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! I X:-3 for primarily passive use at the present time. attention should be gioen to revegetation of both riverbanks as soon as the Corps' construction is complete. ReaCh 2 . Columbine to Oxford: Several pocket parks wi 11 be developed in tnissectionat focal points such as Lee Gulch, Riverfront Festival r.enter and the Riverwa]k Development. The entire reach ",;11 be developed as a linear park with a continuous trdl1 running on the river's east side until crossing to the west side via a new pedestrian bridge near 80,,1e5. Tributary trail connections are suggested along Lee GulCh and Big Dry Creek. Reach 4. Bates to CQ1fu: This area has already been developed by the Greenway Foundation and the City of Denver. Most of what remains to be done is relatively small in comparison to tile $13 million expended to date in the succeSSful lO-mi Ie, 400~acre rehabi 1 itation of the South Pl aUe through Denver. However, several small park areas are in need of addition- al improvements and the existing trail could also be improved to some degree. I I After the Corps of Engineers cornpletes channelization of the riv er in this reach, any remaining obstructions to continuous boating should be fitted with boat chutes and landings, In order to provide for a continuous ripar_ ian wildlife corridor. attention should be given to revegetating both river banks.lith indigenous species at the earliest pos5ible opportunity. In focal point parks which are Mtural in character, wetlands areas Should be created and maintained as native wildlife habitats. Since Denver form5 the heart of the metropolitan region and will receive the heaviest trail use, an opposite-bank trail system is proposed. Boat chutes and ldndingsare required at several locations to provide for con- tinuous river passage, although most obstructions through the city have already been notched. The outstanding existing wildlife habitat along the river should be maintained and improved wherever possible. [ I Reach 3_0xford to Rates: The spine trail will crass from the west bank to the east bank at the Oxford pedestrian bridge and will Skirt the Engle- wood Gol f Course to a poi nt south of Hal~pden where it wi 11 cross on a new bridge to join the existing trail which was built by the GreenwdY Foundation, State Parks Division and the South Suburban Parks Foundation in 1984. Und~r the Colorado Greenw~y program, 17 ,niles of tri but~ry trail were linked together along the South Platte. Bear Creek, Kipling Parkway and Sanderson Gulch to form a loop trail CQnnection to the mJjor Platte River GreenwdY trdil dnd providing access to the system for thQUSdnds of people nNr the corridors. This is il model which theconsu1tant reC()IlII1lends be followed along most of the tributaries to the river. Corridorpreser_ vdtion should begin immediately. ~e<lch 5 _ Col f~x to Chf'rry Cref'k: An f'xcf'llent opportun1t.v exists in this reach to signific~ntly expand the recreation. open space and wildlife habi_ tat of the riparian ecosystem. Major redevelopment projects are slated for the area, a~d the provision of people-oriented improvements aimed at enhan- cing the visual attractiveness ilnd recredtional potential of the area Should be a high priority. For wildlife enhancement, wetldnds should be creMed both along the river dnd within the development areas to receive and ndturally cleaose stnrm runoff from the projl'cts before it reaches the river. A native wildlife preserve just south of the mouth of Bear Creek will be l'lai~tai ned ilnd enhanced. Additi anal wetl ands areas shaul d be created in the preserve if at dll possible. Access and auto parking Should be pro- v ided at ~everal I ocat ions conveni "nt to the t rdil system dnd 1 i nedr par~ through this reach. Onceagdin, for wildlife aM desthetic purposl.!s. I\fi orposite-bank trdil system is essential in thi~ reach to provide ade- qu~te capacity for expected hedvy use. Mis'ella~eous boating improvements are recommended, together with improved ~ccess and parking faci 1 ities. Major relands,aping, as well as access tr~i 1 s through the new developments. Should be included in the developers' and ,ity'splans for the area. Tht> existi ng tributary tr~i I connection along Cherry Creek. bui 1t u~der the