The City Ditch
Year Listed: 2003
County: Douglas, Arapahoe and Denver Counties
Status: PROGRESS
Context: Agriculture
Date Constructed: mid 1860s
Significance:
Built in the 1860s, this 26-mile ditch introduced irrigation and “greening” to a brown and dusty Denver. It was called an engineering marvel for its use of gravity alone to carry water from the Platte River northward, and became a hub for off shoot ditches that attracted newcomers and broadened the “greening” for miles to the west and east. One section, in Washington Park, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a local landmark that supports wildlife, vegetation and century old trees.
Threat When Listed:
Severed during highway expansion project, historic water flow was cut off
Since Listing: Denver Water and the City of Englewood have partnered to keep water flowing in the Englewood portion of the ditch, but supporters would eventually like to see the ditch re-connected and the historic, continuous water flow resumed. They would also like to see remaining open sections of the ditch protected.