Love the outdoors? Eastman River Park Experience in Windsor opens Friday, bringing more access to the Poudre River
Eastman Park River Experience in Windsor set to open Friday. Courtesy photo.
By Dan England
When Eric Lucas joined the City of Windsor’s staff in 2015, one of his first thoughts was really more of a question: Why aren’t they doing more with the Poudre River?
The river ran through town, after all, and most of the time, cities took advantage of that. Think of the way Estes Park, as just one example, built walkways and lookouts over the Big Thompson as it carved through downtown.
Four years later, in a survey of residents, one of the top requests for amenities was access to the river. He hadn’t realized it, but residents were asking the same question.
“That was our ‘Get Us Over The Hump’ moment,” said Lucas, now the town’s Public Services director. “We went full force into the idea.”
The result opens Friday with the Eastman Park River Experience. The new $1.5-million outdoor adventure spot, at Eastman Park Dr. and 7th St.,will feature a mile-long place to float in a tube or kayak, canoe or paddle board. The spot offers a launch area, also called a “put in and take out” by water folks, as well as a river plaza, more than 150 new parking spaces and access to the river for kids (or adults) who want to play in the water.
The Poudre Trail, which has been closed for months for a realignment, will also reopen. There’s even a soft surface trail for walkers or runners. The last few finishing touches, including a road that leads to the area, will shut down again after this weekend but should open just a couple weeks later after it’s completed.
Eastman Park River Experience in Windsor set to open Friday. Courtesy photo.
The area isn’t designed to match the Poudre’s strength or ferocity flashed by the new Fort Collins Whitewater Park or even the gentlest areas of the Poudre up the canyon.
“It’s really supposed to be more of a lazy river,” Lucas said.
That’s even with snowmelt underway and the expected peak in the first or second part of June. Under those conditions, the river may take 15 minutes to float the mile. In most months, including later this summer, it should take 45 minutes. There are other places to take out if you don’t want to float that long.
The next two phases include adding more trails, a nature playground and a possible future zip line. On the south bank, the city hopes to install more access to the river. By the end of the year, the city will gather public input on a new park for the Harmony Ridge Subdivision, Jacoby Farm Park and a new playground for Windsor Village Park, as well as a pedestrian river overpass that connects the Kyger River trail with the Poudre River trail along Colorado Boulevard.
Eastman Park River Experience in Windsor set to open Friday. Courtesy photo.
Residents wanted new places to go outside, and it wasn’t just the survey that reflected that: Windsor’s trail numbers doubled last year during the pandemic.
“We knew this before COVID, but I think after COVID, and I think worldwide, it proves that people love to be outside and love their parks,” Lucas said.
Eastman Park River Experience opening
Windsor will celebrate its new Eastman Park River Experience at 4 p.m. Friday at Eastman Park and 7th St. The celebration is free and open to the public.