Douglas County OKs $450,000 for Origins Trailhead upgrades

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners approved a $450,000 contribution from the Parks, Trails, Historic Resources and Open Space fund to upgrade the Origins Trailhead, the board announced this week. The High Line Canal Conservancy will provide a $150,000 match, bringing the project total to $600,000 and enabling a suite of improvements aimed at better connecting county residents to the High Line Canal corridor.

Planned work includes resurfacing the parking lot and trailhead, installing a portable restroom, improving connections to the High Line Canal Trail, and adding two shaded “pause places” with seating and interpretive signage. The signage will focus on the canal’s history, its role in water delivery and local ecology, translating regional water heritage into neighborhood-scale context for visitors. The project sits along Waterton Road in the county’s northwestern portion and is intended to make the site more useable year-round for walkers, runners, cyclists and families.

The funding decision followed input from the county’s Open Space Advisory Committee and Parks Advisory Committee. Those advisory discussions helped shape the scope by emphasizing better trail connections and amenities that respond to everyday users rather than large-scale development. By combining county funds with the High Line Canal Conservancy’s match, officials are using a public-private stewardship model to extend limited public dollars and advance conservation-minded recreational access.

For local residents, the changes are practical as well as symbolic. A resurfaced lot and upgraded trailhead reduce wear on vehicles and trails and help prevent mud and erosion that can close paths after storms. A permanent or periodically serviced restroom will lengthen stays at the site for families and people with mobility needs. The shaded pause places are a small but meaningful nod to summer heat and to those who use the canal corridor for commute-adjacent recreation or dog walks; the interpretive panels will give neighborhood visitors a clearer sense of why the High Line Canal remains a functioning part of regional water delivery and habitat connectivity.

The partnership with the High Line Canal Conservancy also signals a continuing trend in Douglas County of leveraging nonprofit expertise to manage historic and natural assets that cross municipal and county lines. With funding approved, county leaders and HLCC will move forward with design and construction planning; residents should watch for announcements about timelines, temporary access changes and opportunities for community input during the next phases.

Investments at Origins aim to balance everyday recreation needs with stewardship of Colorado’s water and canal heritage, making the trailhead a more comfortable and informative gateway for Douglas County neighbors.