History

The Robinson-Kessler plan called for various parkways to reach destinations where especially good mountain views were available. The east terminus of 6th Avenue Parkway at Quebec Street is 238' above the 5170' elevation of the South Platte River at 15th Street, near downtown Denver. A park was originally planned to take advantage of the vista, but never developed in that location.

At Clermont Street, the short Clermont Street Parkway extends south through the Hilltop neighborhood to Cranmer Park, thereby linking Hilltop neighborhood, and Cranmer Park with the parkway system.

As early as 1885, Baron Walter Von Richthofen urged the development of tree-lined parkways from Denver to serve his Montclair suburb (see Richtofen Street Parkway, 1912). East 6th Avenue Parkway was developed (largely between 1909 and 1912) as part of the 1909 Montclair Parkway Suburban Improvement District No. 1. Nearly two miles in length, it is the longest east-west parkway in Denver. It served a major role in shaping Denver's urban fabric. The parkway defined the city's eastern limit, it encouraged the development of adjacent residential neighborhoods (which in turn were landscaped following the planting patterns found in the parkway), and it provided an emphasis on mountain views from the parkway.

This parkway is slightly more confined that East 17th Avenue Parkway. The typical right of way is 200 feet, with an 88 foot median, two 26 foot roadways, and two 30 foot tree lawns. The design had the same axial symmetry as the Olmstead Firm's segment of East 17th Avenue Parkway. In addition, the plant palette was quite similar to that used by Olmstead. Thus, like Forest Street Parkway, it is probable that the East 6th Avenue Parkway planting plan either was an Olmstead plan, or was based on the Olmstead plan for East 17th Avenue Parkway.

Historic Evolution

Each roadway is bordered by American Elm on both sides, forming a nearly complete canopy from Colorado Boulevard to Monaco Street Parkway.

The street trees east of Monaco to Quebec Street appear less mature and the planting less precise. The parkway seems to open up, accepting more light. Modest homes on greater setback distances reveal more sky and allow more green space.

The absence of sidewalks along some of the parkway blurs the distinction between public and private space. Some residents extend fence lines and shrub beds into the public tree lawns. This has disturbed the overall linear quality and continuity of the parkway.

The median has become a gathering space with a park-like atmosphere. Mass plantings of shrubs occur at the edges of grassed open spaces, intended to separate the pedestrian users from the vehicle. Shrub massings ten or more feet in height provide privacy and a sense of enclosure to the pedestrian users of the median. These open spaces form an axis, directing views to the mountains. The shrubs include Dogwood, Sumac, Buckhorn, Spindle Tree Euonymus, and assorted horizontal evergreens.

Recently, sidewalks have been added across the median, some of which detract from the design of the plantings. Within the median, Blue Spruce and Ponderosa Pine are used as speciman plantings, giving the parkway an evergreen character while enclosing space in thick shade. Speciman evergreen trees include Rocky Mountain Juniper, Ponderosa, Pinion, and Scotch Pines, White and Douglas Fir, and Colorado Blue Spruce.