FOR RELEASE: Found on Fourth: History Unearthed in the Heart of Downtown Loveland
Found on Fourth: History Unearthed in the Heart of Downtown Loveland
Digging into Downtown Loveland’s history…literally
Loveland, Colo. — Aug. 14, 2025 — Construction crews working on the Heart Improvement Plan in Downtown Loveland are uncovering more than just old infrastructure—they’re unearthing pieces of the city’s past.
As 4th Street undergoes revitalization, we expected that crews would discover a few unexpected artifacts buried beneath the surface. So far, the findings have amounted to old bottles, cans, wooden water pipes, and other historic bricks that offer a glimpse into Loveland’s early days.
One particularly notable find: a large concrete column discovered directly beneath the center of the intersection of 4th Street and Lincoln Avenue. When City staff started going through historic photos to see what it could be, they discovered that it once served as the foundation for a flagpole in the center of the street. This flagpole was erected in 1918 to celebrate Loveland's participation and success in a Liberty Loan campaign during World War I. Later photos show that the flagpole was removed and the same base served as one of Loveland’s first traffic lights with one central light in the intersection.
This piece of Loveland’s civic history has been carefully removed and placed on public display on 4th Street near Thompson Park, commonly known as Pocket Park. Curious community members are encouraged to stop by and see the artifact for themselves. The concrete base will be transported to a Loveland Recycle Center (400 N Wilson Ave, Loveland, CO 80537) facility the week of August 25.
These discoveries are fueling a new exhibit in the works at the Loveland Museum, titled “Found on Fourth,” which will showcase the artifacts and tell the story of the history beneath our feet. The Heart Improvement Plan team, in collaboration with the museum, is currently gathering artifacts and historical materials to bring this exhibit to life in fall of 2026.
As part of the effort, the team is seeking historic photos of 4th Street and downtown Loveland. Community members who have vintage images or relevant materials are encouraged to share them by contacting lwaneka@lovelandpartnership.org.
“We knew this project would reveal old infrastructure, but it’s really fun to also uncover small meaningful pieces of the city’s past,” said Abby Powell, assistant director, Downtown Loveland District. “It’s a powerful reminder that as we build toward Downtown Loveland’s future, we’re always looking back on the foundations of its history.”
Stay tuned for more updates on the exhibit and the transformation of 4th Street as Loveland continues to build forward—while honoring what lies beneath.
Additional project details including construction phasing maps, images and other project updates, can be found at lovgov.org/HIPStreets. To stay informed throughout construction, stakeholders can sign up for the Heart Improvement Plan project newsletter at go.lovgov.org/SubscribetoHIP. For questions about this project or to contact the project team, call Public Works at 970-962-2524 or email HIPStreets@CityofLoveland.org.
About
In 2009, the City of Loveland developed the conceptual plan for the Heart Improvement Plan (HIP Streets), which explored opportunities to enhance the streets within the historic core of Downtown Loveland. In 2017, after gathering public input, the plan was modernized to include a thoughtful and cost-effective approach to revitalizing 19 core blocks of Downtown Loveland. The first phase of the Heart Improvement Plan – the 4th Street Revitalization – addresses the five blocks along 4th Street that extend from N. Garfield Avenue to N. Washington Avenue. The current effort has the City’s Public Works Department focused on improving 4th Street through streetscape enhancements, while the City of Loveland Water and Power Department works on upgrades to the utility infrastructure beneath the road. As this project is a significant effort, the City of Loveland and the Loveland Downtown Development Authority (DDA) have come together to finally bring this portion of the Heart Improvement Plan to fruition.
Project Funding
The Loveland City Council, with a unanimous vote, approved the Certificates of Participation (COPs) financing method providing funding for the Heart Improvement Plan’s 4th Street Revitalization project on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The project will be funded using a combination of Utility Enterprise Funds and COPs. Utility Enterprise Funds (Stormwater, Water, and Power) will provide $12 million of the project cost, with the remaining $12.5 million funded by COPs. The total estimated program cost for the project is $24.5 million. No General Funds will be utilized or allocated to construct this project.
