by Bill Knowles
TRINIDAD — The Greenway foundation and the Architerra Group will be conducting a study along the Purgatoire River, where it cuts through the city, developing a plan that provides a makeover for the river turning it into a resource for use by the city, residents, and visitors.
The $61,770 the city council appropriated for the study, will go to developing a Pilot Project that will, according to an RFP from the Greenway Foundation and the Architerra Group, “emphasizing the interactive connection between the City of Trinidad, Purgatoire River, Fishers Peak State Park, and beyond.”
As a visioning plan, the study will focus on creating an implementable action plan for the pilot project area. The Greenway Foundation team will engage with civic and community leaders to synthesize a vision for the Purgatoire River. The community leaders include Mayor Phil Rico and the city council, parks and public workers, Julie Knudson for the Purgatoire River Partnership, community leaders from the private and the philanthropic sectors.
The team will review natural and cultural resources and analyze potential opportunities and challenges. They will prepare base maps aerial photographs and GIS files for use with all project plans and graphics to clearly communicate design ideas.
A history of the Greenway Foundation and Architerra Group
The Greenway Foundation was founded in 1974 and since then it has partnered with numerous private and public organizations creating over $600 million in improvements along the South Platte River as well as along many of tributaries along the South Platte River. And since 2000 the Greenway Foundation has provided numerous grants to both Colorado state parks and local and regional parks across the state totaling over $1.5 million in support.
The Architerra Group was formed in 1999 and has engaged in public projects. They have designed 238 miles of recreational trails, 44 pedestrian bridges, and has completed 46 waterway restorations. They have been working with The Greenway Foundation for 22-years.
The city council of Trinidad approved the agreement with The Greenway Foundation and the Architerra Group during the March 2, 2021 city council meeting with a vote of 6-0. Council member Erin Ogletree was absent from the meeting.
