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The Greenway Foundation

The Greenway Foundation

Revitalizing Rivers. Reconnecting Communities.

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Shoemaker Plaza at Confluence Park

Shoemaker Plaza at Confluence Park

Shoemaker Plaza at Confluence Park stands in the heart of the city and at the very birthplace of Denver. The grand re-opening was finally realized in October of 2017. Neither record high water nor the unexpected discovery of environmental contaminants could stop this project, which re-invented the historic Shoemaker Plaza for the 21st Century with improved bike and pedestrian flow, better access to the river and a series of vibrant new gathering spaces along the South Platte.

Two months into construction, the team found coal tar, a byproduct of historic industrial activity, during routine excavation along the river bed. The project was on hold for 16 months while the team addressed the design, permitting and financial challenges that coal tar presented. Undaunted by these obstacles, the City, MHFD, Wenk and ECI came together and developed a strategy to keep the project moving, and on a beautiful October morning, the ribbon was cut on the renovated Plaza with hundreds of supporters cheering from the new concrete terraces.

The Greenway Foundation helped to improve Denver's Confluence Park
Rafting on South Platte River at The Greenway Foundation's Cross Currents Event
Children build a pool to house crawfish along the South Platte River at Art on the River
Thousands of people gather for CrossCurrents on the South Platte River

Project Location

Confluence Park in Our Blog

  • GLC’s Spring Stewardship Day
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  • Coors Light South Platte Riverfest 2015 Recap
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  • 50th Anniversary of Denver’s Largest Natural Disaster
  • From “What River” to River Vision

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Greenway Projects

Adams County South Platte River Vision and Implementation Plan

Adams County South Platte River Vision & Implementation Plan

Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project

Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project

Hydro - The CSU SPUR Campus/Water Center

CSU SPUR Campus / Water Center

Fountain Creek Watershed Vision & Implementation Plan

Fountain Creek Watershed Vision & Implementation Plan

Globeville Landing Park

Globeville Landing Park

Grant Frontier Park

Grant Frontier Park

Heron Pond/Carpio- Sanguinette Parks

Heron Pond / Carpio- Sanguinette Parks

Johnson Habitat Park

Johnson Habitat Park

National Western Center Open Space

National Western Center Open Space

RiNo Art Park & RiNo Promenade

RiNo Art Park & RiNo Promenade

Shoemaker Plaza at Confluence Park

Shoemaker Plaza at Confluence Park

Fall Colors Along the South Platte River

South Platte River and Tributaries Project

The River Mile

The River Mile

Canada Geese Along the South Platte River

Trinidad Purgatorie Visioning Project

Current News

Mayoral Candidates on the Future of Denver’s Urban Waterways

The Greenway Foundation reached out to the current 2023 Denver Mayoral Candidates, asking each to respond to three questions concerning the future Denver’s Urban Waterways. As we receive their responses …

More Blog Posts

2022 RECAP: River Rangers

January GLC: Youth Career Exploration Day!

2022 RECAP- The Greenway Leadership Corps (GLC)

Jeff Shoemaker Retires from The Greenway Foundation


The Greenway Foundation

1820 Platte Street, Denver, CO 80202

info@greenwayfoundation.org

303.481.1974

FEIN: 51-0193575

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