Keeping Hilltop Walkable: An Update on Denver’s Sidewalk Program
As the weather warms up and more neighbors are out enjoying our beautiful Hilltop streets, we’ve received several questions about the city’s new approach to sidewalk maintenance. With the Sidewalk Implementation Plan (SIP) now officially in motion, here is what you need to know about how these changes affect our neighborhood.
The New "Service Charge" on Your Bill
You may have noticed a new "Sidewalk Service Charge" on your recent Denver municipal stormwater bill. For the vast majority of Hilltop residents (about 96%), this is a flat annual fee of $150, split across two payments throughout the year. For those with larger corner lots or frontage exceeding 230 linear feet, there is an additional charge of $3.50 per foot. This fee is part of a city-wide shift: Denver is now treating sidewalks like streets—meaning the city, rather than the individual homeowner, is now responsible for the long-term repair and build-out of the network.
What’s Happening Now?
The city is currently in the "Prioritization" phase. While the long-term goal is to fix every hazardous or missing sidewalk in Denver, the first projects for 2026 are focusing on high-injury networks and areas with major accessibility gaps (currently seeing activity in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and Washington Park).
For Hilltop, this means we are in the queue. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is finalizing the Draft Work Plan Scenarios this spring. These scenarios will determine which streets get repaired and when. Criteria for "high priority" repairs include:
Vertical gaps or "trip hazards" greater than one inch.
Major cracking or crumbling (raveling).
Sidewalks that are currently too narrow to meet ADA standards.
How to Get Involved
Your feedback is crucial to ensuring Hilltop’s needs are heard. The city is expected to release Sample Conceptual Designs and draft work plans for public feedback this spring and summer. We encourage you to keep an eye on denvergov.org/sidewalks to view the "State of the System" report and provide input on which local corridors you believe need the most urgent attention.
The HNA will continue to monitor these plans and advocate for a rollout that keeps our neighborhood safe and accessible for everyone.
