Governor Polis Announces Plans for Pedestrian Walkway in Honor of Colorado’s 150th Anniversary

The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway will connect Coloradans to Lincoln Veterans Park and commemorate Colorado's great history.

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced plans to build the Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway, an experiential walkway connecting the Colorado State Capitol to Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park. This walkway will help increase pedestrian safety at an intersection by providing Coloradans with a safe passageway to access the downtown Denver area during their daily lives while telling the story of Colorado's 150 years through an iconic walkway in the civic heart of Colorado.

"As we get closer to Colorado's 150th birthday, we continue working to make Colorado the best place to live, work and play. What better way to celebrate this milestone than with a walkable art experience that highlights our state's history and future, while also increasing pedestrian safety and walkability. I look forward to seeing this amazing walkway come to life and create an exceptional experience for Coloradans and visitors alike," said Governor Polis.

The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway represents a public-private partnership led by the Governor's Office and the P3 Office at the Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration alongside History Colorado. Serving as a new gateway into revitalized Downtown Denver, the initiative aims to further re-energize and highlight the Civic Center area, including renovations to Denver Central Library, Denver Art Museum upgrades, the new Populus hotel, the future 5280 Trail, Civic Center Next 100: Greek Theater + Central Promenade and the McNichols Building's museum.

The P3 Office has contracted with Studio Gang, a design firm based in Chicago, with Denver partner firms. The design process will be a collaborative effort, bringing forward local Colorado artists and businesses to help narrate the state's story, and serve as a functional piece of public art. The State's initial investment of $1.5 million is for concept, design and community engagement and a public bid process for construction will commence in the Spring. The walkway will be funded by a combination of public and private donations, lifting the stories of Colorado's industries, iconic individuals and cultural traditions.

Incorporating Governor Polis' directives for the 150/250 Celebrations and the comprehensive work of the 150/250 Commission, the pedestrian walkway will become a focal point for statewide festivities.

In the coming weeks, the Governor's Office will engage with industry, artists and cultural partners around the state to develop an inclusive and robust plan for this walkway. The Governor's Office has organized a statewide online survey for Coloradans across the state to share stories about Colorado and offer suggestions of the cultural and industry stories the walkway should include.

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