Westy Connection, Sept. 2021, Vol. 2

A NEXUS OF NEWS, COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS AND CITY HAPPENINGS

NEW NEW

OUTDOOR OUTDOOR FITNESS FITNESS AREA AREA OPENS OPENS

Sept. 2021 | Vol. 2

Nature playground opens this fall

Downtown Westminster comes alive

8 CONTENTS 4 Taking fitness outside the box

A new outdoor fitness area opens at City Park Fitness Center

6 Downtown Westminster coming alive after a quiet 2020

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New openings and re-openings bring a renewed energy to Downtown

7 Small business spotlight: Walter Composites in Historic Westminster 8 Kids just want to have fun— naturally!

Westminster’s first nature playground opens this fall at Westminster Station

12 Westminster’s vision for a safer network of streets and trails for all

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13 Keeping Big Dry Creek clean and beautiful for generations to come 14 Neighborly advice

Connect with Us VISIT www.cityofwestminster.us CALL 303-658-2400

CONTACT INFORMATION Emergency. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 911

FOLLOW US @CityofWestminsterColorado @WestminsterParksandRecreation @WestminsterFireDepartmentCO @WestminsterPolice @WestminsterLibrary @StandleyLakeRegionalPark westminster.colorado

Non-Emergency Dispatch . . . . 303-658-4360 City Hall (General Inquiries). . . 303-658-2400 City Manager’s Office . . . . . . . . . 303-658-2006 Economic Development . . . . . . 303-658-2108 Golf (Legacy Ridge). . . . . . . . . . . . 303-438-8997 Golf (Walnut Creek). . . . . . . . . . . . 303-469-2974 Libraries (College Hill). . . . . . . . . 303-658-2601 Libraries (Irving Street). . . . . . . . 303-658-2301 Municipal Court. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-658-2250

@westminsterco

Parks/Recreation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-658-2192

@WestminsterPD

Standley Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-425-1097

@WestyFire

Water/Sewer Breaks (24/7). . . . 303-658-2500

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Neighborly Advice

Tips and programs supported by the city, designed to help save you time and money.

City Council Members

Anita Seitz Mayor

aseitz@ cityofwestminster.us

David DeMott Mayor Pro Tem

ddemott@ cityofwestminster.us

Rich Seymour

Kathryn Skulley

Lindsey Smith

Jon Voelz

rseymour@ cityofwestminster.us

kskulley@ cityofwestminster.us

llsmith@ cityofwestminster.us

jvoelz@ cityofwestminster.us

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Taking fitness outside the box Last year,

following mandated shutdowns and social distancing guidelines, outdoor recreation became an increasingly popular way for people to reinvigorate their physical and mental health. For many, taking a walk through the park, biking the neighborhood trails, or taking an outdoor yoga class was truly (and literally!) a breath of fresh air—a way to find peace of mind, body, and soul during the pressures of a worldwide pandemic.

Even now, as most gyms, fitness centers, and recreation centers have re-opened, many of us still prefer getting our exercise out in the open air (and in a place like Westminster where we get over 300 days of sunshine each year, who can blame us?). But where does that leave you? If you’re ready to get back to the gym, but not ready to get back in the gym…that’s where staff at City Park Fitness Center had to get creative.

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In June 2020, during the height of the pandemic, staff came up with a vision that would become the best of both worlds—a fitness area with monkey bars, pull up bars, climbing ropes, kick plates, ab benches, climbing nets, and an artificial turf area for sport training, classes, CrossFit, and high-intensity interval training—all in the great outdoors.

"It's more than I ever thought it could be—I thought it was going to be some turf and some lines, but to see the concrete patio, the permanent equipment, the shed for more equipment—it's a vision come to life," said Chuck Scerbo, Recreation Supervisor.

Using mostly federal CARES funds, construction of the new adult outdoor fitness area began in February 2021.

The crown jewel of the project is the MoveStrong fitness equipment and nearly 6,000 square feet of artificial turf.

"

This equipment is pretty unique in

Colrado, Only a few other locations

have something like this right now.

You'll see parks that might have something similar, but it's not quite at this level.

"

Chuck Scerbo,

Recreation Supervisor

But staff didn't stop there—the adjacent Fitness Center got some enhancements as well. New windows and glass doors were installed in the facility to make the space easily visible and accessible. A patio with furniture and a water bottle filling station connect the facility to the new space. Natural and installed shade structures keep participants protected from the elements. Soon, additional lighting will be added to extend usage beyond summer daylight hours.

The new outdoor fitness area officially opened in July and can be used for fitness classes or self-directed workouts.

Guests' favorite part so far? "The cargo climbing net," says Scerbo. "They're really liking it. They are in the experiment phase right now."

Innovative spaces like these are helping Westminster residents get back to normal—a place where people can connect with nature, improve physical and mental wellness, and build community.

Located on the east side of City Park Fitness Center, the outdoor fitness area is open to adults year-round (weather permitting), and is included with a general admission fee, All-Facility Pass, City Park Fitness Center pass, or SilverSneakers® pass.

"

Fun and awesome, unique outdoor workout. Al the equipment is very challenging, a workout you

"

cannot get indoors.

Mason P., Westminster Patron

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Downtown Westminster coming alive after a quiet 2020

While the COVID-19 pandemic waylaid most of us in 2020, construction in Downtown Westminster quietly continued, and so far, 2021 has seen several openings—and re-openings—on the storied site.

After being shuttered for more than a year, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema reopened its doors this past summer. For a socially-distant option for moviegoers, the City of Westminster partnered with Alamo to present Reels on Wheels—a drive-in movie series paired with live entertainment every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening in July. For example, prior to a screening of the Disney classic, Dumbo, attendees were treated to a performance by The Phantom Circus, a Colorado-based aerial and acrobatic entertainment group. City staff are working on a menu of events for Downtown Westminster, with the goal of creating a new social center for the city.

Other new businesses are also bringing a sense of community to Downtown Westminster. Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters opened their third metro-area café in the first floor of the Ascent Westminster building in late March. The new shop has become a favorite gathering spot for area residents and visitors alike.

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“We feel really fortunate to have been able to push through all of the challenges that 2020 threw at us and come out the other side with this beautiful space we now get to share with a brand-new community,” said Eric Yochim, Sweet Bloom co-owner.

Downtown Westminster will see an influx of more new residents with the openings of Aspire and Westminster Row, both later this year. Aspire will add more than 200 apartments to the Downtown community, in addition to a much-anticipated food market hall from Denver developer and restauranteur, Mark Shaker. Famous for his visionary Stanley Marketplace in Aurora, Shaker will open Westminster Alley—a five-stall food hall—later next year in the first floor of the Aspire building.

“Westminster’s downtown transformation is really exciting, and I’ve been talking with the city for years about joining,” said Shaker. Shaker is excited to join other great Denver-area names like Tattered Cover Book Store and Tap & Burger restaurant, both slated for openings later this year.

The arrival of these new businesses, and holdovers like JC Penney and Olive Garden, ensures that locals will have places to eat and shop. Several businesses have also recently opened their doors in Downtown Westminster to offer their services. Hope Pediatric Dentist, 100% Chiropractic, and Lash & Co—a fullservice medical cosmetic salon—all set up shop on the first floor of 8877 Eaton Street. The addition of these businesses moves Downtown Westminster toward a more walkable, urban setting, where residents can just step outside their door for most of their needs.

To learn more about what’s already up in Downtown Westminster, and what’s on the way, visit www.downtownwestminster.us.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:

WALTER COMPOSITES IN HISTORIC WESTMINSTER Small businesses don’t garner big headlines like Amazon and GameStop. They’re not on every corner like the ubiquitous Starbucks. They’re tucked in retail strips and business parks, and often go unnoticed, even as we drive by them on a daily basis. But when you take the time to talk to the shop owner, they have a great story to tell.

We are talking with small businesses around town and telling their stories, starting with Chelsea Turner of Walter Composites, located at 7000 Raleigh Street in Historic Westminster.

WC: Is it still a family affair?

CT: Yes, it is! My husband and I run the company together, and we’re actually working on getting a second location up and running. And we’re usually joined by at least one of our dogs. If you’re lucky, they will greet you when you come to my office.

WC: Why did you choose Historic Westminster as a location for your business?

CT: The enterprise zone we’re located in offers several tax benefits for our company. And it’s a great location for our employees to commute to work from other parts of the Denver metro area. Everyone in Westminster has been so helpful—from the Economic Development team to the Sales/Use Tax division—we are very grateful for all the support they have given our growing small business.

Westy Connection: What does Walter Composites do?

Chelsea Turner: We specialize in the custom fabrication of FRP (fiberglass reinforced polyester) or composite parts. We offer full-service fiberglass manufacturing and serve a variety of industries from transportation to telecommunication, and make parts such as automotive and camper parts, cell tower structures, climbing wall holds, chemical tanks, etc.

WC: Can you tell us how Walter Composites got its start?

CT: My grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in the 1980s and started a fiberglass manufacturing company in southern Colorado. Later, my father joined their company, and eventually they expanded the business to the Denver metro area. In 2020, my grandparents retired. After working alongside them for several years, we decided to take the company in a slightly different, more modern direction, so we opened our own fiberglass manufacturing company – Walter Composites Inc., named after my grandfather.

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Westminster’s first nature playground opens this fall at Westminster Station.

KIDS

FUN JUST WANT TO HAVE

- NATURALLY! 8

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After five long years of planning, fundraising, and construction, Westminster’s newest playground is about to open later this fall in Westminster Station Park—the 37-acre public park immediately south of the city’s RTD station. One of the largest nature playgrounds in Colorado, this nearly $6 million attraction will encourage children and the young-at-heart to stash their electronic devices and connect with nature through a variety of fun, hands-on features and activities. Sharing the details is Nicole Ankeney—one of Westminster’s landscape architects and the project manager of this new regional destination.

Nicole Ankeney Senior Landscape Architect

WC: What are some of the features at the new playground?

NA: Our new playground features a mini mountain and switchback trail, which connect to our tree houses via four bridges. We also have embankment slides for exploring, climbing structures made of natural materials,

As a Senior Landscape Architect, Nicole manages park and trail development projects from planning and design through construction. She served as the project manager for the recently completed England Park Greenhouse Center, which included the construction of a 6,000 square foot greenhouse, a small office building with a green roof, permeable paver parking lot and plaza to an existing park maintenance site. Nicole strives to provide unique and multifunctional public spaces based upon sustainable practices and community engagement.

a sand-play feature with a stegosaurus “fossil,” and a water-play feature. We also have a brand-new restroom and picnic pavilion. Of course, accessibility and sustainability are critical elements of the playground’s design.

WC: What was the inspiration for the playground?

NA: The idea was born when the full 37-acre site was reimagined and transformed for stormwater drainage and flood control into Westminster Station Park—a vibrant, new community amenity that abuts our new commuter rail station and is transected by the Little

Westy Connection: What exactly is a nature playground, and how does it differ from traditional playgrounds?

Nicole Ankeney: Visitors to Westminster’s new nature

Dry Creek Trail. The playground, which covers about four acres of the total parkland, was developed with input from sixth-graders at the Colorado STEM Academy, located a few blocks north of the park.

playground will immediately recognize the difference when they see the centerpiece of our attraction—an inviting series of interconnected tree houses. Unlike the metal or plastic play equipment typically found in a traditional playground, a nature playground is constructed almost entirely with natural materials, such as logs, boulders, ropes, sand and water.

WC: What makes a nature playground better than a traditional playground?

"CONSTRUCTED ALMOST ENTIRELY WITH NATURAL MATERIALS SUCH AS LOGS, BOULDERS, ROPES, SAND AND WATER."

NA: To be clear, any playground is better than no playground. That being said, studies have shown that nature playgrounds engage a child’s natural preferences for exploring and playing with—and among—items found in a natural setting. Children play a lot longer in a natural area than a standard playground. At the end of the day, our mission is to connect more children to nature. Kids today have lost the ability to roam freely, and not all kids have the opportunity to go to the mountains for the weekend. Thanks to this playground, we now have the ability to bring even more nature into our city (which is already one-third open space and parkland).

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The nature playground was funded in part with $350,000 from a Great Outdoors Colorado grant, $506,000 from Adams County Open Space, and a donation of $200,000 from the Westminster Legacy Foundation.

WC: Any other exciting projects on the horizon?

NA: Two additional phases of construction are planned for Westminster Station Park when funding can be secured. Amenities will include pavilions, a special event space, a xeric demonstration garden, public art, and a fishing pier.

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Westminster Station Park Nature Playground, coming Fall 2021 Completed project phases Future project phases

The care you need, when you need it.

Primary Care for routine health needs.

Take an active role in maintaining your health through regular physicals and screenings. When illness or injuries arise, our practices offer the care you need to get you feeling better and back to your active lifestyle.

Convenient Care Clinic for same-day visits.

Same-day appointments and short in-office wait times. Staff is trained to get you seen quickly.

Expert team seeing patients of all ages for minor illnesses and injuries including: • Coughs and colds • Rashes • Flu and fevers • Strains and sprains • Nausea and diarrhea • Allergies Located on the St. Anthony North Health Campus 720.627.3980 | Mon-Fri 5pm to 8pm | Sat- Sun 10am to 5pm

Emergency Care when you need care faster.

St. Anthony North Health Campus’ state-of-the-art emergency department is staffed with board-certified emergency physicians, trauma-trained emergency nurses and EMT’s. 24/7 emergency services conveniently located near I-25 at 144th Avenue.

To learn more about these services and a full list of services we offer, visit centura.org.

Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2021. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística.

Llame al 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711)

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Westminster’s vision for a safer network of streets and trails for all

The City of Westminster has taken several significant steps recently toward completing our vision for a safer, more reliable network of connected streets, bike lanes, and trails for all. This summer, we debuted our first-ever Transportation & Mobility Plan, a draft document that will help Westminster residents and visitors travel safely and comfortably across our city. In addition to this plan, the city is exploring many other innovative opportunities to achieve our vision of a connected, safe and accessible network for every person.

This overall effort includes a major upcoming project: the Sheridan Boulevard Multimodal Transportation Improvement (MTI)—more commonly referred to as Sheridan Underpass—a federally supported project with oversight from the Colorado Department of Transportation. Construction is scheduled to start this fall and after it is completed in 2023, the underpass will provide significant improvements for everyone in this high-traffic area.

Saturday

Oct. 30 2-4 p.m.

FREE DRIVE THRU at St. Anthony North Hospital 14300 Orchard Pkwy

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A preliminary drawing of the Sheridan Underpass.

The Sheridan Underpass project will connect Downtown Westminster to the RTD U.S. 36 Sheridan Station and offer commuters and visitors easy access to downtown shops and amenities. The project will mitigate a current chokepoint for vehicles by widening Sheridan to six lanes as well as adding a crucial offstreet connection for the U.S. 36 bikeway.

In addition to the Sheridan Underpass project, a considerable number of exciting enhancements to access and safety are planned throughout the city including plans to install more crosswalks along Simms Street so Countryside residents can walk to the Westminster Dog Park, adding more than 60 miles of new bike lanes and walking paths throughout the city, and utilizing advancing technologies and artificial intelligence to increase safety in and around busy intersections.

Westminster, like other front range communities, has experienced changes in population growth and demographics, and the community has asked for an increased focus on safe and affordable transportation options that support a healthy and active lifestyle. In response to the current and future transportation needs of Westminster residents, commuters and visitors, the city is developing innovative solutions, such as the Sheridan Underpass project. To learn more about our vision for a safe and connected Westminster, we encourage residents to read the Transportation & Mobility Plan at www.cityofwestminster.us/ TransportationMobilityPlan.

Keeping Big Dry Creek clean and beautiful for generations to come Each day, as we turn on our taps to cook our food and brush our teeth, we generally don’t think about what happens after the water goes down the drain.

Our water-use cycle, for a lack of a better word, follows many of nature’s rules. Our drinking water comes from the Rockies and is stored in several reservoirs— Standley Lake being the largest and most well-known body of water—and after it leaves our homes, a network of pipes conveys the water out to Big Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility at 135th and Huron to be cleaned and treated. The treated water then makes its way to the South Platte River where it winds through Nebraska and Iowa before finally ending in the Mississippi River.

For all of the advancements made in water treatment systems that clean our water and have made waterborne illnesses in America nearly nonexistent, the way we move water through our cities hasn’t changed much since the original pipes were laid in the ground. Clean water is pumped into homes and as it goes down the drain, it flows through wastewater pipes that closely follow the natural drainage of the city’s topography, relying on gravity to keep it moving.

Much of the wastewater drains from smaller sewer pipes down into large sewer pipes running under and along Big Dry Creek or Little Dry Creek, the two natural low spots in Westminster’s watershed.

While drinking water pipes are made of metal, wastewater pipes are generally made of clay—a much stronger version of the clay pot that you may have in your home. But while the clay pipe is strong, it is also brittle. And when it breaks, the water (and everything else!) that went down your toilet will come rushing out onto the street—or worse, into our waterways.

That’s why the city has been updating the original sewer pipes that were laid in the ground almost 50 years ago, with the largest pipes running along Big Dry and Little Dry Creek. If you live near Big Dry Creek, you may have seen the construction work happening.

From Standley Lake all the way to City Park, the city has been repairing and replacing miles of aged sewer pipes before the pipes reach the end of their service life.

Funded nearly entirely by water consumption fees, city engineers plan to wrap up the 32-million dollar project known as Big Dry Creek Interceptor by the end of 2022. In addition to keeping our waterways clean and ensuring residents have uninterrupted

service, the city will convert much of the construction zones in City Park to multi-use trails.

To learn more about what the city is doing to update our water infrastructure, please visit www.cityofwestminster.us/BigDryCreekSewer Improvements.

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Free-falling snowflakes land on the slopes of the Continental Divide.

IT TAKES 10-12" OF SNOW TO ACCUMULATE 1" OF H2O.

GOLDEN, CO

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Things heat up when spring sunshine melts the snow and water runs off to Clear Creek and into one of three canals.

Water sets sail for Standley Lake—eagerly awaiting the royal Westminster treatment.

Finding its way to the water treatment facilities,water passes through a complex system of treatmentcycles, filters, pH balancing and a clear well.

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Transformed into high-quality drinking water, it is pumped to the distribution system for delivery to customers’ taps.

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Neighborly Advice

We’re here to help!

For general inquiries and assistance, contact a Community Assistant.

Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

303-658-2400 (then press “0” from the menu options)

The environmental compliance program keeps the city’s internal operations in check while also assisting residents with recycling and disposal activities.

Get your lawn ready for 2022!

Hard to recycle guide: Automotive fluids, household chemicals, paint and almost anything else liquid in your home: use the city’s Household Hazardous Waste (At Your Door) program through Waste Management. One television or computer is also accepted.

Call: 1-800-449-7587 | Email: AtYourDoor@WM.com to set up your once-a-year, free pickup.

It’s not too late to take advantage of the city’s FREE or discounted water conservation programs. Get work done this fall or be first on the list for next year.

Sign up today!

FREE Sprinkler Consultation

Participants save an average of $175 of their total summertime water bills.

www.resourcecentral.com/sprinklers or 303-999-3824

50% Off Lawn Removal Service

The city pays half up to $500 for a contractor to remove your grass.

www.resourcecentral.com/LRS or 303-999-3820 x213

The city has separate sanitary and storm sewer systems. Separate systems have two separate pipes.

One pipe carries stormwater (rain) from storm drains to local streams, rivers and lakes, such as Big Dry Creek, with little or no treatment. A different pipe carries sanitary sewage to the wastewater treatment facility. Therefore, it’s critical to not dispose of anything into the storm sewer.

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Electronics, paint, batteries, smoke alarms, large steel items, televisions, Styrofoam, books, ink/toner cartridges, cassettes/VHS, appliances, propane tanks, compost and all other kinds of hard to recycle items: SustainAbility in Arvada or Denver.

Call: 303-425-9226 | Email: sustainability-recycling.com Mattresses: Spring Back Colorado in Commerce City.

Call: 720-515-1328 | Email: springbackco.org Wood/lumber: check out Oxford Recycling (Englewood), ReSOURCE (Boulder), or Western Disposal (Boulder) as a few examples.

Other large, bulky items: contact your solid waste provider to schedule a special pickup.

The full guide is available on the city website: www.cityofwestminster.us/HardtoRecycleGuide. If you have questions about waste disposal, please contact hhwhotline@cityofwestminster.us or call 303-658-2300.

Please help us keep our water clean.

Pick up pet poop

Fix oil leaks

(don’t pour used oil down drains!)

Compost leaves

Use fertilizers sparingly

Use commercial car washes

One of Healthgrades® America’s

50 BEST HOSPITALS

™

for 3 consecutive years (2019-2021)

ASCENT DT

GoodSamaritanColorado.org

WESTMINSTER

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