Willow Creek C470

The Willow Creek Park Meadows to C-470 project is a major channel restoration, floodplain, and trail improvement effort led by the Mile High Flood District and the City of Lone Tree. Naranjo Civil Constructors is serving as the general contractor, with Loewen Engineering providing civil design and San Engineering supporting structural design. The project also involves coordination with South Suburban Parks and Recreation for trail improvements and Southgate Water and Sanitation District for existing water and sewer infrastructure.

The project will reconstruct and realign Willow Creek between the Park Meadows area and C-470 to improve long-term channel stability, flood conveyance, and ecological function. The work includes extensive channel excavation and grading, riffle and riprap features, bank stabilization, grouted boulder walls, soil-wrap bank protection, and a new sculpted concrete drop structure. Together, these improvements are designed to create a more stable and resilient creek corridor while working with the natural form of the channel.

The Willow Creek Trail is also being rebuilt as part of the project, including two new reinforced-concrete pedestrian bridges over the realigned creek. The north and south bridges each provide a 26-foot clear span and connect into the reconstructed trail system, replacing the existing pedestrian crossings and improving long-term access through the corridor. Low-flow crossings, trail connections, safety railings, and a sidewalk tie-in near the Hawkview development are also incorporated into the overall design.

Ecological restoration is an important part of the finished project. Disturbed areas will be restored with a combination of upland, riparian, and wetland seed mixes along with native shrubs, trees, and wetland plugs. These plant communities will help stabilize newly constructed banks, improve habitat diversity, and reestablish a more natural transition between the creek, floodplain, and adjacent trail corridor.

Construction is being carefully phased around active water flow, existing utilities, trail connections, and adjacent development. Phase 1 work includes water control and dewatering, creek excavation, bridge removal and replacement, soil-riprap and boulder features, concrete trail construction, and revegetation, with completion anticipated in early summer 2027.

By combining floodplain improvements, natural channel design, trail reconstruction, structural improvements, and native revegetation, the Willow Creek project will create a more resilient creek corridor while improving public access and long-term ecological function through this highly visible area of Lone Tree.