1975:
• Confluence Park is completed and dedicated (one of four original projects).

1976 – 1983:
• P.R.D.C. becomes the Greenway Foundation, a private 501c3 non-profit to allow solicitation and acceptance of private contributions.
• The Greenway Foundation receives contributions from:

Gates Foundation
Johnson Foundation
Piton Foundation
Boettcher Foundation
El Pomar Foundation
Denver Foundation
Additional funds from Federal, State and
Local Agencies are pursued and obtained.

• Numerous corporate/individual contributions are received.
• Over 250 sources of pollution dumping into South Platte eliminated.
• Concrete bike path constructed along 10.5 mile stretch of South Platte in Denver.
• Remaining three original park/trail projects completed in North/Central/South Denver.
• Additional 10 parks constructed on former landfill dumpsites.
• 10 boating obstructions replaced with boat chutes/notches.
• Initial section of Cherry Creek bike path constructed (between Market St. and Confluence Park – birthplace of Denver).
• Weir Gulch and Lakewood Gulch tributary trails are initiated.
• River Ranger program initiated (youth employment program) to assist with maintenance of various parks and trails.

1984 - 1986:
• Constructed Bear Creek Greenway (tributary through Jefferson/Arapahoe/Denver Counties).
• Constructed expansion of Sanderson Gulch Greenway (tributary through Jefferson/Denver Counties).
• Outdoor Education program (Greenway Experience) established (Elementary School tours led by High School Guides).
1986 - Initiated construction of Cherry Creek South Greenway (Cherry Creek State Park to Castlewood Canyon State Park tributary through Douglas/Arapahoe & Denver Counties).

1986 – 1989:
• Constructed section of Cherry Creek South Greenway within Town of Parker (8 miles).

1987:
• Initial discussions of making Cherry Creek in Lower Downtown a boatable tourism attraction initiated.

1990 – 1994:
• Constructed stretches of Cherry Creek in unincorporated Douglas County and Castlewood Canyon State Park.

1993:
• Initiated design and funding of “Venice on the Creek”, the tourism boating attraction along LoDo’s Cherry Creek in Denver.
• Initiated design of Aurora and Arapahoe County sections of Cherry Creek South Greenway.

1995:
-Constructed Phase I (Blake St. – Delgany St.) of “Venice on the Creek” (4 City blocks).

1996:
• Phase I of “Venice on the Creek” opened to the public - River Ranger program returns after 6 year hiatus.
• Partnership with South Platte River Commission begins - Education program expanded into Middle Schools.

1998:
• Phase II of “Venice on the Creek” constructed/opened to the public (Lawrence St. – Blake St.) (3 City blocks).
• Free special events initiated to encourage public awareness and usage of the Greenway.
• River Rendezvous – two day Frontier Day celebration.
• Confluence Concerts – four free evening concerts at Confluence Park.
• NIMBY (not-in-my-back-yard) Fest – volunteer based cleanup of River (metro wide – 30 miles).
• Initiated design of improvements to 7 block section of River adjacent to Overland Golf Course in Denver.
• Served as “host” Foundation for landscaping/playfield improvements at D.P.S. elementary school.

1999:
• Phase III of “Venice on the Creek” constructed/opened to the public (Delgany St. to Conf. Park)(3 City blocks).
• Greenway Preservation Trust initiated – permanent trust to preserve, protect and enhance the South Platte River and its tributaries in Denver 2000-01.
• Greenway Preservation Trust Campaign receives $3.1 Million in commitments. Goal of $5 Million by 2005 is established, allowing earnings to provide $250,000 in annual support for:
• YOUTH EDUCATION – Using high school aged guides as “teen teachers”, supervised by adult certified teachers, this nationally recognized indoor/outdoor education program (known as S.P.R.E.E. – South Platte River Environmental Education) allows thousands of elementary and middle school aged students to learn about the significance of the South Platte to the creation and current core city redevelopment of Denver.
• YOUTH EMPLOYMENT – 12-15 high school/college students are employed each summer to serve as Punt the Creek tour guides – escorting thousands of local and visiting adults and children to float along Cherry Creek in LoDo while listening to a historical overview of one of Denver’s most significant historic areas.
• CULTURAL/COMMUNITY EVENTS – Each summer, a series of free concerts (Confluence Concerts) are held at Confluence Park during Thursday evenings in July, allowing thousands of individuals to experience a great evening alongside the River at Denver’s birthplace. In late September, the annual South Platte RiverSweep a.k.a. NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) Fest is held up and down the River throughout the 30 mile metro-Denver area. Hundreds of River enthusiasts of all ages give up a day to patrol the channel, banks, trails and parks of the South Platte to remove litter and debris, while gaining a better understanding of the value of the River to our community.
• ONGOING ENHANCEMENTS – Each year, the Greenway Preservation Trust will provide funds to matched 2:1 by local park/river maintenance districts to add additional environmental and recreational enhancements to the River.

2002-03:
• Efforts continue on the Cherry Creek South Greenway in Arapahoe and Douglas counties – over 20 miles of the 26 mile open space corridor are completed and actively used.
• Recreational and Riparian Improvements are constructed along the River, enhancing the corridor for wildlife habitat.
• Enhancements and Renovations to Confluence Park Plaza are initiated and completed (2002).
• Partner with the City and County of Denver to determine site for world-class Skateboard Park along the River.
• Greenway Foundation serves as local project sponsor for $5 Million improvement to the River corridor between the City and County of Denver and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Foundation also a key player in pursuing approval and funding from USACE/Congress for an additional $18 Million of improvements along the River in central Denver.
• South Platte River Greenway recognized by the Bruner Foundation as one of the nation’s best Urban Reclamation Projects.
• South Platte River Greenway recognized by Sunset Magazine (March – ’02) as the “West’s Best Urban Riverfront”.
• Design efforts for the renovation of former Xcel Energy Sub-Station site at Confluence Park into a one acre open space parksite are completed and construction of the improvements is initiated.

2004-05:
• Greenway Foundation celebrates the completion of the Greenway Preservation Trust Campaign. Initial goal of $5 Million is met and exceed with total commitments of over $6 Million.
• Expansion/enhancement of Confluence Park is completed – over $1.5 Million of ecological/riparian enhancements are included.
• Greenway Foundation receives “Award for Excellence” from the El Pomar Foundation.
• Efforts initiated to provide additional instream flows within the channel of the South Platte River to provide both ecological and recreational benefits to the River.
• Design and fundraising effort initiated to create the Downtown Children’s Playground.
• Design and funding efforts initiated to enhance “off street” paths and underpasses along the Cherry Creek Greenway in Denver.
• Venice on the Creek – Denver’s Gondola celebrates its 10th Anniversary.
• New cultural event established – River Flicks – bringing free family movie nights to the River at Confluence Park.
• Efforts initiated to obtain funding to create an Aquatic Resource Management Plan for the South Platte River.

2006:
• Greenway Foundation receives Downtown Denver Partnership Award for the expansion/enhancement of Confluence Park.  Award is given collaboratively to the Foundation, the C&C of Denver and Xcel Energy.
• Proposal to restore and expand historic Bell Park along Cherry Creek, adjacent to Larimer Square, in conjunction with a new residential development is announced.  Greenway Foundation is asked to oversee the design and construction of the greenspace portion of the project if approved by the C&C of Denver.
• Construction of Downtown Children’s Playground begins.
• Chatfield Reallocation Project receives needed Congressional funding due to the support of the Colorado delegation and the collaborative efforts of over 20 local partners

2007:
• Planning efforts begin to create a new benefit run to be held in 2008 – the Mile High Mile – a one mile course beginning and concluding at the Colorado State Capitol.
• Greenway Foundation partners with the City of Brighton to collaborate with USACE for the creation of riparian and corridor improvements along the South Platte River in Adams County.
• A partnership with the Arts Student’s League is initiated to create the annual “Art on the River” program – a juried art contest for adults as well as an open participation for S.P.R.E.E. School students
• Phase I of the Downtown Children’s Playground is dedicated.