Colorado Capitol building getting pricy new addition for state’s 150th birthday

DENVER — What do you get a state that is about to turn 150? Apparently, an elevated pedestrian walkway.

Gov. Jared Polis, D-C.O., wants to build a pedestrian walkway from the west steps of the State Capitol across Lincoln Street to Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park.

However, the effort appears to be more about creating an art display for the nation’s 250th and state’s 150th birthday and less about pedestrian safety.

Stats from the city of Denver’s crash locations database show that in 2024, there was one pedestrian-involved crash on Lincoln at Colfax. In the last three years, there have been five, all at the intersection of Lincoln Street and Colfax Avenue and two other crashes at Lincoln Street at 14th Avenue.

The state has spent $1.5 million for concept and design from a Chicago-based company that also designed the new Populus building near the Wellington Webb Building and was previously selected to work on improvements to the Civic Center Park Greek Amphitheater.

“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,” Polis said in a statement on Friday morning.

At the State Capitol on Friday, the Capitol Building Advisory Committee met and heard a brief presentation about the walkway from Danielle Oliveto, one of the committee’s members and Polis’ Deputy Chief of Staff.

See the entire presentation below:

She described the walkway as a piece of art that can tell the story of industries that have helped shape Colorado’s 150 years, but that requires funding from those private businesses.

“We are going to call on industry and help organize these stories and also hope that those stories come along with financial support. So, we turn those stories over to our local artists to integrate into the walkway,” Oliveto said.

The fundraising effort is at least $5 million, if not more, to prevent or limit the amount of public funding needed.

Drawings and an estimate should be known in January.

The walkway would go from the State Capitol’s west steps and angle north toward Colfax Avenue. It would not be a straight across walkway mid-block.

There is also a phase two, which is unfunded right now, for another walkway from Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park across Broadway to Civic Center Park.