Janak Garg is on the High Line Canal trail every day. He has been most of his life. These days he bikes about 10 miles on the Canal before work and is walking on it in the evenings. Every day he feels grateful it is there.

The Canal has been there for him in his neighborhood and his life from his earliest days. As far back as he can remember, his father walked the Canal every day. When the family lived in an apartment near 6th and I-225, his father would drive to the Canal at 6th and Chambers to walk. Janak would go with him when he could. When they bought a home in the Apache Mesa neighborhood the Canal was right there, and Janak walked with him every day after school. Walking the Canal was part of living a healthy life for his Dad, a philosophy he passed on to Janak. Sadly, his father can no longer walk the Canal due to age and other health issues. Often when Janak is walking people, some he does not know, will stop, and ask, “Where’s your Dad? We miss him!”

Now Janak is married with two young children, Mirabai (9) and Kiran (7) and has a home in the Laredo Highline neighborhood. He and his wife, Kristi, who also spent her childhood walking and biking on the Canal in the Littleton/Centennial areas, walk with their children and fur-baby Buddy Boy, every evening on the High Line Canal. The kids walk or ride their bikes and look forward to their Canal time. The whole family is doing the Walk FOR the Canal fundraising challenge. They are passing on to their children the joy of being outside and active.

Janak appreciates the Canal for being so much more than a walking or biking path. It is a constant. As the area changes and grows, the High Line Canal remains as it has been. Pretty much the only Canal change in his area has been a switch from asphalt to concrete. He believes the Canal influences the communities around it to preserve and create more open spaces. He likes the connectivity and enjoys exploring the many connecting trails.

Both Janak & Kristi love the High Line Canal for its wildlife, wildflowers, and scenic views. The Granby Ditch is a favorite place to watch nature transition through the seasons and it’s the perfect spot to watch the sunset. The family has seen owls, hawks, bats, snakes and skunks on their evening walks, in addition to raccoons, lots of birds, and even deer and antelope. Janak and Kristi’s children are well on their way to becoming the next generation of High Line Canal lovers.

Click here to visit Janak’s personal fundraising page.

Thank you to our volunteer, Liz Twomey, who wrote this story on behalf of Janak.  

To read more WALK FOR THE CANAL stories, click here.