– PROGRESS UPDATES AND USEFUL CONTENT OF YOUR PROJECT SITE –
NIVER CREEK OPEN SPACE
Change is happening at Niver Open Space! Mile High Flood District (MHFD) and the City of Thornton are carrying out improvements to Niver Open Space over the next 12-15 months. The banks of Niver Creek’s Tributary M, both east and west of Huron Street, had become severely eroded. They have been regraded and stabilized to reconnect the creek to its historic floodplain, allowing better pedestrian access and visibility, protecting utility infrastructure and improving the ecological function of the creek.
Open space improvements will be constructed that were authorized and funded by City Council in 2017, 2021, and 2023 and with Adams County Open Space grant awards. Planned passive recreational improvements include improved soft surface trails, new site furniture, nature play areas, educational signage, trailhead parking off 88th Avenue and small gathering spaces to activate the open space and improve accessibility.
Otak Inc. is the design engineer, Stream Landscape Architecture provided landscape design services, Naranjo is the Civil Constructor, Western States is installing irrigation, and Habitat Management will be providing the landscape restoration.
Some trails within Niver Open Space will be closed with signage indicating alternative routes. Trees have been removed including invasive Russian olive, Siberian elm, unhealthy trees or in areas where grading the creek bank required removal. Re-vegetation of areas with willows, cottonwoods and other native plants is underway. For more information, please contact Rachelle Plas (rachelle.plas@thorntonco.gov) and/or Andrew Tadross (andrew.tadross@thorntonco.gov)
Your patience and understanding during construction are greatly appreciated.
Updates on this and other CIP projects can be found at this link.
https://www.thorntonco.gov/thornton-parks/Pages/cip.aspx
View the City of Thornton’s Capital Improvements Projects page below:
– NIVER CREEK OPEN SPACE PROGRESS BEFORE/AFTER –
In these photos, we cover progress that has been made on site since the project began.

