Residents from three condominium and townhome communities along Moraine Avenue are advocating for a roadside pedestrian and bicycle trail alignment, expressing strong opposition to a proposed riverfront route along the Big Thompson River. Citing significant concerns regarding wildlife habitat disruption, personal privacy, and potential environmental damage, homeowners urged the Town of Estes Park to reconsider the approximately 1.1-mile Moraine Avenue Multimodal Trail’s path. Town officials confirmed that a final route has not yet been selected, despite the project securing nearly $6 million in state and local funding.
Town Engineer Trevor Wittwer stated that the Town is still evaluating options and exploring possibilities for the trail. This statement follows an October 14 meeting between representatives of Mountain River Townhomes, Park River West Condominiums, and Riverrock Townhomes and Mayor Gary Hall. During this meeting, residents presented findings from a late-September survey of property owners, which garnered 60 responses. The survey indicated a general preference among respondents for extending the existing paved path along Moraine Avenue over constructing the trail through the river corridor.
The survey highlighted key areas of resident concern. Trespassing and potential damage to homeowners association property were identified by 44 respondents. An additional 39 respondents raised the loss of the river corridor’s natural beauty. When asked to identify their single greatest concern, 14 selected the loss of natural beauty, 13 cited wildlife and wetland protection, and 10 identified privacy as their primary worry.
Residents emphasized that the river corridor serves as a vital habitat for local wildlife, including elk, deer, bears, and mountain lions, providing essential areas for drinking, feeding, resting, and raising young. They fear that a new paved trail designed for pedestrians, cyclists, and electric bicycles would significantly disrupt wildlife movement and increase interactions between people and animals. Some residents noted that existing soft-surface paths maintained by their associations already offer opportunities for quiet walks and wildlife observation. Concerns also include the potential for construction to remove mature trees, disturb wetlands, alter drainage patterns, and increase risks of erosion or flooding. These concerns reflect observations made by residents, not findings from professional engineering or environmental assessments.
Property rights and ongoing maintenance responsibilities also emerged as significant questions. Homeowners inquired about who would be responsible for trail maintenance, trash collection, snow removal, repairs, and law enforcement if existing riverfront paths were converted to public trails. Several respondents also questioned whether existing “pedestrian easements” legally permit the use of bicycles or electric bicycles, stating that the easements were not intended for such uses. Property owners expressed worry that public access might lead visitors to enter association-owned common areas, use private benches and picnic facilities, or approach residential decks, compromising the seclusion that was a key selling point for their properties. Questions regarding liability for injuries on private property and emergency access along narrow neighborhood roads were also raised.
While residents largely opposed the riverfront route, they acknowledged existing safety challenges along Moraine Avenue. Twenty-nine respondents identified pedestrian, bicycle, and scooter safety as a concern with a roadside alternative. Additionally, 28 cited potential conflicts between trail users and vehicles entering or leaving neighborhoods. Although fewer owners responded to questions about the roadside option, limiting direct comparisons, residents suggested solutions such as extending existing paved paths toward Marys Lake Road and downtown, widening narrow sections, improving visibility at neighborhood entrances, and adding protective barriers. One respondent specifically highlighted the stretch between the traffic circle and the sidewalk near Park River West as particularly hazardous and in urgent need of addressing.
Town officials confirmed their commitment to developing a trail connection along the Moraine Avenue corridor between Marys Lake Road and Davis Street, which would link the area near The Country Market with existing downtown pedestrian infrastructure. The Town envisions a 10-foot-wide concrete trail designed to meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards wherever possible. The project is largely funded by state grants, including $300,000 from the Colorado Department of Transportation for design and over $4.5 million from the Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise. The Town's local matching funds of approximately $1.14 million will come from its Open Space Fund, not the 1% sales tax designated for trail expansion.
Currently, the Town has not hired a design consultant or completed engineering plans. Town Engineer Wittwer indicated that neighborhood and community meetings could commence as early as November, with a request for design proposals anticipated during the first quarter of 2027. Any consultant contract would require approval from the Town Board. Town Public Information Officer Kate Miller reiterated the Town's stance, emphasizing that while hearing neighborhood concerns is important, staff are "still kind of investigating the possibilities." The Town expects to hold at least one public open house before design work begins, acknowledging that questions remain about route feasibility, construction costs, easements, maintenance responsibilities, and environmental mitigation. For residents along the Big Thompson River corridor, the core issue remains the location of trail improvements, rather than the expansion of walking and bicycling opportunities itself. They contend that access along Moraine Avenue can be improved without compromising wildlife habitat and the relative seclusion of their neighborhood.
