North Denver News

By Trish Zornio Cultivando, a nonprofit advocacy group that spearheaded air monitoring near the Suncor Energy refinery, has confirmed they have pulled out of a $500,000 air monitoring grant awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency. The grant was awarded last fall and was expected to extend the air monitoring program for at least one more year. The Executive Director of Cultivando, Olga Gonzalez, stated the decision was based on... Read more...

By Basha Cohen Dragon-boat heads are bobbing in the boathouse marina of Sloan’s Lake. The steady sound of practicing teams’ grunts and chants wafts through the air as the Dragon Boat Festival returns for its 21st year, celebrating the Year of the Water Rabbit (and the Year of the Cat in Vietnamese culture). The highly anticipated festival comes to the shores of Sloan’s Lake on July 22 and 23 with more than 40 teams racing. In... Read more...

By Eric Heinz Following the catastrophic freight derailment that took place in East Palestine, Ohio, Councilwoman Deborah Ortega revitalized a policy to prevent new development within 100 feet of railroads that ferry hazardous materials. But because of the negative effects that the policy could have on planned development, Laura Aldrete, the director of Denver’s Community Planning and Development department, wrote that the policy... Read more...

By Eric Heinz A fixture of North Denver, La Raza Park is now the city’s third historic cultural district. The City Council recently voted unanimously (11-0) to approve the designation as it has significant historic and cultural value to the area. Councilwoman Amanda P. Sandoval, who represents the district where the park is located, headed the effort along with city staff and community members. “I am proud to have worked on the... Read more...

By Kathryn White Twice a month, Mary Wilham takes a packet of five letters to the post office near her house in the West Highland neighborhood. In the days that follow, her letters make their way to intended recipients: people who are strangers to Wilham, residents in long-term care facilities in towns Wilham has been to or would like to visit someday. Kathryn White “That gives me a topic to write about,” Wilham said, “I’ll ask... Read more...

By Gannon Rothman Denver Public Schools’ Board of Education has decided to return police officers to certain campuses, and it will implement a long-term safety plan in response to recent violence. The divided school board voted to overturn its 2020 decision to initially remove school resource officers (SROs) from schools after some board members said police unfairly target students of color and that the policy contributes to a... Read more...

By Erika Taylor When I started this column weeks ago, summer seemed a long way off. But last week, all of a sudden we reached that point we always do in July here in Denver; delayed though it was, the sun is getting hotter. The temperatures are rising, and many of us start to fret about being invited somewhere we need to wear a swimsuit. The body we’ve been wrapping in sweats all winter (even more than usual this year!) will soon be... Read more...

By Eric Heinz Situated much like the United Nations building, a thin crescent of a structure, the former Clarion Hotel was recently purchased by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) to create transitional housing and interim shelter. The former Clarion, 200 W. 48th Ave., will now be called Renewal Village, according to Cathy Alderman, a spokesperson for CCH. “The ability to convert properties into housing means that we... Read more...

By Allen Cowgill What do you think the appropr iate number of deaths due to traffic crashes is? The city of Denver still thinks that number should be zero. Allen Cowgill In May, the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) announced its new six-year action plan for Vision Zero, or the goal of having zero traffic deaths. This comes after two recent record years of traffic deaths in Denver, with 84 traffic... Read more...

By Toni Tresca After years of planning, negotiations and construction, the Arkins Park community performance and art venue is now complete. Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) and RiNo Art District, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit art organization partner of the park, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently to commemorate the opening of a brand-new community and performing arts venue in Arkins Park. “This has been an amazing journey over 12... Read more...