1976. Northwest end of 15th St. Bridge over the South Platte River
Following a 1965 flood, the trashy confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte was converted into a park celebrating Denver's birthplace. Paved paths follow the South Platte and Cherry Creek to other waterways and waterside parks. Confluence Park, with its grassy amphitheater, vegetation, and stepped masonry landing, became the prototype for a statewide network of greenways. As in similar programs nationwide, old railroad beds and bridges have been converted to pedestrian use, as has Colorado's oldest metal vehicular bridge in public use, the 19th Street Bridge (1888, Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company), which has ornate cresting and a wooden sidewalk.