For the past two years, Confluence Park — at the convergence of Cherry Creek and South Platte River — has been a mess.

A project designed to make the Central Platte Valley park compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act started in 2015 but stalled with the discovery of coal tar buried in the river’s west bank. A year-long cleanup process more than doubled its budget to $9.4 million.

RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post Construction crews make the final touches on the newly renovated Shoemaker Plaza at Confluence Park in advance of the public grand opening on Oct. 12, 2017 in Denver.

RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post Construction crews make the final touches on the newly renovated Shoemaker Plaza at Confluence Park in advance of the public grand opening on Oct. 12, 2017 in Denver. Public is invited to Shoemaker Plaza to celebrate the grand opening this coming Saturday.

Andy Cross, The Denver Post DENVER, CO - July 07: Folks dip into the South Platte, left, and Cherry Creek, right, next to an unfinished improvement project at Confluence Park, middle center, July 07, 2016. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)



Andy Cross, The Denver Post Two cyclists ride down a path next to an unfinished improvement project at Confluence Park July 07, 2016.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Work continues on the trickier-than-expected project at the new riverfront plaza at Confluence Park on Dec. 29, 2016, in Denver.

Victor Saucedo rides his bike across the river where work continues on the trickier-than-expected project, at the new riverfront plaza at Confluence Park on Dec. 29, 2016 in Denver.



People are pictured tubing down the South Platte River at Confluence Park.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post People enjoy the rapids in inner tubes as they take part in the South Platte RiverFest at Confluence Park June 25, 2017 in Denver. The two day festival, at Confluence Park and Little Raven street, is Denver's premiere urban RiverFest. It included stand up paddle board demonstrations, a variety of riverside recreational activities, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding on the South Platte river, live music and beer and food vendors. The festival benefits the Greenway Foundation. For 40 years, The Greenway Foundation has worked to reclaim, restore and revitalize the South Platte River and it's tributaries in Denver.

Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post Max Campbell enjoys playing in the rapids in his kayak during the South Platte RiverFest at Confluence Park June 25, 2017 in Denver. The two day festival, at Confluence Park and Little Raven street, is Denver's premiere urban RiverFest. It included stand up paddle board demonstrations, a variety of riverside recreational activities, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding on the South Platte river, live music and beer and food vendors. The festival benefits the Greenway Foundation. For 40 years, The Greenway Foundation has worked to reclaim, restore and revitalize the South Platte River and it's tributaries in Denver.



During that time, pedestrians and bicyclists have had curtailed access to the park and the trails along the waterways.

Many of those obstacles were gone this week, just ahead of a ceremonial reopening of the park planned for Saturday. Work crews on Thursday were putting the finishing touches on the centerpiece of the project, the overhauled Shoemaker Plaza, a renovated promenade with improved river access.

“We dealt with containing and disposing of the small portion we did find. The soil on site is clean and contaminate-free,” said Michael Bouchard, assistant director for design and construction for Denver Parks and Recreation.”This is the birthplace of Denver and a very important park for the city. I’m really proud we worked through the coal issue that could have sunk a project.”

Gone are the plaza’s complicated zigzag ramps. Although it doesn’t look tremendously different from its original design, the renovations offer greater and safer access to the water and separate, wider pedestrian and bike access to the trail.

“When you think about some of the things that used to be in this platte and what we used to do to it, it’s a shame,” Mayor Michael Hancock said Thursday during a onsite briefing. “As the city grew, we let the river’s health decline. It has taken a lot of work and resources over the years to reverse the damage that has been done.”

Hancock and other city officials are set to appear at a ceremonial reopening at the park, 2250 15th St., from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. The event will include music, food trucks and whitewater-recreation demonstrations.

With the completion of Shoemaker Plaza, the city will focus on the next phase of the eight-year, $50 million River Vision project, a revamping of all the greenways along the South Platte River corridor in Denver that is slated to be complete by 2020.