To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces
Prepared By:
prepared
Michele Frishman, Grants and Acquisitions Manager, Open Spaces
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Subject:
title
Joint Project Request for Laredo Elementary Outdoor Classroom & Crossing
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The City of Aurora and the High Line Canal Conservancy will present a joint project request to support the design and construction of the Laredo Elementary Outdoor Classroom & Crossing project. Open Spaces staff and the Open Space and Trails Advisory Board (OSTAB) support the project and request that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) award $270,000 in High Line Canal Working Group funds to the City of Aurora. This item was presented to the Board in a study session on February 9, 2026.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Good Governance - Understand and respond to community needs, interests, and values.
Background and Discussion: In 2023, OSTAB recommended and the BOCC approved setting aside $4 million of Open Space Acquisition and Development funds to support projects originating from the High Line Canal Working Group through 2028. The working group pledge was envisioned to support various High Line Canal joint projects such as natural resources restoration and new park and trail amenities to improve the user experience. The funding is also contributing to the development of the Natural Resource Management Plan and the Stormwater Transition and Management Plan for the High Line Canal, as well as other needs. To date, approximately $2.4 million of the working group pledge remains available.
Aurora and the Conservancy are working in collaboration to plan and construct several projects along the northeast segment of the High Line Canal, which includes some of the state's most diverse communities and under-resourced neighborhoods. These projects include the Laredo Elementary Outdoor Classroom & Crossing project on the County's High Line Canal...
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