Idaho Springs Sports Complex to get makeover, skate park

BY DEBORAH SWEARINGEN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

As someone who grew up in Idaho Springs, Cameron Marlin understands the mountain community doesn’t always have a lot to o er for its teenage residents.

It’s that awareness that’s caused the Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District general manager to feel so strongly about the project that would redesign the eastern eld at the Idaho Springs Sports Complex and bring a skate park to the community.

“A skate park is something our teens need to feel welcome in their own community and also … to be in a better mental space,” Marlin said.

After more than two years of back-and-forth, including at least one failed skate park location, Idaho Springs is making progress on the initial plans for the project, which would redesign Shelly Field to incorporate a number of recreational amenities.

If the Idaho Springs Planning Commission recommends approval of the master plan for the project on June 14, then the plan will be up for Idaho Springs City Council consideration on June 26.

According to the plan, Shelly Field would be recon gured to include a skate park, playground, stage, tennis and pickleball courts, concession stands, bathrooms, additional parking and more. e western Quinn Field would be upgraded but largely remain the same. e current baseball eld is limited to players ages 8 or younger because older players risk launching home runs onto the busy Interstate 70 on the elds’ north end. e skate park has been a part of the community conversation for years, ever since Idaho Springs closed its old park.

“It was really just a couple features, and it wasn’t in great shape,” City Administrator Andy Marsh said. “Once that left, there was a real push to try and nd a new location and a better facility.”

A group of skateboard enthusiasts, including Clear Creek High School students, formed the Skate Board. ey have been instrumental in championing the project by holding demonstrations and organizing a GoFundMe fundraiser and a petition with more than 1,000 signatures.

“Giving our youth a safe place to thrive and progress at sports they are passionate about helps keep them focused with their eyes on the prize and keeps them o the streets, o drugs and out of trouble,” the petition states. “A skate park will also

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Road 65 and Idaho Springs, as crews add a westbound express lane and atten curves through the canyon, CDOT o cials said during a June 7 telephone town hall.

It won’t create any new tunnels, but it will require cutting into rock faces along the canyon to straighten out the route, they said.

Work in the eastern section will start this month and last through summer 2026; then the western section will start this fall and last through fall 2027; and nally, the central section will be underway next spring and last through the end of 2028.

Overall, CDOT o cials said they’re “going to leave the area better than it is today.”

Local tra c impacts

During the four-and-a-half years of construction, crews will keep all lanes and ramps open during peak tra c hours. Lane closures will only take place overnight, and on- and o -ramps will have temporary closures during non-peak times.

Project Director Kurt Kionka and other CDOT o cials said the biggest travel impact will be occasional rock-blasting tra c holds. Crews will rock-blast in the eastern section from August through February.

ese will be during non-peak