Management Plan for Clear Creek Summer 2022

As Golden residents can attest, May and June signal the start of another busy summer season in Golden along Clear Creek. Stretching across downtown Golden, the Clear Creek Corridor attracts community members, cyclists, tubers, and many other visitors during the warm summer months.

After years of continued growth in activity in the Clear Creek corridor, the City of Golden has introduced a series of measures aimed at improving conditions in the corridor so that everyone can enjoy beautiful Clear Creek and adjacent trails and parks.

Golden’s City Council and city staff have worked with community members, tubing outfitters, and others to build policies that aim to meet the following goals:

Here’s the City of Golden’s plan for 2022:

1. Improving Parking Communications for Residents and Visitors

• Providing FREE parking at the City’s Clear Creek Lot, which is located at 304 10th Street (the corner of 10th Street and Archer Street, east of Ford).

• Expanding and enforcing permit parking in the 9th Street neighborhood, west of Washington Avenue. Enforcement previously only took place on weekends.

• Parking along 10th Street and in city parking lots at the Visitor Center and west of the Library will be managed like Golden’s downtown area. Adjacent residents and employees may apply for permits, but the balance of the parking will be under the same paid system as downtown. Users will register their license plate at a kiosk or use the Parkmobile phone app and be able to choose two hours free or pay for longer periods.

• The spaces in front of City Hall on the south side of 10th Street, will be reserved for City Hall business Monday through Friday during business hours, and the City Hall/ History Museum lot will be reserved for city employees and museum patrons every day.

• The parking lot west of the ballfields will be used only as a drop-off and pick-up lane for creek and park users.

Signs directing visitors to use the free Clear Creek Lot will be present throughout key intersections in Downtown Golden.

2. Easing Congestion on the Clear Creek Corridor Trail

• Instituting a new permit system for tube rental companies to limit the total number of tubes rented daily.

• Directing tubers, pedestrians, and other slower traffic to use the north side of the Clear Creek Corridor Trail.

• Reserving the south side of the Clear Creek Trail for faster traffic from cyclists.

• Creating easier way-finding signs for visitors to the trail.

• Requiring tube rental companies to provide shuttles for customers by 2023, with some companies expected to provide a shuttle service as early as summer 2022.

Signs directing traffic will be placed throughout the Clear Creek Corridor Trail.

3. Keeping Everyone Safe on Clear Creek

• Requiring all tube rental companies to provide lifejackets with all tube rentals and informing all users that lifejackets are required for all tubers.

• Lowering the threshold of Clear Creek flows slightly to give Creek users ample warning about appropriate times to use the Creek.

• Marking clear spots to access and exit Clear Creek.

4. Ensuring Safe and Family-Friendly Parks

• Strictly enforcing city rules around prohibiting the consumption of alcohol, all smoking and vaping, and ensuring all pet owners clean up after their leashed pets.

• Continuing the City of Golden Parks and Recreation Department’s Clear Creek Ambassador Program to assist visitors.

• Ensuring trash and recycling facilities are properly maintained.

• Cleaning and maintaining public restroom facilities.

5. Keeping Clear Creek Clean

• Prohibiting single-use containers and wrappers while tubing, rafting, swimming, or wading in Clear Creek

Signs will inform visitors about the rules in parks and locations around the perimeter of the trail.

This information is subject to change throughout the summer as we strive to ensure the best experience possible for all. For the most up-to-date information, maps, and conditions throughout the summer, please visit www.visitgolden.com/creek-info.

For any inquiries about Creek rules or to report feedback, you can email Creek@cityofgolden.net or call 303-384-8074. Please remember that all emergency calls about life-threatening situations should always go to 911, and any non-emergency calls for Police, Fire or EMS support should go to 303-980-7300.