City Park Walk

Boundaries – Located at the northwest corner of 105th Avenue/Sheridan Boulevard.

Map - Use this map  to follow the directions below.  

Distance – 2.35 miles

Difficulty – Easy

Parking – Park south of the City Park Recreation Center, which is accessed by going west of Sheridan Boulevard at 105th Avenue.

Description - This pathway will take you past all of the attractions at the 200-acre Westminster City Park. The views of the mountains to the west are stunning. Westminster City Park has a classical design unusual to find in a suburban location. For example, the soccer field is a perfect circle. The circular sidewalk around it is exactly one-half mile. Also, the grand staircase aligns directly with Long’s Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. The Big Dry Creek meanders through the park and provides a natural, intimate scale to the park. Be sure to bring plenty of water and a hat for shade.

View pictures of the walk.

Directions (print directions)

• Begin the walk in front of the entrance to the City Park Recreation Center (#1). Facing the center, go right along the sidewalk on the south and east side of the center to the traffic roundabout.
• Turn left at the roundabout. Surrounding this area are 18 “art walls (#2).” These are three dimensional panels carved from brick by Pueblo Colorado Artist Ken Williams. These are a series of separate panels depicting indigenous Colorado wildlife.
• Go west (toward the mountains) passing through portals created by brick columns to the wonderful plaza (#3) located between the City Park Recreation Center (#1) to the south and the City Park Fitness Center (#4) to the north. The focal points of the plaza are several large slabs of Lyons sandstone which are a part of a fountain operating in summer months. The City Park Fitness Center (#1) to the south is targeted to families, with an indoor leisure pool, gymnasium, weight room, climbing wall, racquetball, pottery studio and community room. The City Park Fitness Center (#4) to the north is an adults only facility with a large weight/exercise machine area and rooms for exercise classes.
• Proceed west to the top of the stairs. You are at elevation of 5,362 feet above sea level! This is the Grand Staircase (#5) which drops 50 feet from top to bottom. There are nine sets of stairs – 10 steps on the upper three sets, 11 steps in the middle sets and 12 steps on the lower three for a total of 99 steps! The stairs line up directly with Longs Peak straight ahead. Exercise enthusiasts often run up and downthe stairs and the lawns on either side.

• The slopes on either side of Grand Staircase form a very popular sledding Hill (#6) following a snowstorm.
• Walk down the stairs and take a right at the stairs second landing area. If you go to the bottom, you have gone too far. Walk down the sidewalk. On your right, you will pass the farm-themed playground (#7) along with two picnic shelters. On your left is the huge circular soccer field (#8). Four soccer fields are located in this area, which are very popular during the warmer months.
• Keep walking on the circular path around the soccer field to the large Lake Pavilion (#9) located on a promontory overlooking the 7-acre City Park Lake (#10). The top of the pavilion is covered with fabric, which provides shade for several picnic tables.
• Walk past the pavilion on the circular sidewalk along the edge of the soccer field to the sidewalk intersecting on the right. Take this gravel path, which hugs the shoreline of City Park Lake (#10). Be on the lookout for water fowl that are attracted to the lake.

• Continue on the path to the north end of the lake (right) and veer off the path to the north and join the Big Dry Creek Trail (#11) as it crosses over the creek on a metal bridge (by the white shed).
• Just north of the bridge turn left onto a gravel path, which leads to the Promenade Detention Pond (#12). The pond stores stormwater runoff from the Westminster Promenade development.
• Continue on the gravel path, veer right at the first fork and then veer left and the second and third fork. You will come to a concrete path at the scenic Promenade Terrace (#13).  This beautiful amphitheatre is a popular wedding venue.  Kids love to splash in the waterfall as it cascades down the hillside.

• Continue past Promenade Terrace as the concrete path drops down to the left and crosses a bridge over Big Dry Creek. At the Big Dry Creek Trail turn right, soon crossing another small bridge over Hyland Creek.  Turn left just past the bridge and proceed to the Armed Forces Tribute Garden (#14). The focal point of the garden is a somber, touching sculpture entitled “Grieving Friends.” Take time to read some of the inscriptions in pavers grouped by the six branches of the military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines).

• Go north out of the garden across the long pedestrian bridge. At the north end of the bridge, turn around to see a stunning view of the sculptures framed by the bridge. Proceed north up the stairway to the sidewalk. At the top of the stairs turn right and walk along the south side of the park road. Go straight across the access road to 104th Avenue coming in on your right. Soon you will turn left at the crosswalk (north) crossing the park road and proceed through the west entrance to Christopher Field (#15), a four-field softball complex. Pause to appreciate the bronze sculpture of a young ball player entitled “First Mitt.”
• Continue north past the sculpture on the sidewalk, which forms a semi-circle around the ball fields. On the left, notice the 18-hole Frisbee golf course (#16), which meanders in the Big Dry Creek Valley. You will also pass the skate park (#17), which usually attracts many energetic youth.
• Take a left turn at the plaza on the east side of the ball fields and follow the sidewalk on the north side of the parking lots and park access road back to the front of the City Park Recreation Center.

 Hope you enjoyed your walk!