Garrison Street North Jeffco Park Renovation
A heavy rainstorm on May 18, 2011 provided clear evidence of the need to improve the channel for the Van Bibber and Ralston Creeks that run through the Garrison Street project area. The storm that lasted only about an hour and a half resulted in a flood event that City engineers categorized as somewhere between a 5 and 10 year flood.
The Garrison Street project will result in improvements that bring the area into compliance with Federal standards for a 100 year flood event. Photos show how quickly the existing channels reached capacity; flooding occurred even after the removal of over 200 trees that had lined the creek banks. This volume of water not only moves very quickly but carries debris leading to other risks. Click on the link below to see the storm photos:
The new park will be built so that all structures will be out of the designated flood plain to avoid such hazards in the future. At the completion of the project (which involves the construction of a 100 ft. span bridge on Garrison Street at Brooks Drive for increased water flow, the removal of the old buildings and facilities on the park site, improvements to the creek including a broader, deeper channel, and the re-creation of the entire park area) excessive rain and storm water will move more efficiently through the area. At the same time, overflow from the creek will remain in the park area which will be lowered by nearly four feet in elevation. This will result in the park itself acting as the flood plain, sparing the adjacent neighborhood from flood water.
