History

Charles Mulford Robinson suggested University Boulevard as a north-south connection because it followed high ground from which good views of the mountains were possible. In addition, University Boulevard was designed to connect the park and parkway system to the campus of Denver University, which in turn was connected to Observatory Park and the 1886 University Park neighborhood, via the well planted Warren Avenue.

The strong presence of street trees is immediately apparent when traveling south on University Boulevard past East Alameda Avenue. English Elms were planted in single rows on each side of the roadway. After the interruption of the Bonnie Brae neighborhood business district between East Exposition and East Ohio Avenues, the street trees plantings were of equally spaced Honeylocust on the east and American Elm on the west. A few Silver Maples set back behind the Honeylocusts suggest there may once have been a double row of street trees on some portions of the boulevard. Near East Arizona Avenue the street trees were American Elms, first planted in 1903. Near East Florida Avenue, Green Ash were planted as street trees in1916.

Historical Evolution

Substantial street widening projects, poor maintenance, and absence of tree replacements have resulted in the deterioration of historic University Boulevard. The small commercial district along University creates a gap in the otherwise canopy of street trees. The elimination of street trees and the replacement of parking have damaged the overall continuity of University. Nevertheless, and in spite of recent widening of the entire roadway (thereby reducing the width of the tree lawn), the integrity of the original street tree planting remains intact. The absence of curb cuts onto University Boulevard strengthens the linear progression. South of East Iowa Avenue, the continuity and integrity of the boulevard halts at the intersection of Interstate Highway 25, destroying the connection University Boulevard once provided to the Denver University campus.