History

In 1912, land acquisition for the parkway was paid for by the 7th Avenue Parkway Improvement District. Denver allocated funds for planting the parkway in 1914. S.R. DeBoer prepared plans for the western parkway (generally Milwaukee Street to Williams Street) in that year. In 1927, plans were generated for the eastern portion, generally Milwaukee Street to Colorado Boulevard. DeBoer's objective in creating contrast in color, light, shadow, density, and height of plant material is evident in the mature plantings of this parkway. While a wide variety of plant material, textures and forms typify DeBoer's design hand, the lower portion of the parkway suggests Olmsted's plans may have been used as a guide. Dark, canopy sheltered streets suddenly give way to open, treeless medians, which appear rhythmically as they alternate with thick, forested medians of evergreen trees. Stimulated by the addition of sunlight, we find masses of annuals and perennials within geometrically designed flower beds.

As one proceeds toward Colorado Boulevard, the medians take on an evergreen appearance.

DeBoer's attempt to bring the mountain landscape to Denver is evident by the planting of spruce, juniper and pine. These evergreens help to create a picturesque winter scene for the median. In addition, DeBoer was anxious that the parks and parkways serve as an example to the residents of the city. He displayed quality of design, appropriate plant material, and maintenance standards. Thus, he often chose to include species which he believed could and should be more widely included in private gardens. Among his favorites for this purpose were Crabapple, Hawthorne, and Larch. Various speciman trees and small ornamental groupings often appear at either end of open medians. Blue Spruce, Weeping Birch and Weeping Catalpa add to the variety found on East 7th Avenue Parkway.

Historical Evolution

In order to create a strong canopy, elms were planted in rows, eight per block, on each side of the roadway. The formal grid of trees has been emphasized by the fact that the median, unlike East 17th Avenue or 6th Avenue Parkways, is intersected and broken by each residential cross street. Today, there are but few elms along the median, and in some blocks it is possible that they were never planted. Those that remain along the tree lawn are unusually close to the curb, suggesting that the roadways were intended to be somewhat narrower at the time the elms were first planted. The linear quality of the parkway is emphasized by sidewalks which extend along the tree lawn for most of the parkway.