News Flash

Press Release

City of Aspen Unveils new EV Charging stations and accessibility improvements at Koch Park

Aspen, CO– The city of Aspen is proud to announce the completion of the first phase of the Koch Park Revitalization Project. This initiative focuses on enhancing accessibility, safety, and sustainability for park users. Koch Park's new features include electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Four new charging plugs are now operational, including two spaces which are ADA-van-accessible in the parking area on the north side of the park on West Cooper Avenue.  

Aspen boasts the highest number of EVs per capita in Colorado. The city's EV Public Charging Infrastructure Masterplan calls for installing 35 to 45 public charging plugs by 2026.  

Koch Park’s additional four chargers now bring Aspen’s current total to 23, which are strategically placed throughout town. Additionally, the Yellow Brick charging project is expected to be completed by the end of summer, which will bring the number of working city EV plugs to 25. 

“Access to public EV charging is an essential strategy to support EV adoption in our community,” said Tim Karfs, the city’s climate and sustainability programs administrator. 

Koch Park also now features new ADA sidewalks with three ADA ramps. These connect the parking area to a new school bus stop, creating a safe and accessible path for all. The improvement project at Koch Park caps off a city initiative to provide continuous north-south sidewalks on each block from Durant to Hallam streets.  

Jack Danneberg, the city’s project manager, said the Koch Park project exemplifies successful collaboration between the city's engineering, environmental health and sustainability, parks, and utilities departments. 

“This project further improves the mobility and safety of the traveling public, particularly in a high pedestrian area of town that is mostly residential,” Danneberg said. “Not only does it provide connectivity to neighborhoods with multi-family housing, but it also showcases city departments working collaboratively with innovation, stewardship, service, and partnership in mind.”  
Koch Park’s revitalization was designed to be compliant with the city’s water conservation codes, exemplifying the ingenuity of a public works project.  

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