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Big Dry Creek Streambank Restoration Project

Big Dry Creek Improvements Open House 

Improvements are underway along the Big Dry Creek through City Park. Join us to learn about the construction along Big Dry Creek, what to expect, and what to look forward to once complete. Bring your family and enjoy food and refreshments, available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

When: Thursday, September 26 from 5-7 p.m. 
Where: Longs Peak Room 
              City Park Recreation Center 
              10455 Sheridan Boulevard 
              Westminster, CO 80020 

What’s Happening Now:

Work continues with the creation of a water quality pond northeast of the Westin. Expect periodic trail detours. Work on this water quality pond will require intermittent crossing of the sidewalk with haul trucks and equipment. A section of concrete also will be removed, so the sidewalk will be partially dirt while the pond is created. This work is anticipated through September. Crews will work Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. You will be notified if any work needs to be completed on the weekend.

Other Work Happening Now:

Work continues along Big Dry Creek in the City Park area. Please expect additional detours beginning Monday, July 29, as crews work on water quality infrastructure near Eaton Street. The Eaton Street detour will last from July 29 through fall 2024.  

The following two detours will be in place beginning Monday, July 29:

1. Eaton Street Detour: July 29 through fall 2024

Construction activities and heavy equipment will be reshaping the area south of the Sheridan Green neighborhood for two new stormwater ponds. Crews will also remove the existing concrete channel and vault to install a new outfall pipe to the creek. This work will be done in multiple phases.  

• Please travel along Eaton Street and W. 110th Avenue to access the Big Dry Creek Trail.  
• Detour will remain in place from July 29 through fall 2024   

2. Westin Detour: Effective July 29 through Summer 2025 

For your safety, Big Dry Creek Trail is detoured between the Armed Forces Tribute Garden and the Westin Hotel through the summer of 2025. Crews are building two new water crossings along Big Dry Creek and realigning Big Dry Creek’s streambanks in this area. Please follow the map below for this year-long closure.  

The Big Dry Creek Project Team appreciates your patience during construction and understands these detours are an inconvenience. We are working as quickly as possible to restore and rebuild Big Dry Creek, as well as many of the beautiful trail, picnic, and pollinator improvements this project is adding to the area.  

Work begins on Water Quality Ponds Mid-June through fall 2024.

Construction activities and heavy equipment will be re-shaping the area south of the Sheridan Green neighborhood for two new stormwater ponds. Crews will also remove the existing concrete channel and vault to install a new outfall pipe to the creek. This work is expected to last through fall 2024. 

Once this work is complete, we will remove the retention pond just upstream near the Westin Hotel. This will help us realign Big Dry Creek to its native path. When complete, a new 10-foot-wide concrete trail with a 4-foot soft path side will be installed through this area. 

Continued Intermittent Trail Detours Through fall 2024

The Big Dry Creek Trail will continue to have intermittent closures through the summer.  For safety, pedestrians and cyclists must use the posted detour around the construction area. Detour and information signs will be posted on the trail with advanced warning of the closure.  

Thank you for your patience as we complete improvements to City Park Pond and Big Dry Creek.

What to expect during construction:

The City of Westminster is teaming up with the Mile High Flood District to improve Big Dry Creek’s water quality and flood management capabilities through City Park.  

As crews prepare the work sites at City Park and near Big Dry Creek, tree removal has been completed. This project aims to build and support a healthy and thriving habitat for our native plants and animals. The first step is to remove the noxious and invasive tree species. Alive and dead trees will strategically remain for future habitat restoration and nesting. This project will plant and establish 425 trees, hundreds of willow whips, and thousands of native shrubs and plugs, build a wetland area, establish pollinator corridors, and install educational facilities. We ask for your patience as we work through these improvements to create these amenities for our citizens and wildlife.  

Current work includes: 

• Lining of the pond with large polyethylene sheets 
• Local channel grading and stabilization. 
• Sediment removal. 
• Reconstructing or replacing grade control structures, box culverts, and retaining walls. 
• Installation of water quality ponds for stormwater runoff 
• Vegetation management and replanting. 

As work continues, please expect:  

• Crews will work Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. 
• Saturday work will only occur as needed. 
• No work will be performed on Sundays or major holidays. 
• Crews and heavy equipment will be in the streambed, pond and project vicinity. The stream will be rerouted during construction. 
• Construction equipment, including trucks and trailers, may be parked on surrounding streets within the City Park area and not within the neighborhoods. Construction access points will be off Sheridan at 107th Ave and off 104th Ave near the Tribute Garden parking lot. 
• Trail closures will be necessary throughout the project. Detours and maps will be posted when applicable. 
• Traffic control signs and detour routes will be posted as needed for the safety of drivers, pedestrians, and trail users.  
• Following construction, the area will be seeded with native grass seed. Once complete, it will take a few years for weed control, growth of native plantings, and revegetation.  

Click here to follow the project through construction and to view updated images on the project's progress

About The Project

The City of Westminster is teaming up with the Mile High Flood District to improve Big Dry Creek’s water quality and flood management capabilities, and make it more resilient to intense storm runoff events. Together, we are repairing and stabilizing streambanks from 112th Avenue to Wadsworth Boulevard. This project will address Big Dry Creek’s stream instability, flood management, and maintenance needs. Years of urban runoff have led to steep, unsafe streambanks. This degradation is also approaching sewer pipes and trails, which need to be protected from further damage. Mitigating these risks will allow our community to continue safely enjoying activities along the Big Dry Creek for years to come.

This project will address multiple project areas along the Big Dry Creek.

Typical project work includes:

• Local channel grading, stabilization, and replanting
• Vegetation management
• Trash and debris cleanup
• Weed and noxious vegetation control
• Tree thinning
• Sediment removal
• Revegetation
• Reconstructing or replacing grade control structures, box culverts and retaining walls

 Once this work is complete, we will have installed a new 10-foot-wide concrete trail with a 4-foot-wide soft path on the side and five new water-quality ponds.   

Tree Removal and Planting: 

This project aims to build and support a healthy and thriving habitat for our native plants and animals. The first step is to remove the noxious and invasive tree species. Alive and dead trees will strategically remain for future habitat restoration and nesting. This project will plant and establish 425 trees, hundreds of willow whips, and thousands of native shrubs and plugs, build a wetland area, establish pollinator corridors, and install educational facilities. We ask for your patience as we work through these improvements to create these amenities for our citizens and wildlife. 

Sign up for project updates here!

Project Map

Project Work Phases:

City Park

(Under Construction)

This project will improve sections of Big Dry Creek between W. 104th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard near City Park and Highlands Creek near W. 104th Avenue. Reconnecting the natural floodplain along the Big Dry and Highlands creeks will result in the following benefits:

• Reduced maintenance costs
• A healthier stream
• Improved flood management
• Natural beauty
• More trees
• Nine new pedestrian bridges

Timeline: 

• City Park Construction – Winter 2024–Fall 2026
• City Park Vegetation Establishment and Growth – Summer 2026-2031

Detours: Trail detours will be noted once a construction plan is set.

Project map:

Big Dry Creek - City Park Segment Plan Map

Wadsworth Boulevard to Westcliff Parkway (Substantially Complete)

Phase 1:

• Wadsworth Boulevard to Westcliff Parkway Construction – Fall 2022-Spring 2023 

• Wadsworth Boulevard to Westcliff Parkway Vegetation Establishment and Growth – Summer 2023-2026 

Phase 2:

• Wadsworth Boulevard to Westcliff Parkway Construction – Fall 2023 - Spring 2024
• Wadsworth Boulevard to Westcliff Parkway Vegetation Establishment and Growth – 2025-2030

Project Photos

Before:

After Construction:

Re-Vegetation:

Sheridan Boulevard to 112th Avenue

(In Design)

The Big Dry Creek will be reconstructed between Sheridan Boulevard and 112th Avenue. The project will include trail extensions and realignments to improve flow and trail access.

Timeline: To be determined. 

Detours: Trail detours will be noted once a construction plan is set.

Frequently Asked Questions