In 1984, the City of Boulder approved plans for a continuous linear park that would span the city from its eastern fringe to the base of the mountains, and Love & Associates, Inc. was retained to contribute engineering and design services to this monumental team effort.

The Project was to provide an off-street transportation link to a variety of city resources for bicyclists, walkers, runners, joggers and the handicapped. In addition, the Corridor Project would preserve and enhance fish and wildlife habitat in this urban setting, expand recreational use of the creek.

Love & Associates worked very closely with the City of Boulder staff in designing the world renown Boulder Creek trail system. Multiple underpasses were designed in order to eliminate all at-grade crossings. Complicated hydraulic design work had to be completed in order to accommodate many of the crossings including maintaining the flood-carrying capacity of the waterway and negotiations with and design for 12 irrigation companies who had two major dam structures on the creek. These dams were removed while maintaining the water rights of the irrigation companies. Additionally, an underpass at the Burlington-northern Railroad was hydraulically modeled. The design was to provide for construction of the box within a 12-hour window in order to maintain an open railroad service. This was accomplished.

The Corridor Project timetable was originally 6 years at a projected cost of $3.6 million for the basic path and waterway. The concept was expanded to include a revitalization of the creekbed for fish and wildlife and recreation, including two boat chutes and a system of drops and pools, yet the project was completed in just three years at a cost of $3.3 million.

The Boulder Creek Corridor is a powerful example of teamwork in the integration of engineering technology, environmental respect and attention to human needs.