NE Lakewood Arts District

Questions such as these came to mind several years ago as a group of Lakewood residents were discussing ways to bring new life to West Colfax Avenue.Now those questions have become an in-depth discussion. The City has been working with interested residents, students, artists, businesses and community members to explore opportunities for creating an arts district in the vicinity of the Lamar Street light rail station and the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design in northeast Lakewood. A task force consisting of members from the Two Creeks and Northeast Lakewood neighborhood organizations, the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, the Lakewood Arts Council, local businesses, and others in the area have helped guide the discussion. Four community meetings have been held. A group of interested individuals will continue to meet and work on bringing the arts district idea to life.

 

In addition to the arts district, opportunities to enhance the environmental, social, and economic health of the community are being considered as part of this process. Recommendations for improving pedestrian and bicycle connections between the Lamar station and adjacent businesses and neighborhoods are being discussed. This includes considering opportunities for bicycle and car sharing programs to help increase mobility in the area surrounding the transit station. The effort will also address ways to provide clear and attractive directional signs and other improvements to public spaces to enhance the arts district concept. For more information, please visit www.lakewood.org/LamarArtDistrict and/or www.Facebook.com/LamarArtDistrictPlan.

Reprinted with permission from the Two Creeks Neighborhood Organization newsletter 5/2011