Farmers’ High Line Canal Open Space
Farmers’ High Line Canal Open Space – U.S. 36 to BNSF Railroad.
The shady canal is the focal point of this very attractive open space. The Farmers’ High Line Canal Trail extends about one mile through this area. The city owns a total of 34.2 acres of open space in this area.
This open space preserves about 710 feet of frontage along the west side of U.S. 36. There is an informal trail along the south side of the canal between U.S. 36 and Westminster Boulevard. The underbrush to the north provides habitat for fox.
Between Westminster Boulevard and Pierce Street, the trail is located mostly between the Farmers’ High Line Canal and the inactive (abandoned) Niver Canal. Huge cottonwood and willow trees line both ditches and help to screen the views of the nearby single family homes from the trail. The trees provide both beauty and much appreciated shade. This area is one of Westminster’s most memorable open spaces.
West of Pierce Street is the historic Semper/Allison Home area. This home is designated as a Westminster Historic Landmark and was recently restored by the city. The home was built in two sections. The older two story building was built in 1881-1882 and the newer one story part was built in 1961. The original part of the house was built by Charles and Julia Semper who founded the nearby Village of Semper (now gone). The village had a train depot, school and general store located at the southeast corner of 92nd Avenue and the BNSF railroad. The farm is located at the crossroads of the historic Cherokee Trail, historic irrigation canals and historic railroad alignments. In 1916, the Semper home was purchased by John Allison. His family and descendents lived in the home until the farm area was purchased by the city for open space in 1989.
The area around the house also includes a recently restored pump house originally built in 1961 and the remnants of a 19th century brick lined well. Both were recently restored in separate Eagle Scout projects. Look carefully to see the remnants of an apple orchard. The largest common apple tree in Colorado is located just east of the farm house.
There is a parking lot that can be used by visitors to the Semper/Allison Farm as well as trail users.
North of the parking lot is the Allison Community Gardens at Semper Farm which is a facility of Denver Urban Gardens. The garden is located on city-owned property.
South of the trail is the abandoned Niver Canal and the active Farmers’ High Line Canal. This area is totally overgrown with a wonderful impenetrable wild life habitat.
West of 92nd Place, the city owns most of this land as open space. Much of this area encompasses the abandoned Niver Canal. The city owns a strip of land between the BNSF railroad and the Cambridge Farms Subdivision. Eventually, the Farmers’ High Line Canal Trail will be re-routed through this area.
The city has preserved 1,490 feet of open space frontage along the north side of 92nd Avenue between Pierce Street and the BNSF railroad.
Farmer’s High Line Canal Open Space – South of 104th Avenue at Legacy Ridge Parkway.
This often viewed but seldom visited 7 acre of open space protects a pretty hillside sloping toward 104th Avenue. The open space preserves about 875 feet of frontage along the south side of heavily used 104th Avenue. The grassy hill is bounded on the south and east side by the tree-lined Farmers’ High Line Canal Trail. A narrow dirt trail extends south of 104th Avenue along the canal eventually to the end of the 103rd Avenue cul-de-sac in the Hyland Greens subdivision. Much of this informal trail is shaded by ancient cottonwood trees and is quite beautiful! This open space is best appreciated on foot rather than on bike.
To access this open space park at the far east end of the 103rd Avenue cul-de-sac, east of Wolff Street, go east of the cul-de-sac to the trail and go north.
Farmers’ High Line Canal Open Space – Between Sheridan Boulevard and U.S. 36.
The city owns 9.9 acres of open space along the canal which protects 500 feet of frontage along Sheridan Boulevard. This open space is not yet accessible to the public during the construction of the Hyland Village development. Eventually, a concrete trail will be constructed along the north side of the canal between Sheridan Boulevard and U.S. 36 where the trail will turn north and go under 98th Avenue on to the Hyland Ponds Open Space.
The Farmers’ High Line Canal parallels the abandoned Niver Canal both of which are overgrown with trees and shrubs. Huge cottonwood trees line the Farmers’ High Line Canal. A grassy field with a sprinkling of trees borders Sheridan Boulevard and is a remnant of the farm which previously occupied this area.