City Park playground designs available for public display

As part of a national design competition, between May 16 and June 7, eight potential playground designs for City Park are available for public comment. People can view the designs and provide comments at the ”Reimagine Play” web site hosted by Denver Parks and Recreation and at several public venues.

These dynamic proposals were provided to engage the community and re-define current definitions of play through a unique multi-generational and multi-faceted experience.  Large displays of the playground designs will be available at the following locations for public viewing:

• May 16 – June 7; Online : www.Denvergov.org/reimagineplay (survey included)
• May 18 – 19: * Denver Museum of Nature & Science (2001 Colorado Blvd.)
• May 20, 12:00 – 3:00 pm: Cake Crumbs (2216 Kearney St.)
• May 21 – 25: * Denver Zoo (2300 Steele Street.)
• May 26, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm: City Park Dustin Redd playground (1700 N. York St.); Hosted by City Park Alliance
• May 29 – June 1: Denver Central Library (10 W. 14^th Ave.)
• June 1: 6-9PM County Fair at City Park (City Park Pavilion, 1700 N. York St.); Hosted by City Park Alliance
• June 4 – 7: Wellington E. Webb Building (201 W. Colfax Ave.)*Regular admission fees apply

County Fair at City Park on Friday, June 1

The City Park Alliance is pleased to once again present the annual County Fair at City Park & the District 8 Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social. This turn-of-the-century fair celebrating Denver’s most beautiful park in its historic glory was one of the late Councilwoman Carla Madison’s favorite events and she helped spearhead it. City Park Alliance combined its annual open house event with Councilwoman Madison’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social in 2010 and has continued to carry on the tradition of the County Fair after her passing. District 8’s Councilman Albus Brooks has enthusiastically agreed to continue the tradition and has partnered with City Park Alliance for the 2012 event. Participants will see the Denver Municipal Band play to the fountain show, entertainment and craft stations will provide free fun for entire families, food vendors will be on hand, and there will be free ice cream available for all who attend. Neighbors and guests are encouraged to wear period costumes to take part in the costume contest. The event will be held at the Pavilion in the center of City Park in Denver. It begins at 6:00 p.m. and ends after dusk at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, June 1st. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Any proceeds or donations accepted at the event will directly benefit City Park and are tax deductible, since City Park Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

City Park Bench to be dedicated to the late Councilwoman Carla Madison

On April 23, at 4pm there will be an unveiling of a new bench dedicated to Carla Madison in City Park, on the west steps of the Museum of Nature and Science. At 6pm, The Denver City Council will honor Carla’s contribution to our community by Proclamation in Council Chambers at the City and County Building. You are invited to attend. Wear orange! Carla’s love and dedication remains an inspiration to all of us who knew her.

A special thanks to Engage 8, Peggy Lehmann and Britta Herwig for making this happen.

Reimagine Play at City Park

Denver Parks and Recreation is challenging currently accepted definitions of play and is looking to create a unique multifaceted play space in Denver’s City Park. As part of this effort, the City is hosting a national design competition to help guide the vision to create an iconic multigenerational, multicultural, and all ages play space.

Residents and neighbors of City Park can influence the direction of this project by submitting comments to the public record through the Denver Reimagine Play web site and by participating directly in public presentations and information gathering events.

Additional events will be planned by the City of Denver and the City Park Alliance to help advertise the project and to get public input on the design concepts.

Leave a comment on this post to request an event to discuss designs and provide input and concerns related to this exciting new project in City Park.

Project Timeline:
Advertise and Issue Request for Proposals………….…March 7, 2012
Deadline to Submit Questions about this project ………March 22, 2012
1st Proposal Deadline…………………………………..…March 30, 2012
2nd Proposal Deadline…………………………………….May 11, 2012
Public Display of Design Concepts ………………………May 14-30, 2012
Public Presentations of Finalists‟ Concepts……………..July 2-6, 2012
Contract Execution…………………………………………October 1, 2012

Parks and Recreation Open House on “Re-imagine Play”

Denver Parks and Recreation Open House

Re-imagine Play at City Park Playground

 

Denver Parks and Recreation is about to launch a Nation-wide design contest to find the most creative and innovative ideas for this important community space right in the middle of City Park. We would like to share some background on this exciting project and layout for you all of the different ways for you to engage in the design selection process.

 

When: March 7, 2012

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Schlessman Lounge

2001 Colorado Blvd.

Potential B-cycle expansion to City Park – feedback meeting 2/23

FROM  Denver Bike Sharing:

Below is a  link to an aerial view which shows where they would like to locate the  B-stations: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47255867@N05/6852469311/

There are three proposed City Park B-cycle stations  (B-stations):

·        The  north side of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, adjacent to the SW corner  of the parking lot.

·        In  the plaza area on the north side of the Denver Zoo, where existing bike parking  currently resides.

·        At  the 17^th Ave. and Steele Street entrance, adjacent to the existing  RTD bus shelter.

 

They  are also holding a series of public meetings to gather input on the proposed  B-station locations. The date and time of the meeting for the proposed City Park  B-cycle stations is below:

City Park: 2/23 at 6:00p, VIP Meeting Room (Access through main public  entrance on the north side of the building), Denver Museum of Nature &  Science (2001 Colorado Boulevard) RSVP here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2947549199

We would  appreciate it if you could distribute the information about the public meeting  to your neighbors and include a link to the online survey in the case that you  or your neighbors are unable to attend the meeting in person. The survey link is  below: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGNISnpIYjV5OVljanBNazI1akFIc3c6MQ#gid=0

Thanks for  helping us out with this project. Without your help and the support of people  like you, Denver B-cycle wouldn’t be where we are  today.

Construction Safety Update: Southeast Corner of Denver City Park

Some news from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science:

Please stay alert, use caution, and follow signs that note temporary park closures and detours for vehicle/pedestrian/cycling traffic in the southeast corner of Denver City Park.  This active construction zone is off-limits to ensure the safety of neighbors, park users, and Museum visitors.  Crews are using heavy machinery to excavate 12 million gallons of dirt for construction of the Education and Collections Facility at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.  Semi-trucks are entering/exiting the park from 17^th Avenue to assist with the removal of this dirt.

 

About the Education and Collections Facility at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Museum is adding 126,000 square feet and five levels of discovery to its south side, providing even more space to engage, delight, and spark your imagination.  The new addition, supported in part by the Better Denver Bond and scheduled for completion in 2014, will feature a dedicated, interactive science center for ages 3-5, additional space for world-class travelling exhibitions and engaging science programs, a state-of-the-art preservation and research facility for more than 1.4 million artifacts and specimens, and more. Learn more.

 

SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday, February 1 from 4-6 p.m. or Thursday, February 2 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Community Forum at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Please join us to learn more about progress on the Education and Collections Facility.

Coming in 2014, the Museum is adding 126,000 square feet and five levels of discovery to its south side, providing even more space to engage, delight, and spark visitors’ imaginations.
We are hosting two community forums and invite you to:

• Connect with other community members and enjoy     light food and beverage
• See models and diagrams of this exciting new     space
• Learn more about our sustainability efforts and     project construction schedule
• See the proposed public art installation and offer     ideas for a potential community art project
• Participate in a Q&A session with     representatives from the Museum and Denver Parks and Recreation

Look for an event invitation in early 2012. Please RSVP to Lindsay.Donnellan@dmns.org. We hope you can join us!