Clear Creek Trail (formerly Peaks-to-Plains Trail) Downtown Golden Alternatives

Clear Creek Trail South Design Plans - Public Review Feedback

Below is a live summary of feedback and themes received by City staff during public engagement in May 2026. This includes the May 5 public open house, online design feedback survey (open May 5 - 19), May 21 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, June 9 City Council public comment, the June 10 Millstone HOA meeting, and any other comments received via email or in person. This summary will be regularly updated to give the public a sense of feedback on the design plans.

This feedback will be used to inform the final engineering design plans. The public is encouraged to review this document to ensure City staff have accurately captured their feedback and can contact planningshared@cityofgolden.net with any additional ideas, questions or concerns.

General Public Feedback

• Implement a 'pedestrian safety corridor' from 8am - 5pm, May 1 to October 1. This should include a bike speed limit of 2 mph and/or a dismount zone in the following areas:
  • Near Adventure West
  • Vanover Park
  • South Clear Creek Trail (Illinois to Washington)
  • North Clear Creek Trail (RV Park to Washington)
• Provide clear, updated renderings or design documents depicting what Millstone Condo owners can expect to see outside of their windows and patios
  • How did the plans go from concept/30% to 90% without public input? Why were there no meetings in 2025?
• The City should conduct a formal structural engineering and hydrological assessment by an independent third party, specific to the Millstone Condos, prior to any construction. This assessment should evaluate potential impacts of vegetation removal, grading changes, and trail widening on soil stability, creek behavior, and building safety.
• Millstone Condo residents chose to live along the creek corridor because of its natural beauty. We do not want to see this replaced with a sterile, treeless pathway dominated by railings and infrastructure. Other city projects have had to wait years for revegetation.
• Question whether widening the trail addresses season congestion driven by commercial recreation. It is worth exploring operational solutions such as requiring local adventure companies to manage transportation for their customers, perhaps shuttling them upstream rather than placing the environmental, social, and economic burdens on residents and businesses.
• Pursue alternative approaches, including:
  • Evaluate a freestanding trail on the north side of the creek where infrastructure improvements are needed and residential impacts may be minimized.
  • Incorporate user management strategies to reduce pedestrian/bicycle conflicts
  • Preserve existing vegetation and natural features
• Pause the project until meaningful community engagement can occur. Do not fund the project until Millstone Condo HOA engineer and resident concerns are addressed.
• The City is attempting to evade FEMA floodplain requirements by stating the creekside vegetation is invasive russian olives. The vegetation is a mixture of non-invasive species and the Millstone HOA is hiring an arborist to identify plants. The design plans are predicated on this incorrect assumption and City staff have not rebutted the public comments highlighting this error.
• The no-rise certification letter is incorrectly based on the 2019 unincorporated Jefferson County floodplain model and doesn't include the 2023 letter of map revision for Kinney Run. City staff need to be transparent and ensure this project is not just pushed through.
  • City staff note: The no-rise certification letter utilized the 2022 Clear Creek Flood Hazard Area Delineation hydraulic model which includes the 2023 Kinney Run letter of map revision. This model is part of the 2025 Proposed Map Revision under review by FEMA and anticipated to become effective by the end of 2026.
• There are 78 units at Millstone and not aware of anyone who supports the project. Not seeing the rationale for such a huge project.

May 5 Public Open House (Golden Community Center: approximately 30 attendees)

• General Feedback
  • Add a connecting trail next to US6 to Downtown Golden
  • Arapahoe and 11th intersection is not well designed for people to walk across to creek
  • Add trail speed limit signs
  • Add trail speed bumps or corrugated concrete (see example on High Line Canal)
  • Widening the trail will increase speeds and cause conflicts
  • Trail traffic is only bad five weeks a year, otherwise not a problem
  • Need a pedestrian crossing, signal and speed bumps at Ford and 7th (please see the North Ford Complete Street project page).
  • Make pedestrian safety a priority. Dismount zones are a key part of this in popular areas of town.
  • Any progress made last year getting bikes to yield to pedestrians on the creek trail is gone this year. No yielding, weaving in between groups of people, no warning bells, almost brushing walkers.
  • Cyclists should only be allowed on the south trail, even gate the north trail to prevent cyclist use
  • Why not turn 10th Street into a shared street? Road diet, share with bikes and cars, speed limit is slow and people speed!
  • How does this project solve the problems of 'high frequency interactions with various types of users' and 'high pedestrian activity near downtown'?
  • The path here could never be wide enough for shared usage
• Near-Term and Longer-Term Preferred Alternatives (confirmed during previous public engagement, not subject to change as part of the design process)
  • I like the Church Ditch trail option; avoids downtown creek trail chaos
  • Why would a new ramp to the existing SH58 pedestrian bridge be necessary? Seems like it would increase bike speed and be a waste of money
  • Is it possible to have fewer driveway crossings for the Church Ditch trail option?
  • Support Washington Avenue underpass for the Church Ditch trail option; need a bridge over Ford Street
  • Like the near term option using the existing creek trail
  • Existing trail and bridge width of 10 feet doesn't seem like a big issue
  • The longer-term option to cross the railroad near East Street seems like an expensive addition with minimal benefit. It serves as a shortcut but not that big an issue?!
• Illinois Street/Billy Drew Bridge to Washington Avenue Segment
  • A lot of people stop and wait in the Billy Drew and south creek trail intersection. Can we add benches, stones to sit on, designated loitering space?
  • Add a roundabout to the Billy Drew and south creek trail intersection (part of near-term preferred alternative)
  • Speed markings on the pavement to increase bikes yielding to pedestrians
  • Dedicated bike and pedestrian lanes/space
  • Shade structures over benches?
  • Slow traffic on the other side of Clear Creek
• Washington Avenue Crossing
  • Add more bike parking in this area, people lock bikes to random things for downtown events
• Washington Avenue to Ford Street Segment
  • I live at the corner of the trail off 11th Street and have seen at least 10 accidents in three years: bike on bike, bike on people.
  • Too many speeding bikes and e-bikes
  • Keep bikers and tubers on north side of creek (already part of the City's creek management strategies)
  • Happy to put a trail count camera on my balcony, not convinced there is a problem or too much trail demand
  • Need more trail user conflict solutions
  • Tubers often get out along the south bank, especially near the trail off 11th Street
  • Need improvements to the 11th Street trail and south Clear Creek Trail intersection
• Ford Street Crossing
  • Add a pedestrian crossing signal
  • Tubers jaywalking on Ford Street

Online Feedback Survey (May 5 - 19: 41 responses)

• General Feedback
  • 93% of survey respondents noted their primary activity is walking; second was biking (25%) and third was connecting to other destinations (20%)
  • There was similar feedback on several of the trail segments. The feedback is noted for each segment, attempting to highlight differences but also noting the similar concerns.
  • Place this project on hold
  • Most Goldenites (who actually live here!) prefer a natural creek setting and don't care for over engineering. Please remember you work for the people that live here not visitors.
  • Stop adding all this extra concrete to our City!
  • Improved signage pointing cyclists to ride on the south side.
  • Community impacts fees to be paid by commercial entities that impede community use of community infrastructure (e.g. Golden Hotel)
  • It is designed to allow visitor's to ruin our fine city.
  • Need to preserve present ambiance of the trial while making it safe for both walkers and bikers. Most bikers are careful not to run over pedestrians, a few are not.
  • Changes seem to be minor. What will be accomplished with these changes to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe?
• Near-Term and Longer-Term Preferred Alternatives (confirmed during previous public engagement, not subject to change as part of the design process)
  • Still think an option along 8th Street is the best alternative
• Illinois Street/Billy Drew Bridge to Washington Avenue Segment
  • 30% support the current design, 12.5% support with some changes, 40% do not support and 17.5% have no preference
  • The south side should only be opened to cyclists and walkers/runners - no tubers or other modes of transportation
  • Millstone Condo owners want better plans/project visualization and documentation, understanding of construction methods and engineering details, access to FEMA floodplain management study, a riparian buffer evaluation, an independent and unbiased structural and environmental assessment, more meaningful community engagement and request the project is paused until these issues are resolved.
  • What does the 'thickened edge with pedestrian railing' mean?
    • City staff note: this detail was shared and the public meeting and will be posted on Guiding Golden
  • More signage is needed to get cyclists to use the south trail
  • Do not support impacting the environment to widen the trail - there are ducks in the area and we enjoy the babies every spring
  • Add a bike/ped roundabout at Billy Drew Bridge; add speed limits for cyclists
  • Widening the trail will make it easier for cyclists to go fast; speed limit should be enforced
  • The south creek trial should be for walkers only, cyclists should use the street
  • 90% of the time the trail is fine
  • The trail design will cause problems with the flow of Clear Creek and increase flooding in high water
  • The plan to widen the trail by five feet will be ruinous to the health of the creek and surrounding trees, bushes and habitats of birds, animals and fish.
    • City staff note: The trail would be widened to 12 feet, approximately 2.5 feet more than the current trail in this segment, with some temporary disturbance for construction activities.
• Washington Avenue Crossing
  • 31% support the current design, 20% support with some changes, 33% do not support and 15% have no preference
  • The only safe way to cross Washington is via the underpass
  • What community impact fees have you made the Golden Hotel pay as a result of their patio project impact on the community?
  • Keep the underpass
    • City staff note: There are no proposed changes to the underpass
  • Make cyclists us the longer-term trail option along SH58/Church Ditch
  • Add mirrors, speed bumps, rangers, speed signs, real tickets and fines
  • Widening the trail will make it easier for cyclists to go fast; speed limit should be enforced
  • Millstone Condo owners want better plans/project visualization and documentation, understanding of construction methods and engineering details, access to FEMA floodplain management study, a riparian buffer evaluation, an independent and unbiased structural and environmental assessment, more meaningful community engagement and request the project is paused until these issues are resolved.
  • Make trail users use the underpass, only allow street crossing during high water times. The current crossing causes too much backup on heavy traffic times.
• Washington Avenue to Ford Street Segment
  • 30% support the current design, 12.5% support with some changes, 40% do not support and 17.5% have no preference
  • The south side should only be opened to cyclists and walkers/runners - no tubers or other modes of transportation
  • Millstone Condo owners want better plans/project visualization and documentation, understanding of construction methods and engineering details, access to FEMA floodplain management study, a riparian buffer evaluation, an independent and unbiased structural and environmental assessment, more meaningful community engagement and request the project is paused until these issues are resolved.
  • Add mirrors, speed bumps, rangers, speed signs, real tickets and fines
  • Preserve vegetation and greenery along the creek
  • Cyclists should use streets not the trail
  • Leave the trail as is/same concerns as other segments
• Ford Street Crossing
  • 29% support the current design, 13% support with some changes, 34% do not support and 24% have no preference
  • The only safe way to cross Ford is via the underpass
  • I think it's fine, just totally unnecessary. Adds to the disruption that will be caused by the new protected bike lane this summer, will make Ford Street a nightmare.
  • Add pedestrian crossing signage and lights
  • Safety of all users needs to be number one priority - faster cyclists/'commuters' as well as EV bikes need to be separated from pedestrians and even casual riders and families
  • Jaywalking on Ford is incredibly bad
  • Cyclists should use streets not the trail
  • Millstone Condo owners want better plans/project visualization and documentation, understanding of construction methods and engineering details, access to FEMA floodplain management study, a riparian buffer evaluation, an independent and unbiased structural and environmental assessment, more meaningful community engagement and request the project is paused until these issues are resolved.
  • Changes look minor
  • Add a raised crossing
  • Make cyclists us the longer-term trail option along SH58/Church Ditch

June 10 Millstone Condos Meeting (Millstone Condos: 3 attendees)

• General Feedback
  • The Millstone Condos HOA worked with an unidentified engineer to review the draft engineering design plans and provide comment. The comments along with responses from the project consultant can be downloaded under the 'Project Documents' on Guiding Golden.
  • Pause or cancel the project until additional trail counts can be done and all public comments and concerns are addressed.
• Washington Avenue to Ford Street Segment
  • Preserve vegetation and greenery along the creek. Will the City Forester or a construction contractor remove vegetation to widen the trail? Want it to be more deliberate that other City projects (e.g. Ford and Jackson Streets).
  • Will temporary construction easements be necessary?
  • Which side of the existing trail will be widened?