Wheat Ridge Historical Society May Festival
Spring is definitely here, and that means it’s time for the Historical Society’s May Festival, scheduled for Saturday, May 11 at the Historical Park (4510 Robb St.) from 10:00 to 2:00.
The May celebration of spring will feature traditional Maypole dances at 11:00 and 1:00 with live music provided by Golden Strings. Antique cars and games galore. as well as crafts and conversation round out the offerings. New this year are a make-a-puppet booth for the kids, complete with a puppet stage for shows, and a May basket-making stand. Stop by and see our poultry expert and some truly beautiful chickens! Tours through the four museum buildings are free all day! Join us for a trip back in time to when life was a little simpler.
Come visit the Historical Park! The museums are open Fridays, 10:00-3:00, and, new this year, Saturdays, too, from 10:00 to 2:00! For information on all of the above and more, go to our website at wheatridgehistoricalsociety.org, email us at wrhistorical@gmail.com, call 303-421-9111, or stop by the White Family Home at the Red Brick House Fridays or Saturdays at 4610 Robb St.
Wheat Ridge Proposes Tabor Lake Trail
The City of Wheat Ridge is proposing to develop a trail around Tabor Lake that will be ADA accessible from its east and north sides, and open to both pedestrian and bike traffic. The western side of the lake would also have an ADA accessible trail, but with a soft surface intended for pedestrian traffic only.
The Parks and Recreation department was awarded $410,000 in matching funding through the Jefferson County Open Space’s Trails Partnership Program to contract with a firm to engineer the trail design and subsequently with a construction firm to build the trail. Additional funding for the project would come from the federal American Rescue Plan, which awarded Wheat Ridge $7.8 million in 2021. The City has also applied for a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the United States Department of the Interior.
Edgewater Community Garden Plots Available
The City of Edgewater is now accepting applications for vacant plots in the 2024 Community Garden located behind the historic Orum House at 24th Avenue and Depew Street. The plots are available first come first serve, and cost $30 for a 10’x7′ plot + $25 dues to Denver Urban Gardens. Financial Aid is available for Edgewater residents. The growing season runs May to October, and plot owners can use their garden beds to grow nutritious food or flowers to enjoy and share.
Interested parties can contact Parks and Recreation Director Amber Magee at AMagee@EdgewaterCO.com or 720-763-3010.
Lutheran Medical Center, JeffCo Team Up for New Program
Jefferson County Public Health and Wheat Ridge’s Lutheran Medical Center, are participating in the Family Connects pilot program to connect all new parents who deliver at Lutheran with a highly-trained registered nurse at no cost. Unlike the traditional post-birth experience, Family Connects nurses visit the family in their home to support everyone’s health and wellbeing in the household.
Families who deliver at Lutheran are contacted at the hospital to schedule a home visit or can schedule on their own online at familyconnectscolorado.org.
“When the youngest among us thrive, we all do. Everyone in the community has a responsibility to help our children get off to the best start possible,” said Alix Hopkins, Family Services Director at JCPH. “The Family Connects nurses provide a warm hand-off to existing service providers in the county to ensure that the families are getting what they need.”
Safer Roads in Wheat Ridge
Bike Jeffco, the Wheat Ridge Active Transportation Advisory Team, and the City of Wheat Ridge are collaborating on the 2024 Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities Program. During this nine-month program, the Safe Routes Partnership will work with the coalition to provide technical assistance and analysis that will lead to recommendations aimed to improve pedestrian and cyclist travel to local parks and green spaces.
The Wheat Ridge Safe Routes to Parks initiative aims to improve safety and security for people walking or bicycling to parks and green spaces in the city. This need is especially pronounced in neighborhoods and communities lacking infrastructure to support safe walking and bicycling, where violence and crime are prevalent, and where high rates of weight-related chronic disease are prevalent.
Since 2010, Wheat Ridge has had more than 300 people seriously injured or killed in crashes on Wheat Ridge streets, about 70 of which were bicyclists or pedestrians. Fruitdale Park and Crown Hill Park have been identified as focus areas. Updates can be found at https://whatsupwheatridge.com/srtp.
Illegal Pete’s Opens
Ribbon cutting was held at Illegal Pete’s, 10009 W. 26th Ave., with Wheat Ridge Mayor Bud Starker and owner Pete Turner cutting the ribbon. Attending were Illegal Pete’s staff, Wheat Ridge Councilors Scott Ohm and Dan Larson, members of the Wheat Ridge Business Association and the Wheat Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Maki DeLaet.
