Aspen announces first phase completion of Koch Park Revitalization Project

The first phase of the Koch Park Revitalization Project, a major initiative aimed at improving accessibility, safety, and sustainability, has been completed, Aspen announced on Thursday.

Key features of the revamped park include electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, with four new plugs now operational. Two of these spaces are ADA-van accessible, located in the north-side parking area on West Cooper Avenue.

Aspen leads Colorado in EVs per capita, and its EV public charging Infrastructure masterplan aims to install 35 to 45 public charging plugs by 2026, according to the release. The new additions at Koch Park bring the city’s total to 23 chargers. This number will increase to 25 by the end of summer with the completion of the Yellow Brick charging project.

“This goes with our green initiatives, to have more electrical charging stations,” said City Council member Sam Rose. “We want people to own EVs and actually have it be convenient for to own them. If you do not have an EV charging station, and you do not have a person charging station at home, it’s not exactly going to be easy to own an EV.”

In addition to his comments, Tim Karfs, the city’s climate and sustainability programs administrator, said, “Access to public EV charging is an essential strategy to support EV adoption in our community.”

The park also features new ADA-compliant sidewalks with three ramps, connecting the parking area to a new school bus stop. This ensures a safe and accessible path for everyone.

“The ADA accessibility was needed for both the community and is a requirement,” said Rose. “We heard from community members that we had a need for more ADA-accessible areas, so not only was it a requirement for the revitalization project, but it was the right thing to do.”

The project completes a city initiative to provide continuous north-south sidewalks from Durant to Hallam streets.

Jack Danneberg, the city’s project manager, highlighted the collaborative effort between various city departments, including engineering, environmental health and sustainability, parks, and utilities.

“This project enhances mobility and safety in a high pedestrian area, providing crucial connectivity to neighborhoods with multi-family housing,” he said. “It showcases the city’s commitment to innovation, stewardship, service, and partnership.”

The release states that Koch Park’s revitalization also adheres to the city’s water conservation codes, demonstrating the ingenuity of this public works project.