DENVER — More trees for shade and an extension of the city's urban tree canopy along Denver's iconic 16th Street Mall are being planted as part of the walking mall's decade-long revitalization project.
The improved tree canopy is part of a renovation project intended to improve safety and mobility and create more opportunities for the public to enjoy the mall. The tree canopy will grow from 150 trees to more than 200 lining the 13-block corridor.
In March, Denver's City Council approved a $149 million Department of Transportation and Infrastructure design-build contract with PCL Construction Services.
The future tree canopy will include 10 diverse species of trees, including elm, oak, honey, locust and maple. This week marks the arrival of oak trees that will be planted along 16th Street between Market and Larimer streets.
“The arrival of these first trees is just the beginning,” said Mike Swanson, Denver's city forester.
He said the varieties of trees were hand-selected from nurseries across the U.S. and have been acclimating to Colorado's climate at local nurseries in Lafayette and Boulder since 2020.
Swanson said the trees for the project will provide diversity, varying beauty and shade throughout the year.
To help the trees succeed in their new growing environment, an underground soil and irrigation system will be installed to help the trees' roots to grow and have a long life.
The city said fences will begin to come down on the two blocks from Market to Lawrence streets in the spring. By the end of next year, the hope is to have more than half of the area now under construction open to the public. The project is projected to be complete by fall 2025.
The project marks the first major renovation of the 16th Street Mall since its opening in 1982.
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