Revitalizing Main Streets Program Announces Project Completion

Leadville ­– The Colorado Department of Transportation is proud to announce the completion of a Revitalizing Main Streets grant program project on downtown Leadville’s legendary Harrison Avenue. CDOT’s RMS program awarded the Leadville Main Street Program, in partnership with the City of Leadville, with a grant to transform a “parklet” into a safe, secure and accessible amenity for all residents and visitors.

Partnerships between CDOT and statewide cities, like the partnership between CDOT, LMSP and the City of Leadville, evolve conversations into opportunities that allow for the regeneration of amenities and the aesthetics of main streets in Colorado. This new parklet facility is an anchor feature that includes a handwashing station, pet area, bench, picnic table and bike racks. This parklet is adjacent to the Leadville Lake County Visitor's Center with adequate bike and vehicle parking to serve residents and visitors.

Through this grant, the LMSP worked in partnership with 10 vital partners and agencies, and a group of local volunteers to create a community-driven project. The LMSP also worked with a local artist to integrate the historically bright, colorful look and feel of Leadville into this new amenity.

This new parklet facility is an anchor feature that includes a handwashing station, pet area, bench, picnic table and bike racks. This parklet is adjacent to the Leadville Lake County Visitor's Center with adequate bike and vehicle parking to serve residents and visitors.

“This important amenity will enhance the Visitor’s Center and better serve tourists adventuring through the City of Leadville looking to get information on shops, restaurants, and recreational activities,” said Greg Labbe, Mayor of Leadville.

Projects like this showcase the mission of the RMS program to provide active transportation infrastructure and amenities to safely encourage residents and visitors to come into our downtown areas.

“With the approach of working collaboratively with partners, stakeholders and community members, this parklet was able to come to life. This safe space will strengthen the connection of people to Leadville’s main street and other central economic hubs,” said Shoshana Lew, executive director of CDOT.

The RMS program encourages physical activity and enhances local economic vitality in towns and cities across Colorado through funding infrastructure improvements to make walking and biking easy, yielding long-term benefits that bolster community connections. To date, the RMS program has granted 191 grants.

About Revitalizing Main Streets Grant Program

This grant program supports downtown vitality and the built environment by encouraging economic development, supporting community access to public streets and multimodal transportation, and bringing innovative uses of public spaces for people to life. The funds are used for infrastructure improvement projects that meet the aim of the program and ‘shovel ready’, therefore can be completed within a 12-month period from grant contract execution, if approved. Learn more about RMS through the CDOT website!