There is an empty spot between two buildings in the 1100 block of Washington Avenue. This used to be a gravel and litter-strewn patch, but in 2006, the Golden Urban Renewal Authority, which was still working downtown at that time, arranged to lease it from the property owner. GURA provided some funding, and several community groups provided labor to clean up the lot, lay paving stones,and plant trees and flowers.
The new pocket park was named Loveland Gardens. They chose that name because in 1859, William Loveland built his first store in that location.
Loveland was one of Golden’s earliest settlers. He and George West’s Boston Company engaged in a friendly competition to see which would complete the first store building in Golden (Loveland won, but he cheated a bit).
Loveland was a tireless Golden promoter. He campaigned to make Golden the capital and brought the legislature here for several sessions during our Territorial era. He also laid early claim to Clear Creek canyon, obtaining permission to build first a wagon road and later a railroad through the canyon (the Colorado Central Railroad).
He became a towering figure, not just in Golden, but at a state level. The city of Loveland and Loveland Pass are both named after William Loveland.
