Smith's Ditch (Denver, Colorado)

 irrigation, ditch, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, historic district

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Historic irrigation channel listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as a historic district.

Built: 1860-1867
Areas of significance: Engineering; Exploration/Settlement
Length: about 1.25 miles
Also known as: City Ditch; Big Ditch
Date added to NRHP: 10/8/1976
Other designations: U.S. Historic District; listed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties
Notes: The irrigation ditch originally began in Waterton Canyon, located southwest of Denver, as a diversion of the South Platte River and ultimately terminated 27 miles later in City Park’s Ferril Lake. In addition to supporting the efforts of local farmers, water flowing through the ditch and its laterals enhanced the development of Denver’s extensive park and parkway system and contributed to the planting of trees, lawns, and gardens within the residential neighborhoods along its path. Although pipelines now carry much of the flow through Denver, the 1¼-mile segment within Washington Park remains open as an important feature of the park's landscape.