Denver City Council Unanimously Approves Plan To Improve Westwood Neighborhood
DENVER (CBS4) - The City of Denver is working on a plan to improve the Westwood neighborhood.
The city council has approved a plan for residents in one of Denver's more modest neighborhoods. Westwood is bordered by Federal, Alameda, Sheridan and Mississippi with Morrison Road cutting across it. The city hopes to help create a healthier lifestyle.
The plan, which has some promising visions for the neighborhood, passed unanimously Monday night. Morrison Road is a major concern and improvements along the road are just one of many facets of the plan.
"I want Morrison to be a better place, a better looking place, a better pedestrian place," said Maricendi Jaimes, Westwood Summer Camp organizer.
A long-term plan for Morrison Road includes more stoplights, safer crosswalks, and bike lanes. Jaimes says more is needed than just that. There are planned improvements for Westwood Park where Jaimes runs her summer camp and improvements to other parks and development of more open space.
The plan will also help to address the community's limited food options. By increasing recreation areas, creating better and more food options, and improving safety along Morrison Road, the city hopes to improve overall health of Westwood residents.
The neighborhood has about 17,000 residents and many are low-income families. City planner Steve Chester says the vision will help the residents get in front of the inevitable change.
"The idea with neighborhood planning is that we can work together with the community to get in front of change that may be coming to the neighborhood, so when change or investment does come to the neighborhood it happens in a way that the neighborhood wants to see," Chester said.
"I think it's really important that people know about this community and that this community has a really strong culture and that we are really united to and devoted to make a change; to have a change happen here," Jaimes said.
The city says they will work to preserve the area's culture and says its current residents will not be priced out as it grows. Housing affordability is a major part of the plan as it continues to develop.
Statement From Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
"I would like to thank all the community members, city agencies and Denver City Council members who came together to make this Westwood Neighborhood Plan a reality. Westwood is a vibrant and culturally diverse neighborhood, and I'm so proud that this new plan will help provide a healthier, more livable and sustainable community. Together, we will create a more connected neighborhood that is affordable for its residents."
LINK: Read The Full Plan