The I-70 Cover Park has transformed a divisive stretch of I-70 in Denver’s Elyria- Swansea neighborhoods into 4 acres of parks, green spaces, and recreational areas, aiming to reconnect the community and work towards healing decades of disruption.
Bridging Communities and Restoring Connectivity Through Urban Design
I-70 Cover ParkDenver, CO—USA
For nearly 60 years, the neighboring Denver communities of Elyria-Swansea were divided by the intrusive presence of I-70, displacing families and cutting off connections between residents and vital resources. Over the decades, this physical and social rift was felt deeply by the community. Through this landmark project, as part of the broader Central 70 initiative, Civitas has now restored what was once a noisy, divisive stretch of freeway, transforming it into 4 acres of parks, green spaces, playgrounds, and sports fields. This innovative project stitches these neighborhoods back together, creating a vibrant public space that serves as both a vital community asset and a corrective measure for decades of disruption.
Year
2022
Client
Colorado Department of Transportation
Services
Vision Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture
Project type/category
Parks & Recreation
The design of the I-70 Cover Park required a complex and considerate approach to urban planning and landscape design. As a part of the broader Central 70 project, the expansion and reconfiguration of I-70 required addressing not only the needs of the transportation system but also the critical need for environmental and social factors.
Civitas worked alongside partners, including Kiewit Construction and WSP Design Engineers, on its execution, ensuring that the project met its complex requirements. Civitas also engaged in extensive community outreach, working closely with local residents and community leaders to design a space that would offer meaningful, long-lasting benefits. The design responds to the complex needs of the community, carefully reconnecting the previously fragmented spaces. The park features intentionally designed pathways that encourage walkability, with green spaces and seating areas strategically placed to create an inviting environment. The fields and open spaces serve as both recreational outlets and gathering spots, while the park’s placement seamlessly adjoining the two surrounding neighborhoods. Civitas focused on the positive, transformative impact the cover park would have on the area by routing traffic beneath the park, alleviating noise and pollution that once plagued the surrounding neighborhood, and ensuring that the park remains a peaceful refuge that fosters interaction, community events, and recreation.
