37 Years Ago
They were concerned about the specifics, but Golden residents who attended a meeting on a plan to make Clear Creek a more integral part of the community--with concrete bike paths, pedestrian bridges and an amphitheater--liked the concept.
Golden Transcript - November 12, 1987
The new version of a Clear Creek Master Plan called for concrete paths along both sides of the Creek from Highway 6 to the Coors property. There would be grassy areas along the creek for sitting and picnicking.
The plan proposed eliminating a trailer park and apartments at Ford and Water Streets.
Several residents of the trailer park attended the meeting. Most were silent, but one man remarked,"I know there's a lot of low-income people that live there. I have lived there eight years because it's a fantastic deal on rent and I'm out of work a lot."
"Advantages to the city of relocating the trailer park outweigh disadvantages to the residents," according to the City's consultant. "Not only is it a flood hazard, but it also is cramped."
The consultant suggested improving the creek to allow "small scale boating such as rafting and kayaking."
Some residents expressed concerns with the plan.
"Why are you making a recreation area out of our neighborhood?"
"If the paths are concrete, bicyclists using them may pose a threat to pedestrians."
One resident sent out a flier "saying the city wants to tear down your house or business...increase pedestrian traffic...and improve Clear Creek only for the benefit of tourists."
The owner of the trailer park, Scott McDougal, was not interested in selling the property. He explained that his family had owned it for 30-40 years. The park included 15 trailer spaces and six apartments. The trailer spaces rented for $75/month. He said many of his tenants lived on low incomes and many had lived there for several years. He thought it unlikely that they would be able to “find anything comparable in the Golden area.”
The City condemned the property, and built Vanover Park on that spot.
Thank you to Wendy Weiman for sponsoring Golden History Moments for the month of November.
