The Great Outdoors of Aurora

Have you ever wondered when and why the Aurora Reservoir was built? Are you curious about the history behind your favorite city park? The Great Outdoors of Aurora celebrates Aurora’s vibrant outdoor opportunities and dives deep into the history behind the activities we love. Discover the stories behind our reservoirs, city parks, nature centers, the High Line Canal, swimming pools, golf courses and more all within the city of Aurora.

Colorado has a rich history as an outdoor recreational destination, with offerings including skiing, hiking, camping, and hunting. Many associate Colorado with the Rocky Mountains, yet many folks on the front range have come to appreciate the outdoor recreational opportunities in their own neighborhoods. Aurora has 103 developed parks and 8,000 acres of open space for people to enjoy.

Land of This Area

The topographical features of modern Colorado originated between 60 and 30 million years ago. It was during this time that tectonic forces, accompanied by volcanoes, floods and earthquakes shaped the land. Rainforest and savanna slowly gave way to high evergreen forest and low-lying, semi-arid plains that Aurorans recognize today.

Before the arrival of European settlers, Colorado's eastern plains were home to various nomadic indigenous peoples. These people used Aurora’s land as a thoroughfare while traveling between winter and summer settlements. The Apache and Pawnee people made their way here on foot around the year 1500, met by the occasional Spanish survey party. Later, the Cheyenne and Arapaho occupied modern Aurora land. In 1803, the U.S. government had claimed the land as part of the Louisiana Purchase and new explorers started venturing to the Rocky Mountain Front Range. Early development of this region was associated with the fur trade and early migration to the West.

Five major streams pass through what is now Aurora, tributaries to the South Platte River: Cherry Creek, Toll Gate Creek, Unnamed Creek, Columbia Creek and Sand Creek. Along these creeks passed several major trails that served the native tribes and the fur traders who frequented the Rocky Mountains and the Front Range in the first half of the nineteenth century.

You can learn more about the indigenous tribes of this region at Aurora’s Plains Conservation Center.

PROS Photo

Before modern development in Aurora, there were very few trees. The landscape was mainly dominated by high plains grasslands.

Parks and Pools

Tucked into neighborhoods across Aurora, parks offer an oasis for recreation, relaxation, and play. Parks are a place where childhood memories are forged, and families gather. Whether you enjoy the playground, swimming pool, skate park or open space‒Aurora’s parks have a lot to offer.

Hand drawn map of Aurora’s Recreation Department, 1954.

Aurora’s Golf Courses

Golf is an incredibly popular sport enjoyed by millions of people around the world. It's a game of strategy, concentration, and finesse that can be enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. Today, the city of Aurora is home to five wonderful golf courses from championship layouts to our 18-hole executive course.

Aurora’s first public golf course was built on a wheat field at Peoria and Alameda. Construction of Aurora Hills Golf Couse and its clubhouse began in 1967 with the course opening in March of 1969.

Springhill Golf Course was purchased by the city in 1973. The clubhouse was remodeled and opened as the Beck Center, named after former Mayor, Paul C. Beck. In 1975, a park’s bond issue was passed that included funds to install a new irrigation system at Springhill and expand the course to 18 holes.

Saddle Rock Golf Course was built in 1995 and opened to the public in July 1997. The Saddle Rock Golf Course project proved to be a great catalyst for development as explosive growth in the southeast area of Aurora. Saddle Rock hosted three Colorado Open Championships from 1998 through 2000. The Colorado Open moved to Vail in 2001. Saddle Rock also hosted the Colorado Stroke Play Championship in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Construction of Murphy Creek Golf Course began in 1998 with the course opening in July of 2000. The homestead farming theme is highlighted in the building design and rustic equipment found throughout the golf course. Murphy Creek was ranked in Golf Digest's America's Top 10 Best New Courses for 2002 and was the site of the 2008 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Meadow Hills was originally built in the 1950’s as a semi-private Jewish Country Club. The Denver Open was conducted at Meadow Hills as a PGA tour stop in the mid-1960s. The city of Aurora purchased the course in 1977 for $2.3 million. Meadow Hills has proven to be one of the busiest and most profitable of all Aurora’s courses.

by Chris Wheeler

Photos

Disc Golf Courses

Disc golf is a sport in which players throw a disc at a chain link basket, with the objective of completing each hole in as few throws as possible, like traditional golf. Aurora has two 18-hole disc golf courses, at Expo Park and at Centre Hills Park. Disc golf began to gain popularity in the early 1970s, and its popularity exploded in the mid-2000s. Today, there are around 9,000 disc golf courses in the United States.

1990 to 2013. The golf course was one of several courses designed by Richard Phelps in the Denver-Aurora metro area. The former golf course was converted into a disc golf course in 2016. For disc enthusiasts, it plays in a figure 8 shape down a long, narrow stretch of land with three ponds and a creek in the middle. The terrain is quite flat and mostly wide open, except for three or four holes where trees come into play. The disc golf course is free to the public.

Community Gardens

Community gardens have a long history in the U.S., dating back to the potato patch farms in Michigan in the 1890s. They have since become popular in many cities around the world and are used to provide fresh produce to gardeners and their friends, as well as to foster a sense of community and connection to nature. Aurora has 24 public community gardens and several private community gardens. The following profiles are just three of the many gardens in the city.

“I think food plays an important part in bringing people together. Whether it’s sharing meals or growing together, gardens play an important role in our community.”

~ Oliver Boles

“Getting your hands into the soil is amazing. Research has shown it is both mentally and physically beneficial. I love it and love this garden.”

~ Jim Warland and Mckaylie

“What is most rewarding is the opportunity to interact with nature, my community and the environment. It is also a blessing when you can help feed people in need and educate people.”

~ Master Gardener William Ingram

A partnership between Project Worthmore and Denver Urban Gardens, DeLaney Community Farm is a 5-acre farm that supports refugees through sustainable agriculture and community building. DeLaney Community Garden is one of Aurora’s treasured community gardens. With the help of dedicated garden leaders and participants, the garden brims with productive beds each year. There is also a plot used by Goodwill for some of their younger participants to take advantage of the opportunity to learn about urban agriculture.

Established in 1991, the Beeler Street Community Garden has been fostering a sense of community in Original Aurora for 32 years. The garden is a melting pot of cultures with gardeners coming from the U.S. and all corners of the world including Nepal, Korea, Mexico, Bhutan and Burmese communities. The garden allows families who live in surrounding apartments the opportunity to take ownership of a small piece of land and the ability to grow their own cultural foods which may be difficult to find at the local grocery store.

Bushels of Blessing Urban Farm and Garden is a church sponsored community garden outside of the Bethlehem Temple Family Worship Center near Del Mar Park. The garden was established in 2019 by Master Gardener William Ingram. The garden yields around a thousand pounds of produce a year and is tended by parishioners of the church as well as other community volunteers, such as school children from South Middle School.

History of the High Line Canal

In 1879, the Northern Colorado Irrigation Company developed the High Line Canal to divert water from the South Platte River and send it to areas south and east of Denver. Primarily made up of British and Scottish investors, the company purchased right-of-way land from the railroad to sell as farmland. It also purchased water rights on the South Platte River and constructed 71 miles of flumes and ditches between 1879 and 1883. The High Line Canal provided water solely for irrigation, it did not supply homes or businesses with drinkable water. Many farmers, such as those settled in present day Aurora, worked to provide food to the growing population of the region and found this new water source to be invaluable.

The High Line Canal currently stretches 66 miles from Waterton Canyon to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Aurora. Its name derives from the high contours of the land, gradually declining in elevation. Today, the flowing water in the canal is owned by Denver Water and is popularly used for recreation such as hiking, biking and horseback riding.

Runners exercising on the High Line Canal in Aurora.

The 71-mile High Line Canal drops one foot for every mile and is an engineering marvel of the 1880s.

The trees that line the canal are some of the oldest in the city of Aurora.

Aurora Reservoir

The Aurora Reservoir was built in 1989 at a cost of $41 million and was filled in 1990. The reservoir is in the far southeastern reach of Aurora. Senac Creek and other minor streams feed the reservoir, which is a part of the city of Aurora's water supply system. The city of Aurora offers an annual pass which provides access to both Aurora and Quincy Reservoirs. Visitors can enjoy a swim beach, windsurfing, paddling, fishing and a shooting range. It is also popular among scuba divers, as it contains a sunken Cessna 310 plane at the bottom of the reservoir.

Aurorans enjoying the beach at the Aurora Reservoir in the mid-1990s.

Gas motorized vessels are not allowed at the reservoir. Kayaking and paddleboarding are popular and both are available to rent.

Quincy Reservoir

Construction on Quincy Reservoir began in 1972 and was completed in 1974. Quincy Reservoir was Aurora's first in-town reservoir and was built to meet the recreational, irrigation, and drinking water needs of the growing population of Aurora. The reservoir is well known among metro-area anglers for trout, largemouth bass, perch, and crappie. Fish are stocked in the reservoir by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The reservoir boasts 225 acres of water surface and has a 3.5 mile soft surface trail along its shoreline.

Quincy Reservoir is a prime place to go to get away from the busy city and enjoy some paddling, hiking or fishing.

City of Aurora Photo

This aerial photo shows the urban growth and neighborhoods around the reservoir.

Cherry Creek State Park

Cherry Creek State Park is a state park located in southwest Aurora. The park consists of a natural prairie and wetland environment with an abundance of wildlife and outdoor recreational opportunities, including camping, fishing, boating, swimming, and hiking. The Cherry Creek Dam was completed in 1950. In 1959, recreational demands on the reservoir from the growing urban population led to the creation of the Cherry Creek State Park. The park has grown over the years, and now offers a wide range of activities and facilities, including a marina, a beach, and an amphitheater.

A park patron paddleboarding on the Cherry Creek Reservoir with Mount Evans to the west.

An aerial view of the reservoir, looking south.

Visit Aurora Photo

Tri-Bella Triathlon

One of the many outdoor events held at the region’s reservoirs is the annual Tri-Bella Women’s Triathlon at Cherry Creek State Park. The race involves 3 legs:

-1/2 mile swim course

-10 mile bike course

-3.1 mile running course

Adventure Cycling

Adventure Cycling is located adjacent to the Cherry Creek State Park. Frank Barvik Senior and his family immigrated to the United States in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution. Prior to arriving in the United States, Barvik Senior raced as a professional road cyclist in Hungary. Barvik Senior opened Denver’s first bike shop dedicated to professional level bike sales and service. With Barvik Senior’s guidance, John Barvik, Susanne, Pete, and Peter Schones started Adventure Cycling on April 1, 1984, as Aurora’s first professional bicycle shop.

The current storeowner, Erik Swanson, continues the Adventure Cycling legacy today. Erik is dedicated to the sport of cycle racing and can be seen at local Colorado races.

Billie Preston & Horseback Riding

A colorful character from Aurora’s history was Billie Preston, the owner of a small ranch on Havana Street. Billie gave rides on her horse Patches to children in the area at 10 cents per ride. The children’s dimes were donated to the fund the “Gateway to the Rockies” sign over Colfax. She and Patches often appeared in local parades.

Today, Aurorans can enjoy horseback riding at local stables such as the Aurora Stable and the 12 Mile Stable. Equestrian enthusiasts can also ride on the High Line Canal.

Billie Preston on her horse Patches.

Morrison Nature Center

The Morrison Nature Center is a 200-acre nature center located on the Star K Ranch. It offers visitors the opportunity to explore the unique prairie ecosystem and cultural history of Colorado's high plains. It features a library of field guides, reference books, and natural history materials. It is also home to a variety of wildlife such as deer, antelope, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, bison, bald eagles, pronghorn, red-tailed hawks, black-footed ferrets, bats, Canada geese, rabbits, skunks, and more. Visitors can also take part in various educational programs and activities, such as birdwatching, nature photography, and guided hikes.

The Morrison Nature Center resides in the former residence of the Stark family. The building was built in the 1950s and the family occupied the home until it was sold to the city in 1992. With funds from the Morrison Charitable Trust, the city renovated the property to open a nature center. Today, the Morrison Nature Center at Star K Ranch serves as a major trailhead to the Sand Creek Regional Greenway.

Victoria Raphaela Photography

Plains Conservation Center

The Plains Conservation Center (PCC) is a relic of the past, with a one-room schoolhouse, a working windmill, and a museum that showcases the history of the region. The PCC is a nature preserve and educational center with replicas of a homestead village and tipi camp that highlights pioneer and plains Native American life in the late 1800s. It encompasses over 1,100 acres of short grass prairie with breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. The PCC originally was part of the land of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes. The site was set aside by the West Arapahoe Soil Conservation District, which was formed to help people manage land after the dust bowl. In the 20th century, the PCC was used as part of Lowry Air Force Bombing Range until the 1970s. The original PCC was owned and operated as an educational space by a private non-profit. The city of Aurora acquired the PCC in 2017.

City of Aurora

Photo

Senac Creek Nature Center

The Senac Creek Nature Center shares facilities with the Aurora Reservoir. The building was originally constructed in 1991 as office space for staff at the Aurora Reservoir. In 2005, the site was renovated into an educational space focused on water, known as the Aqua Lounge. In 2018, the Aqua Lounge expanded their scope of interpretation and became the Senac Creek Nature Center. The nature center focuses on the wildlife and ecology of the Aurora Reservoir and is open to the public year-round. The surrounding area features 8.5 miles of soft and hard surface biking and walking trails that traverse gentle hills and provide views of the reservoir, open prairie and the front range mountains. Aurora Reservoir is a great place to view waterbirds including gulls, geese, grebes, ducks, herons and plovers. Anglers test the water for trout, perch, wipers, walleye and catfish.

Victoria Raphaela Photography

Victoria “Vicky” Raphaela Samuel was born and raised in Aurora and graduated from Aurora Central High School. Her father served in the U.S. Air Force and served at Lowry Air Force Base. Vicky is a passionate photographer, a trail steward, and has served on the city of Aurora Open Space Board for 8 years and was its chair in the past. Her photography tends to focus on wildlife and conservation.

“I have always loved the outdoors, the smells, the feelings, and the wide-open perspectives. Through photography I feel I have grown as a person. . . I was quick to learn. A wonderful part of the photography world is photographers are all too happy to share knowledge with one another. . . There are a lot of people who do not know we have wildlife in Aurora, I would like to increase that visibility through my photography.”

Photography WFGallagher

Wayne Gallagher has been a photographer for over 50 years. Starting as a passion as a child, Wayne now photographs wildlife and landscapes in Aurora. Wayne also serves on the city of Aurora Open Space Board and leads bird walks in the city. He specializes in photographing birds in flight and enjoys capturing the unique motion of the animals. He was originally from Boston and was a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. Wayne came to Aurora in 1986 when he was assigned duty at Buckley Air Force Base and has never left.

“You have to go out and get it . . . you find some absolutely incredible things. We have great diversity in Colorado. . . I tell most people, if it walks, flies, crawls, or slithers in Colorado, I probably have a picture of it.”

Bird Watching

People bird watch for a variety of reasons, including to relax and de-stress, connect with nature, learn more about the environment, appreciate the beauty of birds and other wildlife, photograph birds, and for the challenge of identifying different species.

In Aurora, you can see a variety of birds, including the Lark Bunting, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Red-winged Blackbird, Horned Lark, American Kestrel, Western Meadowlark, and White-crowned Sparrow. You may also spot some more rare species, such as Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls, and Red-tailed Hawks. Additionally, during migration season, a variety of other species can be found in Aurora, including hummingbirds, warblers, and waterfowl.

Aurora of

The Aurora History Museum would like to thank the following contributors and sponsors of this exhibition:

LIBRARY & CULTURAL SERVICES PARKS, RECREATION & OPEN SPACE

Acton Crawford

Adventure Cycling

Bruce Hecht

Chris Wheeler

Dennis Lyon

Erik Swanson

Evan Anderman

John & Gayle Jetchick

Josh Phillips

Joy Thompson

“K-Lo” Rivale

Sarah Van Holbeck

Valley Country Fish Tackle & Live Bait

Victoria Samuel

Wayne Gallagher