Agenda Date: 03/05/2019
Subject:
Title
Resolution 19-2019: authorizing an application to the Arapahoe County Open Spaces Grant Program for a planning grant for Reynolds Landing.
Body
Presented By:
Keith Reester, Public Works Director
POLICY QUESTION:
Does city council support an application to the Arapahoe County Open Spaces Grant Program to further the Reynolds Landing master plan and conceptual design of Phase 2 of park improvements?
BACKGROUND:
In the 1970's and 1980, South Platte Park was created as a natural floodplain park. In 1986, a master plan for river channel improvements in the South Platte River from Chatfield Dam to Baseline Road in Boulder County was prepared by the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD) and adjacent local governments. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) constructed the river channel north of South Platte Park in accordance with the master plan. At Reynolds Landing Park, the South Platte River transitions from the natural floodplain in South Platte Park, to an engineered channel downstream.
Starting in 2010, the UDFCD, South Suburban Parks and Recreation (SSPR) and the City of Littleton began to improve the river for recreation and wildlife habitat in South Platte Park. The project consisted of grading a stream section to be natural in appearance, which improved aquatic habitat, efficiently utilized low flow releases from Chatfield Reservoir, stabilized eroded banks, and created planting areas for riparian vegetation. River enhancement work created a natural low flow channel, gravel bars, riffles, pools, glides, bank stabilization, and planting areas. These improvements started at the existing boat chute in Reynolds Landing Park, and continued south through South Platte Park. The UDFCD, SSPR, the city, and Arapahoe County Open Spaces have reviewed the transition from floodplain to engineered channel at Reynolds Landing and propose a design of further improvements with the intent of benefiting recreation ...
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