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New path to be named in memory of Evan Carrington

Evan Carrington
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A new stairway and foot path that connect the Rio Grande Trail to the new pedestrian bridge over the Roaring Fork River will be named in memory of student Evan Carrington.

Carrington, who would have graduated from Glenwood Springs High School this year, was killed in a car wreck on Interstate 70 near Gypsum during his junior year.

When the city went looking for an official name for the pedestrian bridge, which has been informally referred to as the 14th Street bridge, it turned to students at the nearby school for ideas.



The overwhelming choice was to name it in memory of Carrington, said his sister, Emily. She appeared along with former DECA co-president and recent GSHS graduate Michaela Fiore-Ruger at the Thursday night City Council meeting.

“Evan made such a big impact on our school with everything that he did,” Emily Carrington said. “This is a nice way to keep him there and honor him.”



“Evan was involved in many programs where he interacted with many students and faculty at GSHS as well as community members … most notably Evan was one of the core foundations of the GSHS mock trial team.

“His contributions went above and beyond what he was called to do and it is for that reason that his memory will last for a long time,” DECA club sponsor and teacher Taylor Parsons wrote in a letter explaining the naming process.

Council agreed to the Evan Carrington Memorial Path but is leaning toward a more geographical name for the bridge itself.

A resolution officially naming it as the Red Mountain Pedestrian Bridge was approved Thursday, but that decision could be reviewed, Mayor Mike Gamba said.

Meanwhile, the city ultimately agreed to a $65,000 contract for the installation of the new stairway, which will follow an existing path from the Rio Grande along Coach Miller Drive down to the paved path that leads to the new bridge.

A temporary path is also being constructed by city crews at the Eighth Street bridge, leading from the Rio Grande trail to the south side of Eighth.

Both paths are seen as critical pedestrian links as the city braces for the Grand Avenue highway bridge closure and detour starting next month, when more people are expected to be biking and walking around town.


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