JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — An ambitious trail that seeks to connect the Continental Divide to the Denver metro is sharply dividing the residents of Jefferson County, with some balking at the $273 million cost to the county alone and others excited at the prospect of better access to the "truly quintessential Colorado experience."
When completed, the 65-mile Peaks to Plains Trail will connect the Continental Divide at Loveland Pass to the South Platte River Trail in Denver. Fourteen miles of the trail will be in Jefferson County, including a six-mile stretch through Clear Creek Canyon.
The county's segment alone — 13.75 miles to be exact, with nine trailheads — will cost an estimated $273 million. About 83% of the cost will be paid for by the county's Open Space tax funds, and about 17% will be covered by grants and awards that have been raised over a stretch of nearly two decades.
That translates to roughly $20 million per mile, and while some see it as a wonderful endeavor for the outdoor community, others worry about the price tag.
> Read the full story at the Denver Gazette.
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