Now that snow is starting to dwindle in Summit County, Silverthorne is getting started on work for two projects that will extend Adams Avenue and expand Trent Park. 

The Public Works department got started on waterline work to begin the Adams Avenue extension April 9, and the Silverthorne Town Council gave initial approval to some site plan modifications for the Trent Park expansion at its April 10 meeting.  

The town plans to complete these projects, both on the west end of Silverthorne, alongside one another, and officials anticipate construction will last a couple of years. 

Adams Avenue extension

Silverthorne identified the need to extend Adams Avenue four years ago and added it to the town’s transportation master plan. The extension will allow for an off-highway connection between the Willowbrook Neighborhood and the Smith Ranch Neighborhood. 

In order to get both projects off the ground, Silverthorne had to acquire three pieces of land near Adams Avenue from Xcel Energy/Westgas ($94,837), Shirley Co. ($43,568) and the Willowbrook Meadows Owners Association ($2,943).

An aspect of acquiring one of the parcels involved negotiations with the Willowbrook Meadows Owners Association in which the town agreed to take care of snow removal and related expenses for the neighborhood. 

Over the past couple of years, some Willowbrook residents have raised concerns about negative environmental and traffic impacts with the planned road going into their neighborhood. Yet, the neighborhood seemed to be split on the impacts the expansion would have, with some neighbors feeling that the road would have many safety benefits since it would provide an alternative to the busier Highway 9. 

Town staff anticipates the project will cost $3.6 million.

Trent Park expansion

While Public Works has started chipping away at the Adams Avenue extension, the Trent Park expansion remains in the planning phase with a few things left to knock off the list.

Planner Caitlin Jacobshagen walked the council through the approximate 8-acre Trent Park expansion at an April 10 meeting. Jacobshagen explained to council the items before them to vote on — a site plan modification and a disturbance permit application — were needed to implement these projects. The disturbance permit is needed because the projects will temporarily disturb 1,963 square feet and permanently disturb 3,213 square feet of wetlands, she said.

Assistant Town Manager Mark Leidal aided in presenting the Trent Park expansion plan to council. He explained that the project is over 20 years in the making and has influenced other planning matters in town, including how the town went about planning and building the Smith Ranch neighborhood.

“We maximized the densities … getting as many units in there as we possibly could knowing that we had Trent Park immediately adjacent to Smith Ranch,” Leidal said. 

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The Trent Park Expansion includes two asphalt pump tracks, a warming hut, basketball courts, a boulder play area and a court games area. Additionally, parking will be added for the park and for the Willow Creek Trailhead. The town also plans to add a bridge over the Willow Creek floodplain.  

One amenity the town thinks recreationalists should be particularly stoked about is the pump tracks. Jacobshagen told council that one will be for beginners and ADA accessible and one will be for intermediate users. 

She told council the design for a warming hut that is slated to be added to the site isn’t solidified but will have a restroom and gathering rooms alongside a canopy for outside seating.

The project is anticipated to cost around $3.5 million. Silverthorne received a $600,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, which is specifically aimed at supporting outdoor recreation. Additionally, the town secured a $1.5 million grant from The Land and Water Conservation Fund.