest contract to date.  ECI was hired by Jefferson County Public Schools to conduct site improvements for nine public schools: Arvada High School, Chatfield High School, Conifer High School, Dakota Ridge High School, Evergreen High School, Lakewood High School, Ralston Valley High School, Three Creeks K-8, and West Jefferson Middle School.

 

The improvements largely consisted of replacing grass sports fields with synthetic turf and the installation of post-tension tennis and track facilities. These renovations were a part of an extensive voter-approved $567 million capital improvement program that included both internal and external updates.

 

This project was successfully completed thanks to the dedication of numerous entities: Jefferson County Public Schools, Hord Coplan Macht, JVA Engineering, and a strategic team of subcontractors.

 

We look forward to continuing our partnership with Jeffco Public Schools in the future!

 

The Home Stretch: Restoring the Big Thompson Legacy

/in , /by

When the rain started falling in Colorado in September 2013, no one expected it to turn into one of the most destructive floods in our state’s history. After a few days of intense rainfall, numerous regions were left with demolished roads, bridges, parks, homes and waterways. The path to revitalization has been a slow-moving one, to say the least, but the end of the tunnel is near. ECI is proud to have been a part of this journey by restoring the final stretch of the Big Thompson River that was impacted by the 2013 flood.

The Final Stretch of the Big Thompson River

ECI was selected by the Big Thompson Watershed Coalition to complete the design and fast-track construction of this final stretch of river, which included Reaches 30 and 31 west of Loveland. Reach 30 spans the Big Thompson River from Rossum Drive to Namaqua Avenue and includes the Rist-Goss Ditch. The entire project consisted of 8,525 feet of river corridor restoration.

Big Thompson River Flood Damage

During the 2013 flood, the river avulsed in multiple locations, resulting in extensive damage to adjacent properties and the destruction of nearby banks. Temporary repairs were made, but it wasn’t until late 2018 that a long-term solution was set in motion. The restoration project began in November 2018 and, thanks to concentrated management and determination, it was completed a mere eight months later in July 2019.

Big Thompson River Restoration Process

Along with Otak Inc., CDM Smith and a dedicated team of subcontractors, our crew made significant improvements to the river:

  • Increased the channel floodplain connection for a range of flow events
  • Improved river and riparian habitat by increasing organic matter in the reach through the addition of three large wood structures
  • Encouraged channel narrowing in over-widened portions by adding point bars throughout the Reach
  • Reduced surface erosion and increased riparian and upland habitat through revegetation
  • Improved sediment conveyance and fish passage by removing and replacing the existing Rist-Goss dam with a series of riffle structures

It’s always a privilege to take on a project right in our own backyard, and it’s even more of a privilege when that project is restoring a region that holds significant meaning for so many people. Learn more about the Big Thompson Legacy project, and check out some of the project photos below!