A Hiking and Biking Paradise
Published Nov 19, 2008
Metro North’s communities followed a progressive vision to offer many miles of trails for walking, running and biking.
Jason Peck won’t be found kicking back in front of the television set on his days off from work.
Like many in this region, the 34-year-old real estate broker prefers to spend his free time outdoors.
“I like to cycle a lot, mostly road biking,” Peck says. “Typically, I ride on paved trails or packed-dirt trails. I like Broomfield’s open-space trail system and the South Platte trail system that runs north and south along I-25. I can get in a good 45-mile ride that way.”
The Metro North Region is home to hundreds of miles of interconnected paths that are heavily used by everyone, from health-conscious seniors to corporate commuters, says Kathleen Novak, mayor of Northglenn.
“People use the trails equally, for transportation as well as for personal health reasons,” Novak says. “It’s healthier to walk than use your car, and you save on gas and other transportation costs.”
In Northglenn, more than 20 miles of trails wind through the city, including the Fox Run Open Space Trail, designed for strolling and enjoying nature.
Popular With Newcomers
Westminster has 95 miles of trails that are used for recreation and as links to surrounding communities, says park services manager Richard Dahl.
“Most of our trails are multiuse, and we encourage a lot of activities,” Dahl says. “We have all-weather gravel trails and some that are concrete.”
Development and upkeep of the trails are priorities for local residents, says Broomfield Mayor Pat Quinn.
“When I was running for mayor, people said that the trails were one of the things that attracted them to Broomfield,” Quinn adds.
Home developers have recognized the trend, often designing their subdivisions with trails that connect to regional or community-wide paths. “They feel it makes their project more livable,” says Kristin Pritz, Broomfield’s director of open space and trails. “The people here are so active; it’s off the charts compared to other communities throughout the nation.”
Seeking Still More Connections
Diane Van Fossen, capital projects and planning manager in Thornton, says the area’s many trail users have come out in support of funding measures for a variety of projects.
“People are very interested in connectivity between links in the trail system, but we also get a lot of requests for loop trails so they can park their cars and exercise around the loop,” Van Fossen says.
For Coldwell Banker agent Peck, all this trail building just means more room to ride and more opportunities for everyone to enjoy the scenic Metro North Region.
“Colorado has more days of sun than California or Florida,” he says, “so there’s plenty of opportunity to enjoy an active lifestyle.”
Age does not appear to be a factor in the trend toward greater use of the comprehensive trails network, Peck adds. “A lot of retirees are moving here for that reason, versus retiring on a beach somewhere. They’re looking forward to being near the mountains – and the possibility of walking on a trail at sunset.”
Story by Renee Elder
Photo by Todd Bennett
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