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Clear Creek Access During COVID-19

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Consultation has concluded

Update September 14, 2020

The order calling for the hard closure of Clear Creek expired at midnight on September 13, and the Golden Chief of Police and City Manager decided to allow the order to expire. That means the creek is now open and fencing is being removed.

Update: August 21, 2020

Beginning Monday, Aug. 24, the City of Golden will expand and harden its closure of Clear Creek access within City limits. Golden Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick is also enacting temporary waterway restrictions, which prohibits the operation of vessels in Clear Creek including all single-chambered air inflated devices such as belly boats, inner tubes, single chambered rafts, body surfing, swimming, as well as all kayaks, whitewater canoes, multi-chambered river boards, and similar watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

Please read the full news release below.

Update: August 7, 2020

The City’s current goal in regards to Clear Creek is to limit gatherings at the creek because in years past we have seen hundreds of people in very close proximity to each other. During the current pandemic, we have significant concerns about people gathering so closely together. One of the other goals is to find a way to allow for some recreational usage of the creek. We know that there are limited opportunities this year for activities, especially water-related activities, and so we have been trying to find a balance of allowing some recreation opportunities in the creek while also trying to avoid gatherings along the creek. To this end, we have closed access to the creek in Golden, meaning you cannot get in or out of the water within city limits except for at Vanover Park. Vanover is the location for exiting the creek because further down the creek is the dam.

Since July 4th, we have been adjusting our creek strategy to try and find the right balance. We know it can be a bit confusing. The simplest way forward would be either to close the entire creek to all uses, or to allow everything. We have worked with the water activity businesses to help educate people that masks are required, that access to the creek in Golden is closed, and that tubers should use the trail on the south bank of the creek to walk up to Jefferson County creek access.

Mask wearing has been an important aspect of our strategy as well. We have been leading with an education-first approach, and during the last month there have been city, county, and state requirements for public face mask wearing. The City has been conducting a mask-count study starting in early July to measure the number of people wearing masks along the creek and downtown. City staff has been counting mask order compliance twice a day, every day and have found compliance varies, but the average is 88 percent of people have masks and that average has been increasing in recent weeks. In addition, The City has been monitoring the area with photos and drone video footage to see if gatherings are happening. We intend to use these data points to inform future discussions on the creek and public health order compliance strategies.

Our park rangers and police department have spent a lot of time on the creek corridor this summer. Last weekend, August 1-2, Golden Police had 525 contacts total -- 506 contacts related to mask requirements and 19 contacts related to violation of creek access. A total of six citations were issued, all related to creek access violations, often when people have been observed cutting the fence or climbing over it. The weekend before, July 25-26, the rangers and police made 218 contacts related to creek access and mask enforcement with one citation issued.

While city staff don’t think it’s working perfectly, it is a difficult balance to maintain and unless City Council decides to completely close or open the creek, staff believes we need to keep adjusting, monitoring, and enforcing our current configuration. City Council will be reviewing the City’s creek strategy at their August 13th City Council Meeting.

Background

In anticipation of large crowds gathering along Clear Creek in Golden for the 4th of July weekend, the Golden City Council directed the City Manager to issue an administrative order closing off all access to the creek within city limits beginning July 2.

The decision was made following a weekend with no restrictions on creek use, which resulted in large gatherings along the creek banks, no social distancing and few people wearing masks.

“The July 4th holiday weekend typically brings even bigger crowds to Golden," said Golden City Manager Jason Slowinski. "With the rise in COVID-19 cases in neighboring states where many visitors come from, we want to make sure we are not adding to the problem here in Colorado.”

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy all the things Golden has to offer,” said Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg. “This was a difficult decision for us to make, but in these unprecedented times, we have to do what we believe is best for the health of our community.”

During the same City Council special meeting, Council also directed the City manager to issue an administrative order requiring the use of face masks on public property when social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained. This includes public parks and trails, as well as inside City facilities.

Since then, Jefferson County Public Health issued an order requiring everyone in Jeffco ages 11 and older to wear a mask or cloth face covering when in public settings — both indoors and outdoors — when unable to maintain 6-foot social distancing.

On Thursday, July 9, Council further discussed creek access and has directed staff to research safe ways to allow for recreation along the creek.

We want to hear your ideas for providing a safe place for everyone to enjoy the creek without increasing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.


Update September 14, 2020

The order calling for the hard closure of Clear Creek expired at midnight on September 13, and the Golden Chief of Police and City Manager decided to allow the order to expire. That means the creek is now open and fencing is being removed.

Update: August 21, 2020

Beginning Monday, Aug. 24, the City of Golden will expand and harden its closure of Clear Creek access within City limits. Golden Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick is also enacting temporary waterway restrictions, which prohibits the operation of vessels in Clear Creek including all single-chambered air inflated devices such as belly boats, inner tubes, single chambered rafts, body surfing, swimming, as well as all kayaks, whitewater canoes, multi-chambered river boards, and similar watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

Please read the full news release below.

Update: August 7, 2020

The City’s current goal in regards to Clear Creek is to limit gatherings at the creek because in years past we have seen hundreds of people in very close proximity to each other. During the current pandemic, we have significant concerns about people gathering so closely together. One of the other goals is to find a way to allow for some recreational usage of the creek. We know that there are limited opportunities this year for activities, especially water-related activities, and so we have been trying to find a balance of allowing some recreation opportunities in the creek while also trying to avoid gatherings along the creek. To this end, we have closed access to the creek in Golden, meaning you cannot get in or out of the water within city limits except for at Vanover Park. Vanover is the location for exiting the creek because further down the creek is the dam.

Since July 4th, we have been adjusting our creek strategy to try and find the right balance. We know it can be a bit confusing. The simplest way forward would be either to close the entire creek to all uses, or to allow everything. We have worked with the water activity businesses to help educate people that masks are required, that access to the creek in Golden is closed, and that tubers should use the trail on the south bank of the creek to walk up to Jefferson County creek access.

Mask wearing has been an important aspect of our strategy as well. We have been leading with an education-first approach, and during the last month there have been city, county, and state requirements for public face mask wearing. The City has been conducting a mask-count study starting in early July to measure the number of people wearing masks along the creek and downtown. City staff has been counting mask order compliance twice a day, every day and have found compliance varies, but the average is 88 percent of people have masks and that average has been increasing in recent weeks. In addition, The City has been monitoring the area with photos and drone video footage to see if gatherings are happening. We intend to use these data points to inform future discussions on the creek and public health order compliance strategies.

Our park rangers and police department have spent a lot of time on the creek corridor this summer. Last weekend, August 1-2, Golden Police had 525 contacts total -- 506 contacts related to mask requirements and 19 contacts related to violation of creek access. A total of six citations were issued, all related to creek access violations, often when people have been observed cutting the fence or climbing over it. The weekend before, July 25-26, the rangers and police made 218 contacts related to creek access and mask enforcement with one citation issued.

While city staff don’t think it’s working perfectly, it is a difficult balance to maintain and unless City Council decides to completely close or open the creek, staff believes we need to keep adjusting, monitoring, and enforcing our current configuration. City Council will be reviewing the City’s creek strategy at their August 13th City Council Meeting.

Background

In anticipation of large crowds gathering along Clear Creek in Golden for the 4th of July weekend, the Golden City Council directed the City Manager to issue an administrative order closing off all access to the creek within city limits beginning July 2.

The decision was made following a weekend with no restrictions on creek use, which resulted in large gatherings along the creek banks, no social distancing and few people wearing masks.

“The July 4th holiday weekend typically brings even bigger crowds to Golden," said Golden City Manager Jason Slowinski. "With the rise in COVID-19 cases in neighboring states where many visitors come from, we want to make sure we are not adding to the problem here in Colorado.”

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy all the things Golden has to offer,” said Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg. “This was a difficult decision for us to make, but in these unprecedented times, we have to do what we believe is best for the health of our community.”

During the same City Council special meeting, Council also directed the City manager to issue an administrative order requiring the use of face masks on public property when social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained. This includes public parks and trails, as well as inside City facilities.

Since then, Jefferson County Public Health issued an order requiring everyone in Jeffco ages 11 and older to wear a mask or cloth face covering when in public settings — both indoors and outdoors — when unable to maintain 6-foot social distancing.

On Thursday, July 9, Council further discussed creek access and has directed staff to research safe ways to allow for recreation along the creek.

We want to hear your ideas for providing a safe place for everyone to enjoy the creek without increasing the spread of COVID-19 in our community.


Consultation has concluded

  • Complete Closure of Clear Creek Access in Golden

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    Golden, Colo. ­— Aug. 21, 2020 — Beginning Monday, Aug. 24, the City of Golden will expand and harden its closure of Clear Creek access within City limits. Golden Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick is also enacting temporary waterway restrictions, which prohibits the operation of vessels in Clear Creek including all single-chambered air inflated devices such as belly boats, inner tubes, single chambered rafts, body surfing, swimming, as well as all kayaks, whitewater canoes, multi-chambered river boards, and similar watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

    City Manager Jason Slowinski first put in place an administrative order to close off access to the creek on July 1, 2020. However, the creek itself was still open and recreators could still enter the water west of City limits. The only safe place to exit the water was still in Golden proper, so we allowed for creek egress at Vanover Park (just before the Coors property). Unfortunately, recreators have increasingly ignored social distancing regulations.

    Golden Police and Park Rangers made over 900 contacts with individuals who were not following COVID-related City mandates last weekend. “We are seeing an increase in individuals trying to access the creek within the City limits, a decrease in those wearing masks, and a lot of gatherings that we presume would be in violation of public health orders,” said Slowinski. “This past weekend was far worse than each of the previous weekends and I believe that the status quo is not acceptable and more aggressive action is necessary.”

    Beginning on Monday, barriers will be put into place, along with signage, to ensure tubers and other waterway recreators must exit the creek before they reach the City limits of Golden. Additionally, Vanover Park will no longer be a point of egress. Anyone who trespasses into the creek or on the banks will face a possible citation.

    The City of Golden has spoken with local businesses who rent out water equipment, allowing them to operate through this weekend before the full closure goes into effect on Monday. The restrictions will remain in effect indefinitely.