Holiday Lights in Parfet Park
Photo by Karen Oxman
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Monday, Dec. 9th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 10AM-5PM - Foothills Art Center - Holiday Art Market
- 10AM-5PM - Foothills Art Center - Holiday Art Market
- 10:15-10:45AM - Let's Dance - Registration Required
- 12-12:30PM - Mondays with the Mayor
- 2-3PM - Virtual: Active Minds Monday
- 5:30-7PM - Central Golden Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Project Community Engagement Opportunity
- 5:30PM - Board Game & Euchre Night
- 5:30PM - Canceled: GURA Board Meeting
- 5:30-7:30PM - The Fundamental Principles of Art
- 6-9PM - Teach Me to Play! Mondays
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
Where are the City of Golden’s Open Spaces? Parfet Open Space Park
Top Left: Parfet Open Space Park from the location of the windsock, showing the approximate boundary. Top Right: Winter Fat – Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A. D. J. Meeuse & Smit. Bottom: Parfet Open Space Park from Canyon Point, showing the approximate boundary.
By Tom Schweich
When I write one of these articles about Golden’s open spaces, it is very tempting to sit at the computer, read through the databases, pull up the online maps, and sort through photographs from previous years. Yet when I get out of my chair and walk in the open spaces, I often get a clear reminder about the importance of walking them. I learned two important things while walking Parfet Open Space Park last Wednesday afternoon. First, I learned that the common knowledge that the parasailers land on Colorado School of Mines property near US Highway 6 is wrong. When I was watching the parasailers land with a map of land ownership in my hands, I learned that the parasailers actually land on City of Golden land, i.e., the Parfet Open Space Park. Second, while checking out a social trail that connects to Parfet Estates Drive, I discovered a plant called “Winter Fat.” This is a very important winter browse plant for deer, elk and many other species. While this shrub grows throughout western North America, the online databases have no record of it growing in Golden. Yet, here it is! And I found it by walking the land, rather than digging through a computer database.
The City of Golden owns about 14 acres of open space that wraps around the north end of the Parfet Estates neighborhood and overlooks US Highway 6. The land is bordered by the neighborhood, US Highway 6 right of way and Colorado School of Mines land that contains the Chimney Gulch Trail.
Golden acquired this property as part of the Parfet Estates Subdivision in 1994 for “… streets, open space, utilities, and drainage …” It was designated “Parfet Open Space Park” by City of Golden Resolution No. 1573 in 2005. (This is different from Parfet Park at the corner of Washington Avenue and 10th Street.)
While the defunct Welch Ditch crosses this land, the only other “facility” found on city land is a windsock to help the parasailers land safely.
An unmarked trailhead on Parfet Estates Drive leads to a social trail from the neighborhood down to the Chimney Gulch Trail located on Jefferson County Open Space land. This trail continues upward to Windy Gap and Lookout Mountain.
Parfet Open Space Park contains a mix of disturbed and undisturbed land with some remnants of native vegetation, notably the Winter Fat noted above. Winter Fat — Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A. D. J. Meeuse & Smit. — is named after Stepan Krasheninnikov, 1711-1755, a Russian botanist, professor in Saint Petersburg, and explorer of Siberia and Kamchatka in the early 18th century. The genus is the Chenopodiaceae, the Goosefoot family, which comes from the Greek words "chen" meaning "goose" and "pous" meaning "foot," because the leaves are often shaped like a goose foot. This family is interesting to me because they show the biogeographical connection of western North America to the steppes of eastern Eurasia.
There are abundant signs (i.e., poop) of elk and other large mammals in Parfet Open Space Park, though seeing them may be uncommon because of the adjacent busy highway.
From the site, there are excellent scenic views of the Rocky Mountain foothills, North and South Table Mountains, and north through Golden Valley.
The name Parfet Open Space Park is a little confusing. It is an Open Space? Is it a Park? We are now revising our Park & Recreation Master Plan while simultaneously writing our first Open Space Master Plan. See Path to Play on Guiding Golden. My suggestion is that this is an Open Space and not a Park. Therefore, we should shorten the name to the Parfet Open Space or perhaps rename it Parfet Estates Open Space.
2–3PM Virtual: Active Minds Monday - The Roaring 20s
It has been a century since the economic boom in the US, known as the Roaring Twenties, led to an era of mass consumerism and cultural expression. This was the age of Jazz, flappers, the Charleston, the Harlem Renaissance, and more. Explore the origins, manifestations and legacy of this colorful era with Active Minds.
.Save your spot for this Zoom program. Log-in instructions will be emailed out approximately 30 minutes before the start of the program. For your security, please do not include your last name or only use your last initial when you register. If you are 13 years old or younger, please be sure you have a guardian’s permission to participate in this online program.
Call 1-669-254-5252 or 646-828-7666 to join by phone.
Meeting ID: 160 283 9630
Password: 268826
5:30-7PM Central Golden Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Projects Open House #2
Ford Street Bike Lane - Source: https://www.guidinggolden.com/central-bike-ped
The City of Golden is hosting the second open house for the Central Golden Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Projects in the Natural Grocers Community Test Kitchen located at 2401 Ford Street which includes:
- A protected bike lane on Ford Street between 14th & 24th
- A protected bike lane on Jackson Street between 14th & 24th
- Adding a raised four-way intersection at Jackson Street & 24th
- Intersection improvements at Ford Street & 14th
Natural Grocers Community Test Kitchen
2401 Ford Street (map)
Holiday Parade Puzzle
Photo by Barb Warden - 2010 Parade
If you're reading this as part of your morning newsletter, go to the website to work the puzzle: goldentoday.com/holiday-parade-puzzle.
Pro Tips!
You can make the puzzle harder or easier to work by choosing the number of pieces contained in the puzzle. Before clicking "OK" to start the puzzle, click the 9-Dot symbol and select the number of pieces you want to tackle.
You can start with only the edge pieces (just as you might with a real life puzzle). Click the Frame button, as shown above. Once you've completed the frame, all the other pieces will appear.
Golden History: Antenna Glamour
The Lookout Mountain Funicular Railway opened in 1912
Click to enlarge
76 Years Ago
The December 9, 1948 Colorado Transcript announced that a radio station had purchased the “upper terminal of the funicular” as the site of a TV and radio station. That site isn’t located within the City limits, but Golden had water lines up there, and the station was hoping to get water service.
Recognizing what an attraction a television and FM radio station would be for this vicinity, Golden City councilmen are studying with considerable favor a request by radio station KFEL for a water tap on Lookout Mountain…. In making his request, Mr. Morrisey pointed out that the station would serve as an additional attraction for tourists visiting Buffalo Bill’s grave…. Both Golden and Buffalo Bill’s grave would receive publicity thru the location of this station and would probably receive continuous mention through announcements.
Colorado Transcript – December 9, 1948
Television was new at the time; in fact, Golden didn’t receive TV signals until 1952. The thought of having a television station on Lookout Mountain sounded terribly glamorous. Council granted them water service.
The glamour never developed, but the site was soon the favored location for the transmission equipment of Denver’s TV and radio stations. Antennas on Lookout Mountain proliferated rapidly.
The antennas must have carried a certain glamour of their own. In 1954, the “TV Coffee Shop & Tavern” opened at 836 Lookout Mountain Rd (map). It offered a lovely view of the ever-growing collection of antennas. In 1977, the same building opened as a nightclub called the “Gold City Transmitter.”
Weather
Overnight: A chance of snow. Partly cloudy. Low around 24, with temperatures rising to around 28 overnight. West northwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy. High near 35, with temperatures falling to around 30 in the afternoon. North northwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Monday Night: A chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. West northwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night: Chance Light Snow then Mostly Cloudy, 20°F
Tuesday: Sunny, 36°F
Tuesday Night: Mostly Clear, 28°F
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny, 51°F
Wednesday Night: Partly Cloudy, 34°F
Thursday: Partly Sunny, 54°F
Thursday Night: Mostly Cloudy, 35°F
Friday: Mostly Sunny, 51°F
Friday Night: Partly Cloudy, 33°F
Saturday: Mostly Sunny, 55°F
Saturday Night: Partly Cloudy, 36°F
Sunday: Mostly Sunny, 55°F
Supporters
Many thanks to the people and organizations who support What’s Happening in Golden? If you would like to support local news, please CLICK HERE!
Sponsors:
($100/month and up)
Buffalo Rose, Buglet Solar, Foothills Art Center, Golden City Brewery, Golden Cultural Alliance, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, The Golden Mill, Golden Chamber of Commerce, Golden History Tours, Miners Saloon, Golden Hayride Outpost, Unite Fitness, Tom Reiley, and Michael Mason
Friends:
($50-99.99/month or $550/yr)
Tall Pines Painting, Baby Doe’s Clothing, Goozell Yogurt & Coffee Paul Haseman, Donna Anderson, Carol & Doug Harwood, Beth Bidwell, Stephanie Painter, Greg Poulos, Ann Norton & Jonathan Storer, Mary & Don Parker, Saré Merrigan, The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, and Joy Brandt
Supporters:
($25-49.99/month or $250/yr)
Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, AC Development, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, and Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz
Members:
($10-24.99/month or $110/yr)
Brad Miller & Julie Bartos, Holly Thomas, Jim and LouAnne Dale, Ann Pattison, Thomas Hoffman, Carol Abel, Brian Quarnstrom, Sandra Curran, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Kathy Smith, Karen Smith, Carlos & Nancy Bernal, Robert Storrs, Michele Sannes, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, E Tom Hughes, Crystal M Culbert, Patrick A. Madison, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Deb Goeldner, Christopher Ball, 6th Chair Home Services, Dot & Eric Brownson, Rosemary Coffman, Emeline Paulson, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Carol Abel, Frani R Bickart, Jennings and Litz, Bill Sedgeley, Nancy Hughes, Justin L Wade, Kathi Eggers, Traci Case, Donna Owen, Leslie D Lutz, Karen Oxman, Catherine Skokan, Ross Fraser & KC Gilliland, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, Jim Garner, John and Carol McEncroe, the Golden Welcome Center, the Golden Transcript, Koshare Eagle, Ken and Colleen Krantz, Traci Neuman Lacey, Jo Barber, Jamie Cookinham, Kermit Shields, Meridee Cecil, Vicki Olson, Colleen & Michael Ramey, and Nancy & Pete Torpey
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser
