BACKGROUND
The High Line Canal trail is a 71-mile, multi-use urban trail that runs from Waterton Canyon in Littleton to Green Valley Ranch in Aurora. Section 3 of the trail, which starts at Hampden Avenue in southeast Denver and runs into Aurora at Havana, is a 13-mile stretch that covers a good portion of Southeast Denver. While some sections of the trail are maintained by local parks and recreations districts, the High Line Canal Conservancy is the overarching organization that seeks to “preserve, protect, and enhance the 71-mile trail… in partnership with the public.”
Map (courtesy TrailLink.com) showing Section 3 of the High Line Canal trail, the roughly 13-mile stretch that runs through Denver from Hampden to Havana.
THE TRASH
Though Denver Parks and Recreation is the authority when it comes to trash collection and maintenance along Section 3 of the trail, the growth of the use of the High Line Canal trail and the sheer number of projects that Parks and Recreation works on often means trash does accrue along parts of the trail. From the short, roughly 10-12 minute commute that I take from my house to the grocery store, I found pockets of trash along the way.
1.) Streetside view of the trail at Holly and Iliff with trash around the stop sign. 2.) Bottles and other trash adjacent to the trail.
Along with being a general eyesore, the trash along the High Line Canal trail is a detriment to the natural character of the trail, from the harm that it causes wildlife such as magpies and squirrels to the ecological harm it causes the plant life. Given that the trail is traveled heavily by southeast Denver residents that use it for commuting, exercising, and simply experiencing the beauty of nature, it is important to keep the trail clean.
CLEANING IT UP
While the City of Aurora in the past has sponsored a cleanup event for the purpose of beautifying the 11 miles of trail that run through its borders, Denver has opted not to. If you are interested in having the city sponsor a High Line Canal Cleanup, I would urge you to contact your Councilmember and urge them to support a day of action. If a strategy of preservation and enhancing the trail as highlighted in the High Line Canal Conservancy vision plan, municipalities must step up to ensure the trail is preserved for future generations.
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Loren Hansen is a current resident of Southeast Denver near I-25 and Evans. Loren’s areas of expertise include bicycle infrastructure, urban trails, and dockless rideshare. In his free time, Loren likes to play guitar and harmonica.
