Efforts in 2025

• Cleanup volunteer shifts expanded to include a Saturday. Monday mornings were the most popular time to volunteer. There were approximately 266 volunteers throughout the summer.
• Expanded ambassador stations, including a new Clear Creek lot location
• A neighborhood-specific meeting was conducted to address traffic concerns in the 9th Street Corridor
  • Alternatives for parking and permitting are being explored in this corridor

Efforts in 2025

• Focused enforcement on alcohol, smoking, grills, and leash violations
• Used education-first approaches supported by ambassadors
• Leveraged third-party parking management to enhance enforcement
• Achieved high compliance despite reduced staffing

Priorities for 2026

• Maintain Community Service Officer staffing levels
• Continue proactive enforcement with a visible presence
• Support enforcement with improved signage and communication
• Build on education-first strategies to increase voluntary compliance

Efforts in 2025

• Emphasized life jacket use and safe tubing practices
• Increased ambassador presence during peak visitation times
• Responded to a rise in swiftwater rescues, especially near diversion structures
• Identified signage gaps near Vanover Park related to downstream hazards
• Coordinated with fire and swiftwater training partners

Priorities for 2026

• Install improved, bilingual danger signage with international symbols
• Add earlier and clearer warnings at multiple creek exit points
• Improve tracking of all rescue assists, including non-dispatched incidents
• Continue coordination with emergency and rescue partners
• Explore partnerships for additional ambassador stations (e.g., Gateway Trailhead)

Efforts in 2025

• Analyzed camera and RFID data to track tubing activity and trends
• Identified shifts in peak days, weekend patterns, and event impacts
• Used live gauge sensors to measure attendance at major summer events
• Evaluated policy impacts during Buffalo Bill Days and other special events

Priorities for 2026

• Shift emphasis toward camera-based data as the primary tracking tool
• Continue collecting year-over-year data to inform policy and operations

Efforts in 2025

• Continued third-party parking enforcement to improve compliance
• Maintained paid parking and no-parking zones along 10th Street
• Managed parking at the Golden Community Center to protect member access
• Used flaggers at key crossings to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety
• Continued use of shuttles and alternative transportation options

Priorities for 2026

• Refine parking communications to improve understanding and compliance
• Monitor long-term parking issues in high-impact areas
• Adjust parking strategies at the Golden Community Center as needed
• Continue shuttle service to reduce congestion during peak periods and events

Efforts in 2025

• Conducted fish and macroinvertebrate sampling above and below the kayak course
• Monitored creek conditions related to flow, temperature, and recreational impacts
• Continued habitat monitoring to understand long-term environmental trends

Priorities for 2026

• Continue aquatic life monitoring to track year-over-year trends
• Use data to guide future creek infrastructure and habitat improvements
• Balance recreation use with long-term environmental stewardship

Efforts in 2025

• Provided bilingual (English/Spanish) print materials, signage, and wayfinding throughout the creek corridor
• Redesigned bridge signage using universal safety symbols
• Produced a new creek safety video for tubing education
• Maintained regular social media outreach on safety, rules, parking, and conditions
• Published weekly Creek updates in the City’s Weekly Digest to improve transparency
• Used ambassadors as on-site information points for visitors

Priorities for 2026

• Install new bridge banners across multiple creek crossings
• Launch and promote the new creek safety video community-wide
• Expand real-time information at ambassador stations (water level, hazards, weather, UV index)
• Continue weekly Creek updates throughout the season
• Review and refine print materials to improve clarity and visibility

Efforts in 2024

• Add an Ambassador Station with increased visibility and staffing at Vanover Park
• Enhanced collateral including translating major materials and signage into Spanish
• Updates sent throughout the season to 3,000 City Weekly Digest email subscribers with 60-68% open rate
• Weekly posts about safety and logistics of the creek (not
• advertising) reached over 42,000 people at their highest.
• Created “Inflation Station” at Ambassador Stations to funnel users to resources
• Ambassador Program success, most visitors were friendly and appreciative with successful interventions regarding safety

2025 Proposed Efforts

• Continue focus on stewardship, rules, and resources
• Continue to enhance bilingual communication
• Continue to improve signage

Efforts in 2024

• Limited access points
  • Sections of fencing and gates were added to protect the creek and regulate the flow of creek users
• Modified the beach layout
  • Improved the ability to observe users and limit large gatherings.
• Widened the RV Park trail
  • Eliminated a bottle neck to allow pedestrians to flow more freely. Officers can now travel through the area on the UTV.
• Outfitter Shuttles
  • 3,372 people purchased public shuttle tickets, with most taking two shuttle rides. 246% increase from last year. 70-75% of people who rented tubes from Adventure West (the only outfitter directly offering shuttles) rode shuttle vs. walking with their tubes.

2025 Proposed Efforts

• Continue use of flaggers at Ford St.
• Continue use of public shuttle

Efforts in 2024

• Interstate Parking Management to regulate parking including Golden Community Center parking lot
• Violation revenue is higher than paid parking revenue due to more consistent enforcement
• Increased parking enforcement
  • July/August 2023: Violations: 563
  • July/August 2024: Violations: 2,652
  • Over 90% compliance.
• Expand 9th Street neighborhood permit zone to include 8th street
• All Golden residents allowed up to two hours free parking in the garages and surface lots daily without having to register at a kiosk or pay by smartphone system

2025 Proposed Efforts

• Expanded Interstate enforcement hours to 7 p.m. for neighborhood zones
• Continue monitoring compliance with the program and increase wayfinding for parking structures and better tracking of available spots