The CAC Trails Study/Action Team has accomplished quite a bit in our short history.
Timeline:
2006 – Trails Study/Action Team formed based on community residents’ survey inputs
2009 – Trails Master Plan completed by Colorado Center for Community Development (CCCD)
2010 – Streetscape Plan completed by CCCD
2010 – Sutton Road Trail completed as first segment of a core loop
2011 – Highway 285 underpass connection completed, linking N and S Aspen Park via walkway, continuing to Meyer Ranch Park. Second segment of core loop.
2020 – Provided initial Conifer Trails input for the Jefferson County Open Space Trails Master Plan
2021 – Recommended to JCOS to make Meyer Ranch Park to Flying J Park connection a priority
2022 – Provided initial input for Transportation& Engineering Bicycle Plan
2023 – Provided GIS-based trail network plans to JCOS and JCT&E for incorporation into county plans as part of Together Jeffco
2024 – Jeffco incorporates Trails plans into their official planning documents – a major milestone for Trails team.
Sutton Road Trail
The Trails Study/Action Team identified the alignment along Sutton Road between West Jefferson Elementary School and King Soopers as the first priority for a trail. This route forms the backbone of the core trail system and is used daily by walkers and school children getting to and from school. Before the trail, it posed a serious safety issue as walkers were forced to walk on street pavement or follow the drainage ditches.
The project was funded by a grant from the Jefferson County Conservation Trust Fund. Construction began in the summer of 2010 and the trail was ready by December. Now, pedestrians and bicyclists have a safe, paved walkway to follow. It was also well received at the 2010 Christmas Parade as a great place to watch the Holiday festivities.
Conifer Area Council expresses gratitude to all who helped take this trail from a line on a map to a real trail. These include:
- Former County Commissioners: Kathy Hartman, Kevin McCasky, Faye Griffin
- Jefferson County Transportation and Engineering Division
- Intermountain Rural Electric Association (CORE)
- Rotary Club of Conifer
- Conifer Neighbors and Newcomers
Sutton Road Before
Sutton Road Now
Highway 285-Meyer Parkway Connector
With Sutton Road complete and providing a backbone for the Conifer trail network, the next priority was to improve mobility across US Highway 285. The underpass had room for a sidewalk but the surface was left rough. The Trails Study/Action Team worked with CDOT and Jefferson County Transportation & Engineering to improve the surface so that this link could serve as a safe connection from the Aspen Park activity area to the community on the south side of the highway with access to Meyer Ranch Park. Funding came from the Jefferson County Conservation Trust Fund with project completion in 2012.
Improvement to the US Highway 285 underpass at Meyer Parkway completed an important link for the Aspen Park community from the northern residences and businesses to the southern residences and Meyer Ranch Open Space park.
Trails Study/Action Team Presentations
Click to open PDFs of these presentations.
2011, Open Space Advisory Committee
