Agenda Date: 08/20/2024
Subject:
Title
Resolution 92-2024: Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Littleton and Arapahoe County Open Spaces for the 2024 Grant Award regarding the Littleton Community Trail Extension Plan
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Brent Soderlin, Public Works Director |
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Heather Ferrari, Executive Assistant, Public Works |
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Presentations: |
N/A |
PURPOSE:
To approve a resolution authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Littleton and Arapahoe County Open Spaces for the 2024 Grant Award regarding the Littleton Community Trail Extension Plan.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Vibrant Community with a Rich Culture; Safe Community
DISCUSSION:
Littleton Community Trail Connection project will design a paved connection between the Littleton Community Trail and Bemis Street, as well as constructing a mid-block crossing across Bemis Street, ultimately connecting the Community Trail to Sterne Park. By formalizing an existing dirt maintenance trail, this project will also provide access to Shepperd Gardens and the War Memorial Rose Garden.
This trail connection and crossing enhancement are identified in the Littleton Linkages Trail Study. Connecting this gap in Littleton’s trail network will provide greater connectivity within the neighborhood, but also to the regional trails accessed via the Community Trail, such as Lee Gulch Trail, High Line Canal Trail, and the Mary Carter Greenway Trail. Additionally, the Community Trail connects with Downtown Littleton, which provides amenities such as the Downtown Littleton Light Rail Transit (LRT) Station and Arapahoe Community College. With this proposed trail connection and enhanced crossing directly adjacent to the Colorado Center for the Blind, the intent of this project is to create safe, accessible trail facilities for all users.
This outcome of this trail design, once construction funding is identified, will improve mobility for trail and park users and provide a safe and accessible connection. The trail and mid-block crossing will be designed to meet ADA requirements and will integrate feedback from the Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB) so that the facility meets the needs of all trail users, including those who are visually impaired.
BACKGROUND:
Littleton Community Trail Extension project will fill in a gap in connectivity between the Community Trail, Shepperd Gardens, War Memorial Rose Garden, and Sterne Park. The Community Trail is a regional trail that stretches for 2.7 miles from the Big Dry Creek Trail south to the Lee Gulch Trail. With about 17,300 annual visitors, the Community Trail provides connection to other major trails via the Lee Gulch Trail, such as the Mary Carter Greenway Trail and High Line Canal Trail. The War Memorial Rose Gardens boasts about 8,800 visitors annually, while Sterne Park sees over 70,000 annual visitors. The surrounding neighborhood is a mix of single- and multi-family homes and is just across the railroad tracks from Downtown Littleton, the Downtown Littleton Light Rail Transit (LRT) Station, and Arapahoe Community College. Within a half-mile is a historically disadvantaged census tract, designated by the Federal government’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. On the southwest side of the proposed trail alignment is the Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB), a world-renowned training center for blind and low vision people of all ages, drawing students from across the country to the center; the project will utilize CCB’s expertise through stakeholder engagement on this project. Additionally, the Community Trail connects to Downtown Littleton just north of the project site, which has ample community amenities such as shops, restaurants, and cultural activities, a transit station, Arapahoe Community College, and the Littleton Center which houses city services. Immediately north of Littleton Boulevard, trail users can access the Douglas H. Buck Community Recreation Center and Littleton Municipal Courthouse.
This project came out of the Littleton Linkages Trail Study, completed in Spring 2024. The Littleton Linkages Trail Study conducted public engagement, including two surveys which connected with 151 people.
Prior Actions or Discussions
Resolution 52-2024: Authorizing two applications for funding from the Arapahoe County Open Spaces Grant Program for 1) Santa Fe Drive Regional Trail Connection, and 2) Community Trail Connection was approved by Council on April 2, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The total estimated cost of the Littleton Community Trail Extension project is $150,000. The grant provides $135,000 and the city’s local match amount is $15,000 from the Open Space Fund.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the resolution.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should council not approve this agreement, then this potential source of funding is lost, which may affect the city’s ability to get further grant funding from Arapahoe County, and the project design will not proceed until another funding source is identified.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 92-2024 authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Littleton and Arapahoe County Open Spaces for the 2024 Grant Award regarding the Littleton Community Trail Extension Plan.