The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway, situated between the Colorado State Capitol and Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park in Denver Civic Center, is a civic project. This pedestrian designed by the Studio Gang firm focuses on enhancing the pedestrian connectivity, reducing vehicular dominance, and offering a new public realm that reflects the history, culture, and future of the city.
The Sesquisemiquincentennial Commission and Governor Polis proposed this elevated walkway to celebrate 150 years of statehood and 250 years of the U.S. in 2026. The project will occur in two phases, the first of which will be over Lincoln connecting the Capitol to the veteran’s memorial. The second would complete the link to the Civic Center by bridging Broadway.
The proposed pedestrian bridge flows through the park of these two monuments of geologic gravitas. It weaves around the existing trees and winds towards the capital while following the dynamic and lightness of the Colorado River. This pathway follows the language of waterways and their meandering, diverging paths to offer visitors multiple ways to engage with the CO150 Walkway, the park, and the city beyond.
The initial design concept of the Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway is complete and revealed, with construction expected to begin in 2026. This project aims to blend urban infrastructure with storytelling, sustainability, and public space enhancement. The idea behind this experimental walkway is a pedestrian with improved safety which will work as a narrative canvas, weaving Colorado’s rich heritage into a functional piece of public art. For this narrative, Studio Gang is planning to collaborate with local Colorado artists and businesses to incorporate stories and cultural traditions into design.
The proposed pedestrian walkway is the first uninterrupted accessible route between historic Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park and the Colorado State Capitol. This new addition will serve as an enticing outdoor destination to enjoy the new ways of experiencing Denver’s civic and cultural core while also improving connectivity in the city’s major public areas and monuments.
The Colorado Civic Center to also go through downtown revitalization, including a new 5280 trail, a 4-mile-long loop linking the Golden Triangle to Skyline Park, and crossing through the Capitol Circle. The Colorado pedestrian project has received a sum of $1.5 million from the Colorado state government for its concept, design, and community engagement process. The fund for the walkway will be collected via a combination of public and private donations, such as public-private partnerships, philanthropic donations, and cultural grants.
Proposed Design
With its western entrance, the Colorado Pedestrian Walkway seeks to revitalize the park’s redeveloped area. To honor Colorado’s famously untamed geology, the walkway anchors at both ends with granite, marble, and sandstone. The walkway orients towards Downtown, and its eastern end connects to a generous, newly accessible plaza used for gathering in front of the Capitol.
The Colorado walkway includes Meadow paintings, seating, and some other naturalistic elements like boulders, stone slides, and log structures. This allows people to explore, relax, and continue along the path. The proposed walkway design also follows the site’s long history of disability rights advocacy by ensuring that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy and be a part of Denver’s social and cultural life.
Colorado Walkway Project Details:
Project Name: Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway
Location: Civic Center Park, Downtown Denver, Colorado, USA
Client: State of Colorado
Architectural Design: Studio Gang
Principal Partners in Charge: Jeanne Gang and Governor Jared Polis
Typology: Public Infrastructure
Site Area: 1100 Sq. Ft.
