PICTURE AN ESCAPE Several theaters offer series events for all tastes P10
FREE
July 19, 2018
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Advocates seek safer streets for cyclists Coalition wants city to plow more investment into infrastructure BY ALLAN TELLIS DENVERITE.COM
he also owns The Oasis at 2400 W. Midway Blvd. in Broomfield. The Oasis has seven indoor and three outdoor beach volleyball courts. There are leagues at both locations with six-on-six competition, fouron-four and the popular two-on-two doubles that is seen on television and at the Olympics. There is no ocean, sea or bay around the sand courts in Colorado and players don’t have to worry about elements like the wind off the shore. “What is different than an actual beach is the sand is fluffier and deeper,” said Leuenberger.
Pedestrians and bicyclists in Denver are facing a “public health crisis,” according to the Denver Streets Partnership, a coalition of advocacy groups who are focusing on making Denver’s streets people-friendly. “What’s lacking is a sense of urgency,” said Jill Locantore, executive director at WalkDenver. “Every week our city delays making investments in safety improvements to our streets, another life is lost. Since January of this year, 29 people have been killed just trying to get around our city. Sadly, the transportation options that are healthiest and most affordable are also the most deadly in Denver, thanks to poor street design.” DSP held a press conference on July 10 on the corner of Franklin Street and Colfax Avenue — an intersection, according to DSP, that was once one of the most dangerous in the city until Denver Public Works gave it a low-cost makeover. With the addition of safety paint and several flex posts to create clearer lane paths, DSP believes pedestrians are now able to safely cross the five lane intersection.
SEE BEACH, P9
SEE ADVOCATES, P9
Players can participate in a variety of beach volleyball games at The Island in Denver.
PHOTO BY RUSS DIX
Game’s reach goes beyond beach Those wanting to play volleyball in the sand find opportunities in metro area BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Shelly Leuenberger temporarily left her love of playing beach volleyball behind when she moved with her family from California to Colorado. However, the Parker resident is playing volleyball again in the sand in landlocked Colorado after finding The Island, a beach volleyball facil-
ity in southeast Denver. “There’s no beaches here,” said Leuenberger. “I’m from Hermosa Beach where beach volleyball is major league. I used to play at the beach all the time. “When I moved here 3 1/2 years ago, I gave up the sport and then I found this place. It’s is a little bit different than at the beach but it makes me feel good that I’m back into it.” Beach volleyball is booming around the Denver area, with sand courts at bars, clubs and parks. The Island, 2233 S.Geneva St., has six indoor sand courts, two outside and plans are to add six more outdoor courts. Tom Davenport is the owner and
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“When I was younger, my dream was not to sign a big contract. My dream was to have fun and win big games, some championships.” Nikola Jokic, Nuggets center | Page 14 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 10 | CALENDAR: PAGE 4 | SPORTS: PAGE 14 VOLUME 91 | ISSUE 37