Field Notes as Monday May 17th

Confluence Park on Sunday May 9^th, 2010 “Mother’s Day”

Setting out to observe how people use the South Platte Bike Path, I observed Confluence Park. As the intersection of the South Platte and the Cherry Creek bike baths, as well as their aqueous namesakes, I concluded the park would be a good place to start my observations. Upon arriving and having picked up some coffee at the REI Starbucks right on the park, I walked to the other side of the South Platte and perched on a steep hill, granting me a wonderful view of the entire park.

- -At the Starbucks located in REI, several people were standing in line and most tables occupied. A barista said the traffic wasn’t just because of the Mother’s Day holiday, “Sundays are always busy.”

- There was public water spigot so baristas wouldn’t have to keep refilling water bottles.

2:45pm

- The weather is warm, but not too hot. Its sunny, but there are a few clouds. Its breezy but nice. Overall, its perfect spring weather!

- The Bike Rack is Full at REI and the Bcycle catalog is empty

- There are lots of people, both cyclists and pedestrians. Its almost crowded

2:52pm

- Trolley Arrives at REI

- There are mostly ‘dedicated’ or ‘hardcore’ cyclists – cyclists who wear bike pants or cycling shoes. They only sometimes wear helmets.

- Flowers and Trees are blooming

- The bridge over the Platte is never empty. Its always very crowded.

2:57pm

- I see a kayaker going down the Platte rapids! It turns out there is not only one, but a small group.

- Regarding helmets, most people wear them. Kids always wear them, but surprisingly parents in less so.

- There are lots of ‘loungers’ in the area on the east side of the Cherry Creek.

- There are lots of dogs, and most of them are wet from swimming in the rivers.

- Most people come from or go to the Cherry Creek Trial instead of continuing along the Platte Trail. They cross the bridge and continue along the curve to Cherry Creek.

· Confluence Park seems like a destination. It appears to be a stopping or starting point, even though it continues both North and South of Confluence Park.

- Bcycle riders are always in pairs or groups. The same is usually true for most pedestrians and cyclists.

· Confluence Park is a social place, a community center.

- From Confluence Park, you can’t see the mountains over the Highlands (Partially obstructed by clouds). You can see all of downtown and the view is great. Sugar Mill Lofts, the Glass House, the Millennium Bridge are beautiful rising above the horizon.

- The Bridge over Speer Blvd looms over the entire park.

- Buses and cars zoom over the 15^th St Bridge.

- There is a Power Line pole right at the foot of the Speer Blvd Bridge, and it continues alone the Platte toward the Regency and out of sight.

· Colorado is reputed for it’s amazing natural beauty, but confluence park is created and fabricated nature in the heart of a city.

3:25pm

- Trolley Arrives at REI again.

- Watching the bridge/ramp to the North Trail, there is much less Traffic. It is much more narrow than the bridge across the Platte.

· Is the South leg of the South Platte Trail favored over the North Leg? How does ridership reflect that?

- All ages were represented, babies to the elderly.

3:34pm

- About half of the Bcycle bikes were returned to the catalog.

- Surrounding the park, there were lots of cars. The I-25 on ramp, the Speer Blvd Bridge, the REI Parking Lot, and the 15^th Street Bridge were all right off the park.

- The bridges across the Platte, at Speer, 20^th, 15^th, the Viaduct, 19^th, and the bridges in the City of Cuernavaca Park, were always busy with traffic.

- The was lots of hustle and commotion around the park, but the park was a ‘refuge,’ and oasis.

3:39pm

- The sun goes behind a thick cloud. The weather is still nice, but it is cooler.

- A line of people stands on the north side of the bridge watching something below. Kayakers? The Rapids? A Camera?

- At the foot of the bridge, people take pictures in front of the blooming trees.

- ‘Dad’ takes pictures of his ‘girls.’ A couple approached and offered to take the picture with all of them. They exchange cameras and take pictures of each other.

· Community. There is a sense of community in the park.

- Woman napping face down in the park.

- I hear bike bells from the bike path.

- Rapids are very fake and look artificially created. There is a terraced pillar of flowers and shrubs in the middle of river; very odd and unnatural terraces.

- The Rapids and the waterfall were created.

· The actual confluence of the South Platte and the Cherry Creek is created. I find it interesting that a park that celebrates nature is completely artificial.

- Lots of people are wearing ear buds.

3:49pm

- The park is much less crowded than an hour ago.

- ‘Beaches’ are concrete steps to the water.

3:56pm

- Birds circle overhead.

3:59pm

- The sun came out a bit, and activity in the park seemed to instantly increase.

- The trolley arrived at REI.

- A couple rides across the bridge on a tandem bicycle.

4:02pm

- A 4-person bike cab crosses the Platte Bridge. On the back, there is an advertisement for those bikes rented from the Aquarium, just a little bit down the South Platte Bike Trail.

- There is a map of all of the major bike trials in Denver right at the foot of the South Platte Bridge. It is on the Cherry Creek side of the river and doesn’t really reach riders of the Platte Trail.

- There is a Starbucks right off the park in the REI building, right off the Platte Trail, the Platte Bridge, and the Bcycle catalog.

· As the Barista said when I picked up my coffee before sitting down for observations, Sundays are busy. On a Sunday, patrons are not commuters; they are people enjoying the weekend. The park is mostly for recreation and leisure.

After sitting in the park for a few hours, I decided to rent a Bcycle and ride North of Confluence Park along the Platte Trail. I wanted to explore the idea that the Northern leg of the trail was much less traveled than the southern leg. I set out after 4pm in the afternoon, and understandably the levels of ridership would be different than a few hours earlier. Knowing this, I see the opportunity for skewed results. I decided to proceed with the ride to familiarize myself with the trail and observe the riders.

4:14pm

- I check out a Bcycle from the REI catalog right on Confluence Park. There are a few bikes available to be rented and a few spaces for bikes to be checked in.

- Riding through City of Cuernavaca Park, I was really confused by the trail. I wanted to continue north on the Platte Trail, but I followed the signs and it took me to a dead end. As it turns out, you have to circle the park and cross the Platte River to get back on the Trail.

· Although a beautiful park, the trail was much more confusing than the southern leg of the trail. I am beginning to conclude that the trail was mostly intended for trips from Confluence Park southward.

4:25pm

- Riding along the northern leg, I crossed under a Rail Road bridge next to Park Ave, and a train crossed over it just as I rode under the bridge.

- Northside Park was completely empty. There were absolutely no humans.

- I stopped at the History Riverside Cemetery, although the Trail continues northward toward Brighton.

- I encountered only a few riders along the Northern Leg of the Platte Trail. Although there were only a few people, I can’t definitely say that there was a noticeable difference in ridership from the Southern Leg.

- I ride back to the REI Bcycle station to check in my bike. Every space is full and I must ride to a different Bcycle station.

· The Park must be an afternoon spot. Although the weather may have influenced the attendance in the park, I think Confluence Park is a destination for sunny afternoons, not cool evenings.

5:13pm

- After an hour ride for a round trip of 4 miles, I check my rented Bcycle into the 16^th and Platte Station.

Overall, I realized that Confluence Park is a natural oasis created in the middle of a city. It is a destination. People ride their bikes to the park, or it is a starting point for their afternoon ride. Some people came to lounge in the sun, others to socialize and spend time with other people. It was a bustling center of activity, like the hub of a wheel, connecting all of the different paths and roads across the city.

Thinking of that analogy further, it is one of the very few centers of Denver – a city center in the old European sense, when a city was developed in concentric rings. Right on the Intersections of Speer and Interstate 25, the Confluence of the South Platte and the Cherry Creek, Confluence Park is a central meeting place for all of Denver. Interestingly enough, Speer Blvd was built following the Cherry Creek. The curve of I-25 around Downtown Denver was influenced by the South Platte. Interestingly, the use of that place has cycled over time. At first, it was the center for the uncivilized pioneer Denver. With the growth of industry, it became the intersection of main roads in the city. Now, it is back to nature, a park in the middle of the city, celebrating the confluence of rivers and of people.

A significant and surprising observation I had while sitting in the park, was that it was fake; created to look like nature in the heart of an industrialized city. The Rapids that kayakers enjoyed were artificial. The beautiful blooming flowers and trees were purposefully planted. I was surprised that this natural oasis wasn’t natural at all.