Denver Direct: Reality Check at Ruby Hill Park


Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Reality Check at Ruby Hill Park

When I watched the Channel 8 tape of the City Council Zoning meeting of June 13, 2007, I couldn’t believe the BS coming from the mouth of Kathleen MacKenzie, current lame duck City Council Representative for District 7. Is this woman loony? Xcel “forcing transmission lines down the throats of the Council”? “Let them eat chemotherapy?” “Penetrating our Sacred View Planes”. WTF? Did I miss something here? Is Xcel really trying to destroy Ruby Hill Park with ugly giant poles? Has she gone off the deep end? Let’s take a deep breath and do a reality check there, Ms. MacKenzie.

So my partner and I went to Ruby Hill Park on Saturday, June 23, at midday. Here’s what we found:

1. Ruby Hill Park is no gem. The concrete barricades (cruising prevention?), open construction pits, standing water, and general lack of care have rendered it shabby. We saw only two groups of two people in the park the hour that we were there – two at the swimming pool and two at the pavilion.

2. Before we start I should reveal my own bias. I think all electric lines should be underground (in a perfect world) and I think that View Planes are a silly idea – especially Sacred View Planes (more on that later).

Just south of Pecos and Mexico at the west edge of park.

What’s on the ground now. Note the edge of the park in the background, and the very tall radio tower.

You can’t drive to the reference point (from which the view is to be viewed) because of the barriers, but you can still walk there.


The actual View Plane reference point (not as nice as those with a brass marker).

Part of the actual view (composite of two photographs, unretouched).

Closer view showing the two towers at the northwest corner of the park, “penetrating” the Sacred View Plane.

OK, now we know what’s there. We can probably all agree the electric transmission lines are ugly, especially in a park, unless you consider their function and like your electricity. But that’s what has been allowed.

What’s being proposed. These towers are just to the south of the park, but provide a striking comparison of the old and new. Note the new one appears a bit taller than the old. Xcel wants to replace 5 of the old with the new in the park.

Massive Sacred View Plane (blue) and small Ruby Hill Park (approximate, in purple)

Google Earth view of approximately the same area.

To Be Continued…