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XIII-l SECTION XII I ALTERNATIVES EVALUATION PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE The river corridor still hosts a vast array of native plant and animal life. Descending into the floodway itself, one can escape the city bustle and rediscover the sights, sounds and scents of nature. If creatively restored and enchanced, the river corridor can serve a number of valuable functions. It can be a place to play, a refuge, an educational facility and a floodway, as well as a unique feature and focal point in the heart of the Denver metropolitan region. I NTRODUCTI ON The population to open space ratio of the Denver area is deficient in terms of recreational space when compared to the national standards, which may vary from 10 to 15 acres per thousand. This problem is amplified by the popularity of outdoor recreation within the young, outdoor-oriented community of the region and by the high frequency of sunshine days (330/year) . Gene ra 1 The Alternatives Evaluation Section combines the information gathered in the Inventory Section and analyzes the river corridor in regard to recreation potential. Even though the recreational potential of the Rocky Mountains lies just to the west of the urban region, access is almost exclusively dependent upon the automobile. Tremendous quantities of fuel are consumed for recreational purposes, further compounding the already critical air pollution problems in the region. The low-to-middle income areas of Denver lack sufficient recreational space to an even greater degree, and mountain access for this segTlent of the population is difficult, at best. A centrally located, regional recreation resource is needed to help alleviate this deficiency and to serve as an alternative to the weekly, mountain-bound exodus of Denver residents. The Planning Process Sub-Section outlines the steps and inputs in the master planning process that impacted the final selection of alternatives. The Alternative Description Sub-Section describes the general nature of the recreation program that may be eventually implemented. The alternative descriptions combine the environmental characteristics of each river reach with its recreation potential. The South Platte River runs from south to north through the heart of the Denver metropolitan region. Its potential as a recreation corridor is unparalleled. Since it forms the area's backbone not only in terms of physical location, but also with respect to transportation, drainage and employment concentration, it is readily accessible by most of the urban population. Tributaries and major highways offer direct connections from the surrounding business and residential communities, making it accessible for all residents at various times of the day and the year. The Criteria Sub-Section establishes a set of design parameters for determining the magnitude and type of recreational development along the ri ver corri dor. The Recreation Program Sub-Section is a detailed outline of suggested recreation usage in each reach of the river. The final Cost Analysis Sub-Section utilizes the recreation program to identify approximate construction costs. Like many rivers around which an urban area has grown, the South Platte River has been overlooked and neglected. Encroachment has resulted in flood problems, blight and pollution. It is time to utilize this tremendous resource for better purposes.