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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Combining Recreation and Flood Control <br />in Denver's South Suburbs <br /> <br />John M. Pflaum <br />Mclaughlin Water Engineers, Ltd. <br /> <br />H. William Woodcock <br />South Suburban Park and Recreation District <br /> <br />Abstract <br /> <br />The South Suburban Park and Recreation District (SSPRD) was formed in 1959 and now serves more than <br /> <br />130,000 residents in a 57 square-mile multi-jurisdictional suburban area south of Denver, Colorado. Over the past <br /> <br />20 years South Suburban has expanded its network of greenway corridors and parks by combining recreational <br /> <br />facilities with drainageways and flood control facilities. Development of multi-use parks and greenway corridors has <br /> <br />been facilitated by joint funding between the park district, the municipality and the multi-jurisdictional Urban Drainage <br /> <br />and Flood Control District. Costs are shared for capital construction as well as for maintenance of improvements. <br /> <br />Overview <br /> <br />The mission statement for the South Suburban Park and Recreation District (SSPRD) reads 'To contribute <br /> <br />to the full and meaningful lives of our residents by providing a variety of leisure services, and improving the quality <br /> <br />of life through stewardship of the environment, parks, trails and open space.' The District's residents number more <br /> <br />than 130,000 within a 57 square-mile area that includes a number of suburban Denver municipalities and <br /> <br />unincorporated portions of three counties. Facilities include over 2,700 acres of park land at 115 locations (including <br /> <br />developed and natural open space), 41 playgrounds, 107 miles of trails, two full-service recreation centers, a <br /> <br />senior/community center, two indoor and five outdoor pools, a two-rink ice arena, 83 athletic fields, 61 tennis courts, <br /> <br />a batting cage facility, three golf courses, and a miniature golf facility. <br /> <br />What does all this have to do with flood control? The Park District became the owner/caretaker for miles <br /> <br />of drainageway corridors largely through park and open space dedications by residential developers completed as part <br /> <br />of their platting process, Over the past 20 years South Suburban's planners have worked to develop a network of <br /> <br />greenway trails that provide recreational and commuting benefits for bikers, rollerbladers, runners and walkers. The <br /> <br />corridors all lie within the 100-year floodplain and are also subject to frequent or nuisance flooding on an annual basis. <br /> <br />. The multi-jurisdictional Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD) provides floodplain regulation, capital <br />