FYI: There *are* buried roads beneath the National Mall. I-395 most significantly, but also 9th Street.

That having been said, the streets are not the problem. Pedestrians would overwhelm them if the park generated enough activity on its own. In fact, I would be against burying the streets as that would take away some of the limited activity that does flow through the park, even if the only benefit it provides is ambient noise.

>it doesn't feel like an oasis of tranquility like a park should project.

There’s more than one kind of park. Not all public spaces are suppose to be oases of tranquility, and Civic Center isn’t one of them. It’s awkward because it’s *too* tranquil and quiet for its purpose.

The problem with Civic Center is that it’s too big to be the sort of active city square it’s trying to be. The really successful ones (Rittenhouse in Philly, Bryant in New York, etc) are a lot smaller.

And before I get accused of homerism, I’ll add that the National Mall suffers from the same problem. It’s far too large to work as any kind of city square, but far too formal to act as a tranquil escape into nature. The Mall masks its problems because it’s always so full of tourists that casual observers don’t usually notice them, but the problems definitely exist. Because of its size and lack of mixed use, the Mall is so disconnected from the rest of the city that it may as well be on the moon.

I seriously can't wait to see the plans for the new judicial complex! Plus, with the passage of the bond measures, the permit center will now be renovated for city office space.

Ken is correct that the only real true way to make Civic Center park a lively place is to get more residents living nearby! How about that civic center bus station plaza? Anyone want to build a 70 story signature tower there? hehe

I hear the CHUN is completely opposed to putting the museum in the park. Funny, if theyre so concerned why aren't they down there patrolling the park and cleaning it.

Also, a lot of people are worried that putting the CHM in CCP will decrease open/green space, but doesn't the Civic Center Master Plan include creating more green space in places between Speer, Colfax, and 14th?

The great parks/gardens of the world have museums, government offices, etc. in them. I would love to see that happen in CCP. I think Libeskind's ideas for the park were not that good, to put it lightly. EXCEPT for his pedestrian bridge connecting to the 16th St Mall at Civic Center Station. I think that a scaled down version of his bridge would be a fantastic addition to the park that addresses, albeit not completely, the accessibility issue on the NE side of the park.

It will take more than moving a museum to fix this space. How about we keep the museum where it is (I like the old doorstop building myself…what is the problem anyways?) and use the museum relocation money to help fund a cut-and cover tunnel for Colfax. My cousin even has a bulldozer.

As a pedestrian walks southeastward on the Mall, downtown ABRUPTLY ends at Colfax. Try it for yourself (my cousin walks it every day). I can't conceive of a better connection between downtown and Civic Center Park than a green, onobstructed line-of-sight accessway over Colfax.

Also, my cousin reminded me that there is precedent for a cut-and-cover tunnel along a busy arterial street…Southbound Speer under Broadway…

Personally I agree with Saint's proposals: small vendors, more events, a farmer's market…good stuff. That should be done whether the museum goes in there or not. Although I like this proposal: it doesn't take up too much of the open space, and it's in a prime location for its purpose, which is after all a museum about Colorado history. I mean, the environs set the whole tone: historic park, historic sculptures, civic center, capitol…

That's why I would really support a proposal to put some of these cross streets underground. Imagine if Lincoln/Broadway were underground in front of the Capitol – and Bannock too. You'd have a more expansive park system that isn't cut up into parcel by roads. Or – if Colfax was put underground in this area – city workers could simply walk to the park without dodging cars.

Boston has put a lot of their traffic underground.. Chicago has parking under most of Grant Park.. and we all know how NY loves their Central Park. Denver's Civic Park could – and should – be better integrated with the city. The museum idea sounds great – but get rid of the surrounding traffic..!!