VAN BIBBER TRAIL PROJECT

VAN BIBBER TRAIL PROJECT

Current Project Phase: Construction

Current Project Timeline: Construction Completion – 2027 (approximate)

Jefferson County Open Space Van Bibber Park Page: https://www.jeffco.us/1432/Van-Bibber-Park

Project email address for any inquires: VBP@jeffco.us

Girl in a jacket

Girl in a jacket

Girl in a jacket

– PROJECT INFORMATION –

VAN BIBBER TRAIL PROJECT

Van Bibber Park currently offers visitors mountain vistas from soft-surface trails that meander through open meadows and a 1.5-mile concrete trail that travels the length of the park and offers access to a wide range of visitor types. This project will extend the existing trail system by creating a new trail segment continuing west from the Van Bibber Park – Indiana Trailhead, located between W 56th Drive and W 55th Drive in the Golden/Arvada area, and connecting into the Fairmount Trail near W 57th Ave near North Table Mountain Park. This new east-west trail segment will be just under two miles long. 

 

This project was highlighted in Goal 9 of the JCOS 2020-2025 Conservation Greenprint (JPEG), as an opportunity to connect visitors to 24 miles of trails in Van Bibber and North Table Mountain Parks as well as the Fairmount Trail. This project also supports Goal 8 of the Conservation Greenprint, which provides more equitable and easy access to greenspace within a 10-minute walk or drive from home. The trail connection will provide healthy, nature-based experiences, such as birding, walking, cycling, equestrian use, and running, similar to those currently enjoyed at Van Bibber Park. Once completed, this trail connection will also provide a sustainable multimodal opportunity for commuting and access to other regional trails and open spaces. 


Construction on this trail is expected to begin as soon as 2025 and continue for approximately two years. The project timeline is largely subject to the design approval and agreements with local, state, and federal entities, as well as weather conditions, private encroachments, and seasonal restrictions for construction. For safety, the project area will be closed to the public until completion.

As part of the Van Bibber Trail extension project, you will see some changes at Meadowbrook Village Park.

Management:

Jeffco Open Space (JCOS) acquired Meadowbrook Village Park (Park), located at 16061 West 56th Place, as a dedication of public park and open space in 1978 as part of the Meadowbrook Village plat. The park consists of approximately 22.02 acres of open space and the playground area is approximately 0.93 acres, and both parcels have been leased to Apex Park and Recreation District (APRD) since 1980 under a 99-year lease.

As part of the planned improvements to Van Bibber Park, JCOS will terminate the Lease Agreement and JCOS will manage the open space effective February 1. JCOS will convey the playground area to APRD, and the Jeffco Open Space reverter will be placed on the playground area to ensure it is used exclusively for park and open space purposes.

When the trail extension project is complete, the Park will connect to Van Bibber Park to the east and Fairmount Trail to the west, both of which are managed by JCOS. As a result of this management change, there will be consistent rules and regulations throughout the corridor, including hours of operation, visitor expectations, and servicing and enforcement by JCOS staff.

If you have any questions about Meadowbrook Village Park moving forward, please contact JCOS. For general questions, please call (303) 271-5925. For questions about the trail extension project, please email VBP@jeffco.us

Meadowbrook Park Playground will remain open throughout the construction process.

Planning and Zoning County Right-of-Way Vacation:

In the coming weeks, you may see some Planning and Zoning signage posted for a county right-of-way vacation application within the park. This is an effort to simplify management within the county, resulting in JCOS managing the entire park. This management change does not change current park use.

Construction Update:

There will be intermittent closures of the Park starting later in 2025 for access and active construction efforts. JCOS will prioritize public safety and a commitment to minimize impacts of closures to the extent possible. Closures will be communicated with posted signage. Some closures will be required to protect the public from construction activity within the greater project corridor, at which time, active construction may not be visible within the park. However, closures will remain in effect.

The construction schedule is primarily driven by external factors such as agreements with other jurisdictions, resource protection windows, and seasonal changes. check back on this website.

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS TRACKER

Naranjo Civil Constructors utilizes state of the art drone and photography equipment to capture data of projects which include high accuracy topographical drone surveys, project update videos, high resolution photography, and much more.

Precon3/10/26

INTERACTIVE CAD OVERLAY

Explore the engineered design seamlessly overlaid onto the most up-to-date, high-resolution drone survey of the project site. This powerful visualization highlights both the precision of our engineering and the accuracy of our aerial data, providing a clear picture of how the design integrates with existing site conditions.

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PROJECT GRAPHICS

A detailed map showing the Van Bibber Trail Alignment and surrounding area in Colorado. The map highlights the trail's path from Long Lake Regional Park to Indiana Crossing, passing through Lauri Dannemiller Park and Tony Grampsas Park. Various features along the trail are marked, such as typical trail surfaces (concrete and natural), channel crossings, and proposed access points. Easley Crossing and McIntyre Underpass are labeled, and example images of trail features like trail crossings and armoring are displayed. The map also includes nearby landmarks, roads, canals, and streams, with existing and proposed access points marked. Xcel Utility Tower locations and property lines are indicated, providing a comprehensive overview of the trail corridor's features and proposed improvements.

Click to Download Trail Corridor Map

Project map for the Van Bibber Trail design-build project, illustrating the general path of the trail early in the design process. The PDF is available for download by right-clicking the image.

Click to Download Project Area Map

Project rendering of the future Van Bibber trail segment near the Croke Canal and the adjacent maintenance road.

Croke Canal Rendering

Project rendering of the future Van Bibber trail segment near the Croke Canal and the adjacent maintenance road.

Van Bibber Trail Perspective

Prospect Recreation and Park District, APEX Park and Recreation District, Jefferson County Transportation and Engineering, Jefferson County Planning and Zoning, Mile High Flood District, Xcel Energy, Denver Water, North Table Water and Sanitation District, Farmers Reservoir & Irrigation Company, Farmers Highline Canal, and Church Ditch Water Authority.

Naranjo Civil Constructors (Civil Contractor), ICON Engineering (Design Engineer), and Valerian (Landscape Architect)

Naranjo Civil Constructors, ICON Engineering, and Valerian share the same values as Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) on the project delivery approach. We make every effort to provide high-quality designs and exceptional finished products. Our Design-Build Team involves trust and clear communication with each other and with our clients, which ultimately adds strength and value to this project. Providing functional, safe, interesting and cost-effective project solutions is what we strive for. Our Design-Build Team is committed to serve JCOS with the highest level of professional services on this important trail extension project that will provide trail connectivity and offer opportunities for visitors to experience the agricultural heritage and natural benefits of the Van Bibber Creek Corridor. Partner-Logos

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