Bradburn Walk

Boundaries – 120th Avenue, Lowell Boulevard, Tennyson Street, Big Dry Creek Open Space

Map - Use the map to follow the directions below

Distance – 3 miles

Difficulty – easy

Parking – Park near the intersection of Bradburn Boulevard and Main Street.

Description – Bradburn is arguably Westminster’s most unique and intriguing newer neighborhood. It is a national model for the “new urbanist” type of city planning with alleys that hide the garages, which are an all too dominant architectural feature in other neighborhoods. The blank garage doors have been replaced with inviting, spacious front porches which invite neighborliness.

Recluses would not enjoy Bradburn, where everyone is very friendly. Why wouldn’t they be? They have lots of small parks, a clubhouse, a school, church and hundreds of acres of open space nearby. Plus they can walk to a variety of shops, services and restaurants, (including an Irish pub) at the charming village commercial area.

Continuum Partners developed Bradburn. They also developed the Belmar mixed-use development in Lakewood. Bradburn was first subdivided in 2001. In the short time since its inception, Bradburn has received much regional and national recognition.

The name Bradburn came from Donald Bradburn, who was the first Westminster resident killed in World War I. Bradburn Boulevard in South Westminster was named after him. All of the park names in Bradburn refer to historic sites or early settlers of Westminster.  Bradburn is particularly charming when it is decorated for Halloween or Christmas. This walk will truly immerse you in the Bradburn neighborhood.

Directions – Park near the intersection of Main Street and Bradburn Boulevard. Check out the commercial establishments on Bradburn Boulevard, including some fine restaurants. The points of interest are numbered on the map and noted below.

• Walk south of Bradburn Boulevard passing by Noah’s Event Center (#1) on your right. Note the three kinetic sculptures which move in the wind. The city requires all commercial developers to provide outdoor public art or pay the city to install the art elsewhere. A complete list of the city’s public art collection is available on the city’s website. 
• Further south are three-story “live-work” units where there is a two-story townhome style residence over a “work” space and garage in the back on the first floor. Many of these spaces are homes to businesses, including an art gallery.
• At 118th Place, cross the street and note the center median with crab apple trees in the middle, a symbolic reference to when Westminster had vast apple orchards located near 80th Avenue/Lowell Boulevard in the early 1900s. 
• Veer left, staying on Bradburn Boulevard to Quitman Street. Ahead and to the left is Bradburn Green which is the largest of Bradburn’s parks, and is the site of community events and informal get-togethers throughout the year.
• Do not cross Quitman Street but turn right, proceed to the first Street (117th Court) and go right again. Walk one short block to Raleigh Place and go right.
• Picturesque Mayham Park (#2) is on the left. Take a moment to check it out. The park is named after one of Westminster’s early families. What is now called Hidden Lake at 69th Avenue/Sheridan Boulevard was originally called Mayham reservoir. Note the interesting custom homes on the right facing the park.
• Turn left onto 118th Way staying on the south side of the street and then turn left (south) on Tennyson Street, staying on the left (east) side of the street. Cross 117th Court and turn left (east). The homes in this part of Bradburn were built by New Town Builders.
• Proceed to Raleigh Place where you veer right staying on 117th Court. Go right at Quitman Street for one block. Note the attractive landscaped median on the street which harkens back to Denver’s many park boulevards such as 17th Avenue and 6th Avenue. At 117th Way, cross the street and go right (west), go one block to Tennyson Street and go left one block to 117th Avenue. 
• Straight ahead is land dedicated by the developer of Bradburn for public use. The city requires that developers dedicate land to the city at no cost to be used for parks, open space and other public uses.
• Cross 117th Avenue and go left. Walk just past the traffic circle and go back north across what is now 116th Way. Go left and the road becomes Quitman Street.
• Proceed along the right side of Quitman Street, past homes on your right until you come to a sidewalk on your right. Turn right and walk through Bradburn’s unique “white house” area (#4).  No, not THAT white house. These white clapboard houses evoke Cap Cod, Mass. or Mackinac Island, Mich. Note how residents have individualized their front porches. Cross at the first street (Perry Street) and turn right along the left side of the street. Proceed to the next street (116th Way) and turn left. Note the beautiful custom home on the corner and to the east along 116th Way.
• Turn left at Osceola Street and proceed along the left side of the street going north to the sidewalk leading through the “white house” area (#4). Go left down the sidewalk and right along the right side of Perry Street.
• Turn left at Bradburn Boulevard, staying on the left side of the street. Note the attractive townhomes on the left facing Bradburn Green (#5).
• Turn right across Bradburn Boulevard onto Quitman Street, staying on the right by the park (#5). Check out the wooden shade structure in the park. This is the sight of many Bradburn neighborhood get-togethers.
• Continue across Quitman Place on your right (staying on Quitman Street) and you will see the Bradburn Clubhouse and pool (#6) on your right. On a nice summer afternoon, this will be a beehive of activity. Look straight ahead to the tall steeple of the Rocky Mountain Presbyterian Church (#12), and you will think that you are in New England.
• Turn right at 118th Place and stay on the right (south) side of the street.
• Go right (south) on Perry Street, staying on the left (east) side of the street. Be sure to admire the beautiful custom homes facing Bradburn Green (#5).
• Turn left at Bradburn Boulevard staying on the left (north) side of the street.
• Turn right across Bradburn Boulevard at  Osceola Street. Go left onto Bradburn Boulevard past just one house and cross Osceola Street. Turn right onto Osceola Street.
• You will soon see Madison Park (#7) on the left which is flanked by white cottages. Take a left onto the sidewalk along the south side of the park and walk through this gem of a park named after the 800-acre Madison Orchard once located at 80th Avenue/Lowell Boulevard in South Westminster.
• The sidewalk dead-ends at Newton Street. Cross that street and turn right. Stay on the left (east) side of the street.  At 116th Way the sidewalk curves left (east) for one block to Newton Place.
• Take a left at Newton Place and proceed one block on the left side of the street where you will cross the street into Orchard Park (#8). Take the path through the park noting the apple orchards on the left with real apples.
• The trail leads to Newton Drive. Cross the street and proceed right (north) along the left side of the street. The sidewalk will curve left at 117th Court.
• Go one short block on 117th Court and go left on Newton Street staying on the right (east) side of the street. Note Despain Park (#9) on the right. This park is named after the first pioneer family that settled in what is now South Westminster.
• Go one block and turn right at Bradburn Boulevard staying on the right (north side) of the street. Note the incredible custom homes on the right.
• Turn right at Osceola Street staying on the right (east) side of the street. Proceed north to 118th Place passing by Despain Park (#9) again on your right.
• Cross 118th Place and turn right onto to the north side of the street. Walk past some attractive townhomes.
• Proceed one block and turn left (north) onto Newton Street staying on the left (west) side of the street. This is the apartment sector of Bradburn.
• Proceed north to Commons Park (#11) on the left. On the right is the Bradburn Apartments club house (#10) which is designed to resemble an early 1900s two- story school house.
• Turn left (west) at Main Street and walk next to Commons Park along the north side of the park. Note the spray fountain (in warm weather) at the west end of the park. Look around at the buildings which enclose the space. This architecture resembles the charming townhome neighborhoods in Chicago and Boston. These are rental apartments which are mostly three-story townhomes with their own entrance at the street. There are passageways at the corner of the buildings leading to the hidden parking area.
• Continue west passing by the lovely white frame Rocky Mountain Presbyterian Church (#12) and a pre-school.
• The Bradburn “post office” is on the right. All Bradburn residents pick up their mail at this location which also enhances neighborhood interactions.
• Soon you will be back to Bradburn Boulevard and the end of the tour. Hope you enjoyed this truly unique Westminster neighborhood.