Completion of the Cherry Creek Trail South Side

I participated in a "master plan updating for trails and bike routes" session for the Town of Parker last week.

One of the discussion items I brought up was the completion of the Cherry Creek Trail from Arapahoe Road south to the northern edge of Cottonwood subdivision - about 4.5 miles, with a couple of miles already intermittently completed, especially behind the new shopping center at the SW corner of Arapahoe and Parker and south through the Ecological Park.

The good news (at least for me, who hates riding narrow Jordan Rd) is that Arapahoe County has passed an open space and trails tax, and actually has some $$ for trails. They do plan on completing the trail.

The bad news is that the Arapahoe bridge over Cherry Creek is owned by CDOT, and they have no plans for replacing it. Technically, it will be a major, if not impossible task, to get a trail under the bridge as it is currently configures, although options are being considered.

I suggested, that, since they now have a traffic light crossing Arapahoe Road just west of Arapahoe and Parker, and that is where the current trail section ends, that they use that, and bring the trail on the north side across Cherry Creek (there is already a narrow pedestrian bridge on both the north and south sides, attached to the bridge) east from its present end - it winds around a utility plant of some sort. It would need to be extended about 1/2 mile east toward Parker Rd, and it would be easy to do, even widening the current shoulder.

I was told that this option was being considered, which would be a stopgap measure until the bridge is rebuilt by CDOT. Actually, if one knows what they are doing, one can ride from Arapahoe and Parker all the way south to Franktown on trails and a few relatively unused streets.

Anyway, it was an interesting meeting. There were only 5 persons there, besides the two planners. I pointed out several minor concerns regarding the Parker Trail System and also several great things. One thing is that their mileage sign is off by 2.1 miles for one section!

I guess you all know that I am not a fan of riding on streets with cars. At 70 years old, I have determined that careful use of MUPS is a safer way to go for me and my riding style. YMMV.