Denver council passes nearly $13 million for Sanderson Gulch improvements; mayoral approval pending
The council approved a $5.91 million appropriation and a related Mile High Flood District agreement, but final enactment has not been confirmed.
Denver City Council passed two measures Aug. 10 that would provide nearly $13 million for Sanderson Gulch improvements. Available records as of Aug. 12 do not show that Mayor Mike Johnston had signed either measure or that publication and final enactment were complete.
One measure appropriates $5,912,874 from the Wastewater Enterprise Fund for the Sanderson Gulch Design and Construction Improvement Project. The filed appropriation bill directs the money to a Storm Capital-Southwest account for drainage, flood-control, trail and bridge improvements in Sanderson Gulch and along Florida and Arkansas avenues.
The council also passed a fifth amendatory agreement with the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, doing business as Mile High Flood District. The filed agreement bill authorizes design and construction improvements in Council District 7 without changing the agreement’s term. The city’s Aug. 10 agenda identified the amendment as adding $7,077,956, bringing the agreement total to $22,166,098.74.
The Legistar record lists the agreement amendment as awaiting the mayor’s signature. The filed bills also have incomplete fields for mayoral approval, ordinance number, Clerk and Recorder attestation and Denver Post publication. The records establish council passage but not final enactment of either measure.
The project is planned for the Sanderson Gulch corridor between West Florida and West Arkansas avenues. Denver Parks and Recreation’s project information estimates design from fall 2023 through summer 2026, construction beginning in fall 2026 and completion in early 2028. The schedule is subject to change, and available records do not confirm that design was completed or construction had begun by Aug. 12.
Planned work includes replacing culverts at Florida and Arkansas avenues, which the city says are undersized for a 100-year flood event; improving the multiuse path and floodplain; upgrading the Arkansas pedestrian undercrossing; and creating a second undercrossing. The records do not provide a detailed construction sequence.
A 2025 Legistar record listed the corridor agreement total at $15,088,142.74 after earlier city and Mile High Flood District amendments. The available records do not provide a confirmed completion date beyond the Parks and Recreation estimate of early 2028.