A New Trail Will Connect Downtown Castle Rock to Philip S. Miller Park
If you've ever wished you could walk or bike from downtown to PSM Park without crossing four lanes of traffic — that's coming.
Town Council approved the next phase of design for the Industrial Tributary Trail on April 21, 2026 — a new east-west trail connecting Downtown Castle Rock to Philip S. Miller Park, the new Castle Rock Sports Center, the Brickyard development, and the western neighborhoods in between.
Philip S. Miller Park — the eastern end of the planned Industrial Tributary Trail. Photo courtesy of the Town of Castle Rock.
What It Is
The Industrial Tributary Trail is a critical missing link in Castle Rock's Trails Master Plan. Right now, the western half of town and downtown are split by East Plum Creek, the BNSF railroad, and a stretch of industrial property that's tough to cross on foot or by bike.
This trail closes that gap. From PSM Park, you'll be able to head east, cross under the railroad, and end up downtown — no car needed.
What Council Just Approved
Specifically, Council approved a $198,918 third amendment to the design contract with Wilson & Company, Inc. The total design contract is now $1,288,039. The amendment covers extra engineering, environmental work, and coordination needed to wrap up final design and get the project ready to break ground.
Total construction cost is now estimated at ~$7.5 million, funded through a mix of local, state, and federal sources. About $585,000 will come back to the Town as reimbursement through a DRCOG Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) grant.
The existing East Plum Creek Trail. The new Industrial Tributary Trail will tie into this network. Photo courtesy of the Town of Castle Rock.
Why It's Taken a While
The original design has changed in a few significant ways:
- The planned pedestrian bridge over East Plum Creek got swapped out for a low-water crossing to keep costs down.
- The originally proposed tunnel under the BNSF railroad was scrapped (too expensive, too much railroad coordination). The trail will use an existing tunnel instead, which required redesigning the alignment and drainage.
- Environmental review expanded to include coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and CDOT on sensitive wildlife habitat and floodplain requirements.
All of that has pushed the schedule out more than a year beyond the original timeline.
What's Next
With this amendment approved, Wilson & Company can finish the final design, lock in permits, and move toward construction. Once it opens, the trail will tie directly into:
- Philip S. Miller Park and its existing trail network
- The new Castle Rock Sports Center under construction at the Brickyard
- The Brickyard redevelopment as it builds out
- Downtown Castle Rock via East Plum Creek
It's part of a larger push to make Castle Rock more connected and walkable as the town keeps growing.
Why It Matters
For locals, this is a quality-of-life upgrade. Walking or biking from a downtown coffee shop to a workout at PSM Park — or from a soccer game at the Sports Center to dinner downtown — becomes actually doable. For Castle Rock's trail network, it's the connection that finally links east and west.
It also stacks with two other things Council greenlit at the same April 21 meeting: free rideshare via Link On Demand and a new look at downtown supply with the 2026 Parking Study. Between the trail, the rideshare, and the parking conversation, getting around Castle Rock is going to look pretty different in the next year or two.
Plan a Trip Around It (Once It Opens)
A connected trail makes the Castle Rock directory a lot more walkable. A few easy pairings:
- Coffee at one of the best coffee shops in Castle Rock, then head to PSM Park
- A morning at the park, then dinner at one of the best restaurants in Castle Rock
- A weekend run lined up with whatever's on the Castle Rock events calendar
- Newer to town? Read the Castle Rock things-to-do guide
Project page: crgov.com/IndustrialTributaryTrail
Sources: Castle Rock Town Council 4/21/26 — RES 2026-049; Parks and Recreation Department memo (Jeff Brauer, Director); Town of Castle Rock project page