In the Community

On June 27, the Central 70 Project team participated in the Master Community Association (MCA) Farmers Market to connect in person with the community and spread awareness for the upcoming construction activities for the Project. Surrounded by the community and vendors from all around Colorado, the Project team was able to collect a wide scope of perspectives about the Project's goals and even answer questions from the farmers market attendees.

In the heart of the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood is Swansea Elementary School, which operates as a YMCA for children during the summer. The Central 70 Project team coordinated with staff members throughout the summer of 2021 to address any project questions and inform parents of detours happening around the neighborhood.

On July 22, Central 70 team members attended the YMCA graduation ceremony and discussed Project impacts with more than 20 members of the graduation audience. This event allowed residents to ask questions and receive answers while attending a conveniently located community event.

Picture of girl volunteering at YMCA event. She is surrounded by other people and children.

We Don’t Waste is an initiative throughout Colorado that strives to reduce the amount of food thrown out each year and has saved more than 154,000,000 servings of food to date. In the Globeville Elyria-Swansea community, the Central 70 team coordinates with We Don’t Waste to redirect fresh food to those without access to it.

Monthly, the Project team volunteers at Our Lady of Grace Church and provides fresh food and other household necessities to anyone in the area. Cars line the street leading up to the church, and community members walk over with baskets and wagons to receive these items.

The Central 70 Project team has been coordinating with Birdseed Collective to work toward a safer community during and after construction. Safety messages and tips have been released to the community to protect from preventable construction danger.

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On Feb. 10, the Central 70 project team partnered with Bruce Randolph School to inform the community about Project elements and what can be expected in the coming years. Through this event, the Project team was able to connect with community members and answer questions they had.

Throughout the month of July, the Central 70 Project team sponsored an internal back to school drive for Swansea Elementary School. This supply drive was able to provide the school and students with the necessary supplies for the 2021-2022 school year.

Buckets were placed outside of each of the Project trailers and were filled with school supplies to be dropped off at the school on Aug. 9. Nearly $300 was raised in supply drive efforts, and Kiewit purchased roughly $1,000 worth of supplies for the students at Swansea Elementary school.

On Aug. 19, the Central 70 team tabled at the Swansea Elementary School Back to School Night. This event connected residents and parents of the students attending Swansea Elementary with the Project team to answer all of their Project-related questions and receive updates on Project progress.

Throughout the months of July and August, the Project team developed a coupon book to help promote the businesses in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. This event served as a prime location to distribute the coupon books. The coupon books continued circulating more customers into the local businesses and reconnecting the community that was divided by the I-70 viaduct six decades ago.

On June 22, the Central 70 Project and Northeast Transportation Connections asked community members at the Birdseed Collective's food distribution program to sign a summer safety pledge. This safety pledge was developed in order to promote pedestrian and motorists safety in local neighborhoods!

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The Central 70 Project volunteers monthly with We Don't Waste,  the largest food recovery organization in Colorado, supporting the community and the environment by reclaiming and redistributing quality food to those in need. For more information visit, wedon'twaste.org.

Due to COVID-19, We Don't Waste had to rearrange its distribution process to be able to provide food to those in need.In recent months, the mobile food market began to implement its "drive-through" food distribution program.

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With ongoing construction, the Central 70 Project wanted to make sure you didn't miss a thing! Virtual community office hours are weekly via Zoom for the month until further notice. Please join us on Tuesdays from 11-11:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 2:30-3 p.m. for a Project update and a chance to ask questions. Click on the calendar invite for the day you would like to join to see meeting details and copy this to your personal calendar.

Central 70 Project presented to members of the Denver lions club on Jan. 14. 

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On Aug. 8, the Central 70 Project team members partnered with FocusPoints to provide back-to-school materials for the students living in Globeville, Elyria-Swansea! Backpacks were distributed to students in a "drive-thru" style to ensure safe social distancing.

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To celebrate this years "Summer Brake", throughout the month of August, Central 70 team members along with Valdez-PerryBranch Library partnered to beautify the sidewalks with bright chalk messages! These messages included hopscotch, construction equipment and safety reminders. Children were able to enjoy some fun in the sun while remaining 6-feet apart.

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Over the past several years, the Central 70 Project team has been involved in Halloween events at Swansea Elementary School but due to COVID-19 this year, the team had to do something different. On Oct. 30, Project team members delivered more than 400 Halloween goodie bags full of candy for students to take home.

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This past December, the Central 70 team celebrated the holidays by giving back to the communities surrounding the Project. The team worked with Focus Points Family Resource Center sponsoring 20 children to provide each of them with fun and educational holiday gifts. The team also worked with our partners at Northeast Transportation Connections (NETC) to provide a monetary donation that was given to GES area families in need for the holidays. This money allowed local families to buy their children presents for the holiday.  Additionally, the entire construction team donated food and other items to the Greater Park Hill Food Pantry. Last year, the Food Pantry provided meals to more than 600 neighbors in need. The Central 70 team is proud to serve the surrounding communities!

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Did you know that 40% of food produced is thrown away? Well, to help combat that, the Central 70 Project volunteers monthly with We Don't Waste -- the largest food recovery organization in Colorado -- supports the community and the environment by reclaiming and redistributing quality food to those in need.

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Over the holidays, the Central 70 Project spread holiday cheer and created a memorable holiday season for 9-10-year-olds at Ford Elementary School and Toys for Tots families by raising nearly $4,000 to purchase 1,000 toys. 

Ford Elementary School Toy Drive

In summer 2019, the Central 70 Project team, in partnership with Valdez-Perry Branch Library, organized a shoe drive called “Kicks for Kids.” This shoe drive aimed to provide children who attend summer programs at the library with new and/or gently-used shoes. Kicks for Kids was able to donate more than 100 pairs of shoes to those kids who may not have access to new shoes or wear the same, worn-out shoes throughout the year.

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This festival is a great way to connect, meet and chat with local residents! 

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Job seekers in the Denver metro area gathered to get connected with high-paying jobs in the construction industry. Kiewit Infrastructure, local signatory unions, subcontractors and WORKNOW (an alliance of organizations that integrate construction industry job training and community resources), participated in a Central 70 Job Fair on November 3, 2018.

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On Oct. 31, 2018, Denver Public Schools (DPS), in partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Central 70 Project, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the relocated and improved Swansea Elementary School playground.

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The Denver Police Department hosted the annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 at Falcon Park in Montbello. The Central 70 Project team was able to enjoy a warm day with community members.

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Members from the Central 70 Project were able to run alongside community members in the Adelante 5K Race on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018. Runners were joined by Councilman Albus Brooks and the other members of the community in this great event to support this important organization in Elyria Swansea Globeville neighborhood!

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The Central 70 Project team helped present the Affordable Housing Grant at Focus Points on Monday, July 30, 2018.

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The annual Resource Fair at Focus Points Family Resource Center on Friday, July 13, 2018 was filled with plenty of helpful information for community members on upcoming summer construction.

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On Saturday, June 23, 2018 the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative Open House started off with an exciting Open House that drew people from different areas. Central 70 team members were able to provide information on upcoming summer construction.

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The Central 70 Project team joined in the festivities at the Montbello Recreation Center on Saturday, June 2, 2018 and provided information on upcoming summer construction. 

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The Central 70 Project team attended the Garden Place Spring Carnival on Friday, May 18, 2018. 

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On Saturday, May 12, 2018 the Central 70 Project team joined community partners to participate in the annual Swansea Elementary School Carnival. Team members provided information on the Project and upcoming summer construction.

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There were no tricks, just treats for Swansea elementary students on Halloween. CDOT partnered with Denver Public Schools to organize a trick-or-treat off the street event at Swansea Elementary School where teachers and volunteers handed out candy, winter socks, nachos, and even toothbrushes which were a hit! 
 
Prior to the trick-or-treating extravaganza, the Colorado Department of Transportation and Denver Public Schools dedicated the new east wing of the school to community leader, Lorraine Granado. Central 70 team members assisted in the preparation and execution of this dedication and then welcomed children of all ages into the hallways of the school.

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On Saturday, May 20, 2017 the Central 70 Project team joined community partners to attend the annual Swansea Elementary School Carnival. The team conducted hourly drawings to give away 11 bikes to local children. Thank you to the Northeast Transportation Center (NETC) and Xcel Energy for your donation of bikes and helmets, and assistance with traffic control on the day of the event.

Representatives with Denver Environmental Health (DEH) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) were also there to showcase the Swansea Air Monitoring System (or SAM) and share air quality levels with the community. This system is currently monitoring the air quality and will continue doing so until a year after the Central 70 Project construction is complete.

See a summary of the air quality index around the state.

Central 70 Communications Manager Rebecca black talks about the Project with the LoDo Rotary.

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Project Director Tony DeVito presents information about the Project to a group of folks at Regis University.

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The Central 70 team joined in the festivities and provided information on the Project at the Holy Rosary Church Festival over the 2016 Labor Day weekend.

Central 70 representatives provided information to a full crowd on a beautiful day at the Polish Food Festival, sponsored by the St. Joseph's Polish Church.

The Central 70 team met with local businesses along 46th Avenue to discuss construction impacts and small business certifications.

The team had an information table at the event and answered a variety of questions from the community. Everyone had a chance to vote on their favorite options for the playground and splash park that will be part of the Project.

Project Manager Tony DeVito presented information on the Project to a packed house of DenverChamber of Commerce members.