Why Denver stopped treating sidewalk repair as a DIY project – lessons for other cities and homeowners

New legislation in Denver created a program to build, repair and maintain sidewalks throughout the city.

By: Wes Marshall, University of Colorado Denver, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 2, 2026

Words: 1,234

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

By Wes Marshall, University of Colorado Denver

Let’s say you drive over a pothole in front of your house in Denver and call the city. They come fix it within a few days. Problem solved.

Now let’s say the problem is the sidewalk in front of your house. You call the city again.

Until recently, city staff would have pointed you to their “Homeowner’s Do-It Yourself Guide for Hazardous Sidewalks,” where it clearly states that …

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