Looking Up the Creek
Photo by Patrick Klein
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Monday, Feb. 3rd
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Live Workouts with Community Center Pros
- All day - Golden History Tours
- 10:15-10:45AM - Let's Dance - Registration Required
- 12-12:30PM - Mondays with the Mayor
- 2-3PM - Virtual: Active Minds Monday
- 4-5:30PM - Intro to 3D Printing: Valentines
- 5:30PM - Board Game & Euchre Night
- 5:30-7:30PM - The Fundamental Principles of Art
- 6-7PM - Cookies With Councilors - Water's Wild Ride
- 6-9PM - Teach Me to Play! Mondays
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
Where are Golden’s Open Spaces? Heritage Dells Open Space
Heritage Dells Open Space in winter. Top Left: narrow gulch between houses. Top Right: wider portion of a gulch. Bottom Left: Looking toward the sources of the gulches. Bottom Right: Tripp Ranch gulch near Crawford Street. Photos by the authors.
By Preston Driggers and Tom Schweich
In south Golden, three parallel gulches form the Heritage Dells Open Space. Over thousands of years, water running off the southeastern sides of Lookout Mountain eroded away sediments to shape the sloped grasslands and gulches where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains.
Two of the gulches were deeded to the city by the Heritage Dells subdivision and one by the Tripp Ranch subdivision. Together they establish the southern beginnings of Kinney Run.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Pulte Homes and other builders constructed homes adjacent to the existing gulches and dedicated them for drainage and open space. All three gulches begin in Apex Park. The southernmost gulch enters Golden between two houses on DeFrance Way, widens into a large gulch, and then passes under Crawford Court and into Heritage Dells Park.
The middle gulch enters Golden about 1½ blocks farther north on the west side of De France Drive. Passing under the street, water flows into a wide gulch also entering Heritage Dells Park. At this point, the two gulches join to form Kinney Run. Significantly, a lot of rain and snow melt in the neighborhood also flows into the gulches due to the sloped hillsides.
The northernmost gulch enters Golden through a culvert under DeFrance Drive and forms a medium-sized gulch between Tripp Ranch houses. Passing under Shelton School, it joins the other gulches just below the Kinney Run Trail bridge.
Gravels and clays in the gulches help to clean both surface and subsurface water and support trickles of water in dry seasons that often go unnoticed yet support diverse vegetation.
The grass and shrubs in the gulches are common Foothills shrubs and mixed grass prairie. However, there have been no biological surveys of the gulches, so it is not known if rare plants may be present.
All three gulches provide wildlife habitat and corridors for both hunters and prey. Over the years, species such as white-tailed deer, elk, bobcat, fox, mountain lion, coyotes, bull snakes, garter snakes, and rattlesnakes, as well as an occasional brown bear, have been observed in the neighborhoods. Additionally, there are a variety of rabbits, brown bats, and birds.
There are no trails through these three gulches, although the original plat for Heritage Dells calls for an equestrian trail through the south gulch. The main trail in the area is the Kinney Run Trail, and parts of the gulches can be seen from this trail.
For residents, these gulches provide visual and physical open space buffers and collectively serve as neighborhood open spaces, which are shown to be important for personal health and for the movement of wildlife.
Preston Driggers was one of the first residents of the Heritage Dells neighborhood, moving there in 1980, and was very active successful fight against the proposed Nike headquarters building on South Table Mountain in 1998. He has been active in Golden open space issues since that time.
2PM Active Minds Monday: History of Skiing (Virtual)
Skiing South Table Mountain - Photo by Jeremy Keller
There is evidence that humans have been skiing as far back as 6300 BCE. Skiing has served as a means of transportation, a tool in combat, a recreational pastime and an international competitive sport. Join Active Minds as we review the origins and history of skiing, explore current issues facing the industry and discuss how the emergence of Colorado towns as ski resorts has impacted them. .
Save your spot for this Zoom program.
Meeting ID: 160 114 3061
Password: 162985
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.
5:30PM Fundamental Principles of Art @ FAC Creative Campus
Whether you’re beginning your artistic journey, returning to your art after some time off, or simply interested in refreshing your basic skills, you’ll find our group of artists welcoming and supportive. We enjoy experimenting in a personal way with the tools of the trade such as color, line, composition, values, shapes, and other essential skills. All levels of experience are welcome. Acrylic, oil paint, watercolor, gouache, and any drawing medium are welcome. We meet on Monday nights (Feb 3, 10, 17, 24) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Explorer & Creator Members $40 / Catalyst Members $80 / Non Members $110
Foothills Art Center Creative Campus
809 15th Street (map)
6-7PM Cookies with Councilors - Water's Wild Ride
Instead of the usual Coffee with Councilors this month, Councilors Evans and Vitry have arranged for citizens to tour the City's water treatment plant. It's an interesting tour!
Join us for an engaging and interactive evening of conversations with your Councilors!
Dive into the fascinating journey of Golden’s water from source to tap! This guided walking tour of the Water Treatment Plant at 1409 10th Street offers a behind-the-scenes look at the process.
Please Note: This tour involves navigating stairs and tight spaces, so participants should be prepared for light physical activity and standing.
Parking: You can park in the spaces directly in front of the Water Treatment Plant. Overflow parking can use the Public Works Building or Golden Community Center.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and explore with your community!
Water Treatment Plant
1409 10th Street (map)
Golden History: Parking Part 2 - The Unslakable Thirst for Parking in Downtown Golden
Downtown Golden, circa 1950
Click to enlarge
Yesterday, I wrote about the first 30 years of Golden’s learning to accommodate automobiles in downtown. It was a never-ending quest. Golden has always attracted its share of non-residents: the School of Mines and Coors both bring people to central Golden, downtown Golden was the commercial center for the ranches and farms that surrounded it, and Golden has always attracted tourists.
The City responded to the ever-increasing number of cars by widening the streets and trying to use available space more efficiently. Yesterday, I left you with this cliffhanger:
In 1954, the Planning Commission said we must either widen more streets to allow more diagonal parking or buy a half block, raze the buildings, and provide a parking lot.
More Street Widening
As it turned out, we did both–and more! Throughout the late 1950s, the City widened the downtown streets and added stripes for diagonal parking. With those changes, the City estimated that Washington Avenue could go from 60 parking spaces to 110. Arapahoe Street “went diagonal” in 1957.
Denver Public Library Western History Collection # Z-12056In 1957, the City doubled the price of business licenses and raised the mill levy to finance purchase of downtown property to be used as parking lots. Not content to wait for public parking, Heinie Foss purchased a large home and yard behind his store to be turned into a parking lot. In 1959, Mr. Foss bought the other home behind his store–the home that had belonged to Gertrude Bell (of Bell Middle School fame). Both houses were demolished and the land made available for Foss customers.
In 1961, the Chamber of Commerce purchased the old Baptist Church at 12th and Jackson, to be demolished and used as a public parking lot. The Baptist parsonage followed in 1962, and eventually they were able to acquire that entire half-block, behind the stores in the 1300 block. It served as a 48-slot public parking lot until GURA built the parking garage and sold the 12th and 13th Street ends of the lot for development in the 2010s.
Golden’s new municipal center on 10th Street opened in 1961, and the old city hall on 12th Street (between the Old Capitol Grill building and the Astor House) was demolished to make way for more public parking.
More buildings were razed: the Catholic Church became the Coors visitor parking lot; the Methodist Church became the Holland House (now the Table Mountain Inn) parking lot. Homes near downtown made way for new businesses with their own parking lots.
In 1971, the Golden Downtown Improvement District (GDID) voted to acquire the 1867 Astor House and turn it into a parking lot.
Come back tomorrow to see how that turned out…
Weather
Overnight: Partly cloudy. Low around 50, with temperatures rising to around 53 overnight. West wind 22 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny. High near 67, with temperatures falling to around 61 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 6 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Low around 41, with temperatures rising to around 43 overnight. Southwest wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
Monday Night: Partly Cloudy, 41°F
Tuesday: Partly Sunny, 65°F
Tuesday Night: Mostly Clear, 39°F
Wednesday: Mostly Sunny, 62°F
Wednesday Night: Partly Cloudy, 37°F
Thursday: Sunny, 53°F
Thursday Night: Partly Cloudy, 36°F
Friday: Chance Rain And Snow, 59°F
Friday Night: Chance Rain And Snow, 34°F
Saturday: Chance Light Snow, 47°F
Saturday Night: Chance Light Snow, 23°F
Sunday: Slight Chance Light Snow, 39°F
News About Golden - February 3, 2025
Prolific Everest climber visits Colorado’s growing Sherpa community
By John Meyer
Denver Post
Ngima Nuru Sherpa is small in stature, but he stands tall in the annals of Mount Everest. The 5-foot-7, 150-pound native of Nepal’s Khumbu region has reached the summit of the world’s tallest mountain two dozen times, third-most on the all-time list. Two other Sherpas have recorded more summits, but he was the youngest to notch 24.
And, at age 43, he’s going back to the 29,032-foot mountain that Sherpas call Sagarmartha this spring for No. 25... Read more...
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, Joy Brandt, and Vic DeMaria
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, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, and The Golden Hotel
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, 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, Nancy & Pete Torpey, Jax Baker, Simon Maybury, John & Carol McEncroe, Rose McLaughlin, and Cameron Chambers
Followers:
($5-9.99/month)
Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser
