Loveland
Loveland finishes 4th Street rebuild; 10 Bloom sculptures due this spring
The rebuild adds wider sidewalks, accessible curbs and ramps, and room for pedestrians and events while keeping the same number of parking spaces. The sculptures will change color with visitors’ movement, and the city plans a ribbon-cutting after installation.
Construction on five blocks of 4th Street in downtown Loveland, between North Washington and Garfield avenues, has finished, and 10 large-scale Bloom sculptures are planned for installation this spring.
The project provides more space for pedestrians and on-street events while keeping the same number of parking spaces downtown. The upgrades include ADA-accessible curbs and ramps, widened sidewalks and decorative brick pavers.
HIP Streets is a $24.5 million joint project of the City of Loveland and the Downtown Development Authority. It is funded with $12 million in city Utility Enterprise Funds and $12.5 million from Certificates of Participation paid by the authority, and no General Fund dollars were used.
The city and the authority began the Heart Improvement Plan, or HIP Streets, in February 2025. Work covered utility and stormwater infrastructure, streets, sidewalks and landscaping on the five main blocks of 4th Street between North Washington and Garfield avenues.
Ten large-scale sculptures are planned for placement two per block this spring. Titled Bloom by artist Jen Lewin, they feature clusters of colorful overhead petals that change colors based on user movement and participation.
The city's Art in Public Places program commissioned the installation. The city plans to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony after the art pieces are installed.
Residents can get updates about the final art installations and ribbon-cutting ceremony at lovgov.org/HIPStreets.
Much of the old system beneath 4th Street, built in the previous century, was aged, undersized or deteriorating. Some stormwater connections were made of clay pipe, and cast-iron water pipes were more than a century old.
The upgrades include new stormwater drains, gutters, water pipes and underground power with expanded capacity. They also include additional fire hydrants and fire lines.
Sean Hawkins, executive director of the Loveland Downtown District, said 4th Street has always been at the heart of downtown. "4th Street has always been at the heart of our downtown," Hawkins said.