Southwest Denver
We partner with residents in Southwest Denver to make sure everyone can get to school, work, and other places safely.
Southwest Denver is a young and energetic area.
Nearly 40% population is under 18
Westwood is one of Denver’s youngest neighborhoods, full of families and school-age children. Making sure kids can walk, bike, or roll safely to school is a priority everywhere in the city but that’s on special display here.
Dynamic growth and long-time residents
Southwest Denver is experiencing an influx of new residents. Many of their neighbors have lived in that area for generations. Building healthy communities means respecting residents old and new and working together so that everyone can thrive and connect to what matters most.
Art, food, and cultural celebrations
This area is full of color and energy, with brightly-colored buildings, dozens of murals, and a growing reputation as a haven for creatives. Drop by for a photo with the Westwood Wings, to grab world-class tamales, or to dance your heart out at the Westwood Chili Fest.
Our work in Southwest Denver
Creating places to walk and bike
We collected data on sidewalks, transit stops, crash statistics, transit ridership, vehicle and pedestrian counts, and bicycle facilities in Athmar Park. The result is our Athmar Park Built Environment Assessment, complete with recommendations to improve the pedestrian experience in this Southwest Denver neighborhood.
Ensuring safe routes to school
We’ve audited walking routes for several schools in the area, reporting in some areas that nearly 90% of sidewalks and intersections are rated at three or less on a five-point quality scale. 213 of 309 total one-block sidewalk segment are less than three feet wide and only 51% of intersections have curb ramps. It’s essential that kids can get to school safely, and that begins with high-quality and well-maintained sidewalks.
Making people-friendly public spaces
In partnership with Denver CALC, we’ve installed a lot of street art in Southwest Denver. Public art makes spaces more attractive and safe, slowing traffic speeds and making the neighborhood welcoming to people walking and biking.
Supporting local businesses
We’ve worked closely with BUCU West and other neighborhood organizations to help local businesses weather the effects of COVID-19. That looks like helping restaurant owners apply for permits, funding the purchase of outdoor seating furniture, and helping family-owned restaurants get their menus online for the first time ever.
Southwest Denver Projects
School Murals
We’ve partnered with Denver Community Active Living Coalition to install murals at the Castro, Monroe, and Valverde Elementary schools. Street art makes public spaces more attractive and safe, slowing traffic speeds and making the neighborhood welcoming to people walking and biking.
Analyzing Athmar Park
We collected data on sidewalks, transit stops, crash statistics, transit ridership, vehicle and pedestrian counts, and bicycle facilities in Athmar Park. The result is our Athmar Park Built Environment Assessment, complete with recommendations to improve the pedestrian experience in this Southwest Denver neighborhood.
Local Business Support
Westwood boasts some of Denver’s best restaurants and family-owned businesses. During COVID-19, we’ve helped them expand seating outdoors and get menus online. Local businesses are the lifeblood of any community and we’re proud to support them during this challenging time.
Westwood Via Verde
The Westwood Via Verde is a three-mile neighborhood greenway project to connect existing and future community amenities and green spaces such as neighborhood bikeways, green streets, parks, and enhanced alleys. Project partners include the City and County of Denver, Westwood Unidos, BuCu West, D3 Arts, Groundwork Denver, Denver Streets Partnership, and others dedicated to a safer, healthier, and more connected Westwood.
Barnum Weir Gulch Trail Wayfinding
We joined forces with Denver Community Active Living Coalition to give the Weir Gulch trail in Barnum a playful upgrade. The trail now boasts wayfinding paw prints to help people find their way along the trail path and access local destinations.
Traffic Calming pop-ups
Residents of the Valverde and Athmar Park neighborhoods have long known that speeding is a big problem in their area. We helped slow drivers down, temporarily installing traffic cones, old car tires, paint, and planters as traffic calming at three locations. Small changes like these can make a significant difference to pedestrian safety and comfort.
Related Resources
PRESS RELEASE: West Denver Rising Viaduct Night Market on August 20th
PRESS RELEASE — Wednesday, August 17, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT Jill Locantore, Executive Director, the Denver Streets Partnership jill@denverstreetspartnership.org | 303-895-6376 Community partners to host multicultural event under West Colfax viaduct in celebration of West Denver’s bounty of culture, art, food, and music DENVER — Sun Valley Community Kitchen + Community Center, The West […]
From Parking Lots to Patios
We’re supporting our small businesses in Little Saigon, Westwood, and East Colfax in repurposing space from parking to patios. Check out our new video!
Westwood Via Verde: Connecting Community Places and Green Spaces
The Westwood Via Verde is a three-mile neighborhood greenway project to connect existing and future community amenities and green spaces such as neighborhood bikeways, green streets, parks, and enhanced alleys. Project partners include the City and County of Denver, Westwood Unidos, BuCu West, D3 Arts, Groundwork Denver, Denver Streets Partnership, and many others dedicated to achieving a safer, healthier, and more connected Westwood.
Supporting small businesses in Little Saigon and Westwood
In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Denver Streets Partnership has worked with a variety of community partners in West Denver to support the locally-owned businesses in the Little Saigon and Westwood areas. Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community and, in Denver, the places we’re trying to get to by foot, bike, or […]
Southwest Denver School Art Projects
We’ve partnered with Denver Community Active Living Coalition to install murals at the Castro, Monroe, and Valverde Elementary schools. Street art makes public spaces more attractive and safe, slowing traffic speeds and making the neighborhood welcoming to people walking and biking.
Press Release: THREE WEST DENVER COMMUNITIES SEEK TO SUPPORT FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS WITH NEW ONLINE ORDERING PLATFORMS
Restaurant owners in Denver’s Westwood and South Federal neighborhoods want the Denver community to know that they are open for business during the COVID-19 crisis, so they’ve launched two new online platforms to support these family-owned businesses.Westwoodfood.com highlights the best dishes from nine local Latin restaurants and LittleSaigonDenver.com provides access to all of South Federal’s […]
Neighbors bring attention to speeding problems in Southwest Denver
Residents of the Valverde and Athmar Park neighborhoods have long known that speeding is a big problem in their area. We helped slow drivers down, temporarily installing traffic cones, old car tires, paint, and planters as traffic calming at three locations. Small changes like these can make a significant difference to pedestrian safety and comfort. […]
Valverde Elementary School Intersection Mural
Neighbors come together and pitch in to make their streets brighter – and safer
Looking Forward to a Walkable Westwood
Article by friend of WalkDenver, Madeline Keating Located in southwest Denver, the culturally-rich Westwood neighborhood is not exactly a pedestrian haven. Sidewalks tend to be missing or deteriorated, drivers tend to drive above the already high posted speed limits on major roads such as Federal, Morrison, Alameda, Kentucky and Sheridan, intersections are unsafe due to a […]