Introducing the next article in a series of stories about the evolution of Central Park – from how we got here to what’s next. Enjoy this compilation of articles from industry experts, Realtors, long-time residents and others!
A Blog Series
By Kerry O’Connell
Construction Executive, Mortenson Construction
Few people know that the extremely well-dressed individuals in this article’s photo have actually been living in Central Park’s new Conservatory Green neighborhood since January 2010. Having formerly worked construction for 10 years in the shadows of the old Control Tower, we have some keen observations about how different life has been north of Interstate 70.
There are many things we really enjoy about our new home on the high plains. Nature abounds up here with rabbits, mice, coyotes, foxes and occasional deer. It feels different – we’re surrounded by incredible views of the mountains, endless sun and skies as big as Texas.
One of the first things we noticed was that we were close to everything – 3 minutes to great food at The Shops at Northfield, 2 minutes to the biggest post office in Denver, 20 minutes to DIA via the traffic-free 56th Avenue, and 3 minutes to concerts and soccer games at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. I like to bike to work from Conifer in the summer, which is really easy via the Sand Creek trail.
It is also very quiet and peaceful here – with so few lights at night, the stars abound. We have also noticed that we are a bit poorer these days. Like most construction guys, we love to hunt, and our pay checks find their way to Northfield’s Bass Pro Shops every week.
Building infrastructure up here has been a little different from the Central Park neighborhoods south of I-70 – there are far fewer remnants of the old airport to demolish, but there is a massive volume of dirt to move.
In Filing 36, Kelley Trucking brought in six of the super-sized scrapers in the above picture to move 750,000 cubic yards of dirt. These scrapers can load 32 cubic yards of dirt in two minutes … two loads will fill your two-car garage to the ceiling.
This year is even more exciting as we begin to build big parks once again. Most of what we build is underground, so we don’t get to show off our work much. We hope that you’ll remember us every time you flush that toilet or turn on your faucet. We enjoy building essential, little things that make modern life easy.
It has been nice up here the past three years. As we watch the first homes come out of the ground, we know that civilization will soon prevail, and we will have neighbors. Shortly thereafter, we will pack up our trailers and move further north once again. I’m going to miss this place …
