To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces
Prepared By:
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Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces
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presenter
Presenter: Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces, and Greg Howe, Program and Project Administrator, Open Spaces
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Subject:
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10:30 AM *High Line Canal Trail Maintenance IGA: Arapahoe County and Denver Parks and Recreation
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Staff will brief the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on the new Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) that Arapahoe County Open Spaces has developed with Denver’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) for the use and maintenance of the trail portion of the High Line Canal corridor that the County owns within the City and County of Denver.
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Background and Discussion: As the new owner of 45 miles of the High Line Canal, Arapahoe County inherited the existing agreements between Denver Water, the previous owner, and the local jurisdictions that underlie the property. Most of the agreements concerning recreational use and maintenance expire on December 31, 2026, and will need to be renewed or replaced before then. The agreement with DPR expired on January 1, 2025.
Pursuant to Resolution No. 24-203, the BOCC authorized the Open Spaces Director to approve and sign recreation leases after a drop-in or study session with the BOCC.
Mirroring the previous agreement between Denver Water and DPR, the new IGA covers the trail portion of the property and authorizes DPR to operate the trail and perform maintenance (mowing, weeding, etc.) and public safety (fire response, missing person searches, etc.) activities, at Denver’s sole expense. Since the old agreement was from 1999, the County and DPR also updated terms and references as appropriate.
The City and County of Denver has made numerous public statements about its intention to take ownership by January 1, 2027, of the 7.3 miles of the High Line Canal corridor within Denver that are currently owned and stewarded by Arapahoe County. This new IGA would terminate upon that transfer of ownership, however it has been written in a manner to be long-lasting (although it can be amended or terminated at any time).
Fiscal Impact: The IGA helps the County cover some of the costs associated with maintaining the High Line Canal corridor in the City and County of Denver.
Alternatives: The Board could decide to reject or modify the IGA.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☐Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: Open Spaces recommends the BOCC accept this staff briefing related to the new High Line Canal IGA between Arapahoe County and Denver Parks and Recreation.
Concurrence: N/A