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Workman Park taking shape on Yampa Street

Scott Franz
Crews work Friday to create the new Workman Park on the Yampa River. The project also replaced a failing culvert on Butcherknife Creek and created new access to the river.
Scott Franz

— The two construction projects that are happening on both ends of Yampa Street right now are poised to significantly change the look and feel of the city’s funky downtown roadway.

Crews on the south end of Yampa are wrapping up phase one of a project to turn a century-old homesite into a public park with river access.

Terracing and riverbank improvements are now complete, and a new stone staircase goes right to the Yampa River at what will become Workman Park. Crews were busy planting willows at the site on Friday.



City engineer Danny Paul said the park will soon be fenced off, and work will resume in the spring.

Sod needs to be planted and landscaping work needs to be done before the park is opened to the public.



“We’re hoping to open it in early June,” Paul said.

The section of Yampa that was closed off during the construction was reopened on Friday.

The work at the Workman site also included the replacement of a culvert that was failing on Butcherknife Creek.

The retaining walls that used to serve as the riverbank have been replaced with a more natural-looking riverbank that visitors to the park will be able to access.

Meanwhile, construction crews on the north end of Yampa are starting a major project to repurpose Yampa Valley Electric Association’s old headquarters into a mix of commercial, retail and residential spaces.

Developer Blue Sage Ventures recently announced a brewpub will be the redevelopment project’s lead tenant.

Part of the building could be occupied as soon as June.

The project contains 26,000 square feet of retail and commercial space and 6,400 square feet of loft condominiums. It will also feature on-site parking and a 4,000-square-foot plaza.

All of the work on Yampa comes ahead of a major downtown revitalization project that is poised to start in the spring.

The investment from the city will add new sidewalks and a promenade on Yampa. Utilities will also be moved underground.

The plan also calls for new sidewalks on Oak Street and other pedestrian improvements.

To reach Scott Franz, call 970-871-4210, email scottfranz@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @ScottFranz10


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