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cpra-web.org | Fall 2020
Design, Innovation & Adaptability
• COMING TOGETHER IN WIDEFIELD • PARKS AND RECREATION IN A POST-COVID WORLD • ARTS IN THE PARK • BUILDING THE FUTURE • SYNTHETIC TURF GROWTH & LIFESTYLE CONSIDERATIONS
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2 • Colorado Byline | Summer 2020
CONTENTS
FEATURES 8 Coming Together in Widefield By Amber Rotramel and Nicole Reeves 11 Telling Park & Rec’s Story By Seve Ghose, CPRE 14 When Things Return to Normal By Aaron Harris, CPRP 16 Arts in the Park By Regina Smith 18
Going to New Heights By Monica Ramey
21
Adapt & Overcome By Luke Bolinger, CPRP
23
Engaging All Walks of Life By Hannah Reiter, CPSI
24
Building the Future By Becky Grubb
26
Rec Center Rejuvination By Victoria Webster
COLORADO PARKS & RECREATION ASSOCIATION PO BOX 1037, Wheat Ridge, CO 80034 [P] 303-231-0943 [F] 303-237-9750 cpra@cpra-web.org www.cpra-web.org Allison Kincaid Executive Director allisonk@cpra-web.org Ashley Perillo Professional Development Program Manager ashleyp@cpra-web.org Julie Hopko Professional Development Program Coordinator julieh@cpra-web.org
28 Synthetic Turf: Growth & Lifecycle Considerations By Robyn Bartling, PLA, ASLA and Craig Stoffel
DEPARTMENTS 4 4
I ndustry Partner: Star Playgrounds Member Spotlight: Janet Bartnik, M.S. CPRP
5
Agency Briefs
Jillian Strogis Membership & Communications Coordinator jillians@cpra-web.org
Colorado Byline is the official member magazine of CPRA, Colorado Parks & Recreation Association. CPRA is a dynamic, proactive organization that creates healthy residents and livable communities by promoting excellence in parks and recreation.
2019-2020 CPRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ON THE COVER: Architectural rendering of the view of Mt. Rosa from inside the new Pikes Peak Summit Complex. Rendering courtesy of RTA Architects and GWWO Architects
ADVERTISER INDEX Delta Timber – www.deltatimber.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC FieldTurf USA Inc. – www.fieldturf.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Ground Solutions / Bedrock Slingers – www.groundsolutionsco.com. . . . . . . 6 Gyms for Dogs – www.GymsForDogs.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Hord Coplan Macht – www.hcm2.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 PermaTrak - www.permatrak.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Pilot Rock - www.pilotrock.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Public Restroom Company - www.publicrestroomcompany.com . . . . . . . . . . . 13
PRESIDENT Justin Perdue City of Greeley 970-350-9548 justin.perdue@greeleygov.com PRESIDENT-ELECT Hillary Roemersberger Apex Park & Recreation District 720-898-3412 hillaryr@apexprd.org SECRETARY/TREASURER Molly Elder City of Loveland 970-962-2728 molly.elder@cityofloveland.org AT-LARGE Rachel Wysup Town of Erie 303-926-2791 rwysuph@erieco.gov
Roche Constructors, Inc. - www.rocheconstructors.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Star Playgrounds – www.starplaygrounds.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Wember – www.wemberinc.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Colorado Byline is the quarterly publication of Colorado Parks & Recreation Association (CPRA) and is provided as a benefit to members. Submit your article to www. cpra-web.org/page/bylinearticlesub under publication resources. Submissions are edited and published as space allows. Letters to the editor, suggestions, comments and encouragement are welcome. Expressed opinions and statements in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinions of the CPRA board of directors or its membership.
Mission: Promote the parks and recreation profession and its growth throughout the State of Colorado. Vision: A dynamic, proactive organization that creates healthy residents and livable communities by promoting excellence in parks and recreation.
AT-LARGE Clay Shuck City and County of Broomfield 303-460-6903 cshuck@broomfield.org
AT-LARGE Leah Huffer-Solomon Denver Parks & Recreation 720-865-0825 leah.huffer@denvergov.org
2020 CPRA ADVISORY COUNCIL AAPS Cindy Hickman Town of Erie 303-926-2795 chickman@erieco.gov AQUATICS Philip Henry City of Boulder 303-413-7478 henryp@bouldercolorado.gov CARA Amanda Cesar City of Pueblo 719-553-2806 acesar@pueblo.us DIRECTORS Janet Bartnik Mountain Recreation 970-688-7335 jbartnik@mountainrec.org FACILITY MANAGEMENT Nolan Thill Town of Parker 303-805-3286 nthill@parkeronline.org FITNESS Glen Batista Denver Parks & Recreation 720-865-0672 glen.batista@denvergov.org PARKS Tony Jaramillo City of Commerce City 303-289-8166 tjaramillo@c3gov.com PLAaY Sarah Gange City of Loveland 970-962-2467 sarah.gagne@cityofloveland.org TRSC Deni Jacobs Town of Parker 303-805-3208 djacobs@parkeronline.org PUBLISHER / ADVERTISING: Todd Pernsteiner, Publisher Pernsteiner Creative Group 952-841-1111 todd@pernsteiner.com www.pernsteiner.com
GO DIGITAL View this issue online at www.cpra-web.org/page/byline. Keep up on all things CPRA via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 3
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Meet Janet Bartnik, M.S. CPRP By Eddie Campos, Mountain Recreation
Janet Bartnik has been the Executive Director for Mountain Recreation Metropolitan District in Eagle County for the past three years. Prior to her position with the District Janet was the Director of Parks and Recreation in Liberty, Missouri for five years and in Raymore, Missouri for eleven years.
We are very fortunate and proud to have such a dedicated and uniquely qualified parks & rec professional leading our district.
Janet has built a career on one simple principle: Together We’re Better. She believes there is strength in bringing people together that cannot be matched individually. Over the past three years, Janet has been instrumental in creating an inclusive culture that focuses on collaboration. This is clearly mirrored in our local community through a surge of newfound partnerships and a rejuvenation of previous partnerships.
Janet lives and breathes Mountain Recreation’s mantra that everyone deserves to be healthy and happy. Not only is she an advocate for our underserved communities, she is also highly creative, considerate and professional in delivering on our community’s needs. Along with focusing on our community by serving on multiple local boards & planning committees, she also plays an active role nationally as part of the faculty for NRPA’s Directors School, serves as a commissioner on the Accreditation for Park and Recreation Administration and is completing her second term on the AAPRA board as Secretary. The only question our staff can’t seem to answer is: when does she sleep? We are very fortunate and proud to have such a dedicated and uniquely qualified parks & rec professional leading our district.
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
Star Playgrounds Star Playgrounds has been providing stellar design and installation of commercial playgrounds for nearly 20 years. In 2021, we will be celebrating our 20th year as a family owned business. We have seen a lot over those years and look forward to seeing what the future of play brings. Star Playgrounds is the exclusive distributor of Playworld in Colorado and Wyoming and are now thrilled to announce our new partners of Berliner, Yalp and Exofit. But we don’t just do playgrounds… we provide fabric and steel shade options, site amenities such as picnic tables and benches, sports equipment, outdoor games and the latest in safety surfacing. Delivering the highest quality products and services is what we are known for. Give us a call. We strive to provide you the most stellar experience in completing your project. We work with you from planning and designing your space 4 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
to installation with our full-time, inhouse crew, and then to managing and maintaining of all your project pieces. We believe play is for everyone and are committed to ensuring access to all the benefits of outdoor spaces. We build relationships and design play areas committed to the Definition of Play: To engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose. Not only are we facilitators of fun, but we are also excited to create dynamic partnerships within the Parks and Recreation community. Play is a vital experience for all. Contact us at 303-791-7626 or at 9892 Titan Park Circle Unit 1, Littleton, CO 80125 Email us at info@starplaygrounds. com and follow us on Facebook @ starplaygroundsCOWY and Instagram @starplaygrounds For more information, please visit www.starplaygrounds.com
AGENCY BRIEFS
Colorado Springs and Loveland Achieve CAPRA Accreditation
New Playground in Frisco Opens with Help from Grants
The City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department and City of Loveland Parks & Recreation Department joined the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country by earning accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). This distinguished accomplishment was awarded during the 2020 NRPA Annual Conference: A Virtual Experience.
A ribbon cutting for the Walter Byron Playground in Frisco took place on Oct. 21, 2020. The new project was made possible with the help of CPRA, PlayCore and Gametime’s Play On! grant. Learn more about grants at gametime.com.
CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies, and is a measure of an agency’s overall quality of operation, management and service to the community. This mark of distinction indicates that an agency has met rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services. As part of the accreditation process, Colorado Springs and Loveland had to demonstrate compliance with 151 recognized standards and document all policies and procedures. Often the process helps identify efficiencies and heighten areas of accountability, all of which translate into higher quality service and operation to benefit the community. Loveland Parks & Recreation Department Director, Elizabeth Kayl, stated, “I would like to thank my entire department for their efforts – we would not receive such a distinction without their dedication, professionalism, and expertise”. The process for accreditation involves a formal application, self-assessments, a site visit by a team of trained visitors that results in a written report, and a hearing with the commission to grant accreditation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s visitations were held virtually. Once accredited, the agency must uphold the standards by submitting an annual report and is reviewed again in five years. The Commission is comprised of representatives from NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the International City/County Management Association, the Academy for Leisure Sciences, the Armed Forces Recreation Network and the Council of State Executive Directors. For more information about CAPRA accreditation, visit www.nrpa.org/CAPRA.
Submit your best photo! NEW PHOTO CONTEST WINNER WILL RECEIVE
2021 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION! Photo Contest Categories: • Parks & Playgrounds • Recreation & Programming • Trails, Nature & Conservation The CPRA member whose photo receives the most votes wins ‘Best in Show’ and a free 2021 CPRA Conference registration! The top three photos receiving the most votes in each category will be featured in the Summer 2021 issue of CPRA Byline magazine. Entries due by April 15, 2021. Online voting runs April 16-May 14, 2021. Photos taken between Jan. 1, 2020 and April 15, 2021 are eligible to be submitted. Rules and submission info at www.bit.ly/CPRAPhotoContest
Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 5
AGENCY BRIEFS
City of Loveland Shining Star Awards The City of Loveland Parks and Recreation Department is proud to share some positive news for our department. Across the board, Parks and Recreation Department staff are committed to providing outstanding service to our community and achieving excellence in all we do. We were thrilled when, on September 13, the City of Loveland recognized two of our employees and one of our teams for “2020 Shining Star” awards. Recipients of these awards were nominated by other City of Loveland staff and selected via an evaluation committee. The City’s Core Value Award for Accountability, Integrity, Transparency & Honoring the Public Trust was awarded to Parks Crew Leader Devin Wilson (lower right). The Cross-departmental Team Awarded was given to Open Lands Division team members Debbie Eley and Cindy Ticer (at left), along with members of the City’s Power Department, for their collaborative work on the City’s Raptor Monitoring Program. Molly Elder (upper right), Administrative Business Manager of the Parks and Recreation Department, was recognized as the City of Loveland Employee of the Year for her work supporting the department.
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Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 7
By Amber Rotramel and Nicole Reeves, Widefield Parks and Recreation
Widefield Parks and Recreation is nestled on the south side of Colorado Springs with sweeping views of the Front Range. We serve an unincorporated community of approximately 45,000 people and are owned and operated by the local school district. The pandemic affected Widefield like many other Parks and Recreation departments with restrictions, regulations and a list of other unique hurdles. After returning back to our offices from remote working in mid-June, we knew the community needed something positive to look forward to. The idea was developed for an event that would provide opportunities for patrons of all ages to engage with one another and have some
fun, all while maintaining social distance. We understood the pandemic brought many financial challenges for individuals in the community, therefore providing a free lunch was also high on the needs list. After weighing all the pros and cons, the decision was made to put on a Fall Fun Day Picnic the first Saturday in October. The day would be complete with many socially distanced activities including Bingo, water balloon games, circuit races and a chalk art competition, along with a free pre-packaged picnic lunch. One of our primary objectives for the event was ‘to have something for everyone’, which underscored department collaboration being a key factor to making this one-of-kind, community gathering
Through collaboration, innovation and creativity Widefield Parks and Recreation was successfully able to bring everyone together, in more ways than one!
8 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
successful. The Sports department worked together with the Arts & Cultural department to be creative on solutions for hosting a public event, while following the COVID-19 guidelines set by the local health department. The result would be a wonderful afternoon in the sun focused on friends, family, fun and community. To accommodate social distancing, the main event of ‘Bingo on the Field’ was developed. Each family was given a pack of bingo cards and asked to choose a spray-painted bingo spot (strategically placed 6ft apart) on the main baseball outfield. The adjacent baseball field was home to the circuit race and water balloon games. Water balloons were an easy solution to not have community members
physically touch the same objects to play games. The circuit race was also a big hit with tire hopscotch, limbo, body weight exercises and a balance beam. The last component of the afternoon was a chalk art challenge that enticed family members of all ages to be creative, and design a fall themed chalk art scene on the walkways
between the two fields. With a generous sponsorship from the local School District 3 Federal Credit Union, all 240 attendees were also able to enjoy a free picnic lunch! After the event, Widefield Parks and Recreation received many positive remarks and appreciation posts on our
social media pages including; “What a great community to be a part of!” and “It was a blast. Thank you for putting it on!” Through collaboration, innovation and creativity Widefield Parks and Recreation was successfully able to bring everyone together, in more ways than one!
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Parks and Recreation in a Post-COVID World 10 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
Telling Park & Rec’s Story By Seve Ghose, CPRE, Director, Thornton Parks, Recreation & Community Programs
The Parks and Recreation profession is at a crossroads, especially more pronounced under COVID-19, as it relates to relevancy. The pandemic has created greater use of our parks, with numbers four times the normal in many cities. Most recreation centers and related programming has been closed and only slowly beginning to get traction, if open. That too in only a few States. The non-surety and the prolonged crisis has resulted in economic hardship across the board and is requiring municipalities and park districts to make difficult decisions. Parks and recreation is still looked upon as a luxury and not a necessity in many quarters and it is up to us to place ourselves in the limelight to showcase and relate the reasons why we are essential and fully relevant to the times. Before we do that in unison, we have to overcome several tenets that tend to hold us back and make ourselves our own worst enemy. Some of these factors are Succession Planning, Bold Leadership, Innovation (or the lack of it), Understanding
Finances, and Story Telling. We usually live for the day and thus succession planning is an after-thought. We should not look at succession planning as just a personnel issue but rather how do we extract the valuable information from a departing staff members’ head and put into practice to benefit a greater number in the organization. One solution may be to create a job shadow program whereby all layers of staff in the organization is required to complete two shadows each year. Doing so earns them knowledge of the other sectors while also breaking down the silos or related barriers that may inherently exist. Succession planning should include the movement away from “We have always done it that way” mantra into one of being welcoming of new ideas and embracing change as a necessity of growth. One issue outside of the agency’s control is the rate at which several universities across the nation have dropped the parks
and recreation degree program. Thirty five years ago there were close to four hundred universities offering a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation or a very closely related field. Now there are barely a hundred and we may be partly to blame in not cultivating a better synergy between the universities and the profession. In the Denver area recently, Metro State University announced the cancellation of the Recreation Administration program with immediate effect, after having given it a brief lifeline the prior year. Thus in Colorado, there is only one other university left, offering a close enough program to our profession. What this dearth creates is for us to hire staff who may be partially qualified and then having to spend much time and resources in imparting the hands-on knowledge, whereas a qualified professional would have run with the program. It may be an option for us as professionals, along with the CPRA and NRPA, and other partners, to raise enough
Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 11
monies to help fund parks and recreation programs in select universities, spread across the nation. This could possibly guarantee us a flow of qualified graduates to employ in the coming years. Our profession is fraught with many professionals comfortable with their position. They do not like to take risks or rock the boat even when they have great ideas to implement, but are not willing to face the negatives. That accounts for the lack of bold leadership in our profession, overall. There are definitely pockets of perseverance and the willingness to lead, but they are few and far between. The post-pandemic time is a good time to speak up in transparency to push for the change in the political thinking whereby we are typically relegated to accepting budget cuts, even though the pandemic has shown all of us that spending more in parks and recreation may bear greater community building, create an achievable path toward equity, and hence be justified. Armed with the empirical evidence gathered over the years at several universities’ studies that argue in favor of greater spending in parks and recreation in times of duress, we should be able to loudly voice our displeasure when asked to make cuts to our budgets. The pandemic has given us a lifeline to make that case even stronger and we as leaders have to voice it more often.
Our professionals are a creative group and they do produce great programs and are apt at serving the community well through the best in customer service. However, there has been nary an innovation come from parks and recreation over the years that stands on its own. We tend to accept the status quo and thus innovation is slow to come by, if at all. For example, if one were to look at the Activities Guide across the nation, you will be hard pressed to see if any have changed significantly over the last twenty years. We continue to produce the same Guide for the very few who may or may not use it, while the rest of the world is passing us by and entering a world of using technology to leave an indelible mark. With programming too, many an organization call a program successful, when the same twenty patrons have supported the same program without any changes for the last twenty years, leaving no room for discussion on how to grow and make the program better. With every pushback we take a step backward, whereas we should be looking at calling a program successful when we can translate that twenty to say a hundred, taking place at several sites across the area, possibly even in partner sites—to truly call it a successful program. Very few take the bold step and most continue to cater to the known twenty. This stifles innovation and we need to break from this practice of
We have to overcome several tenets that tend to hold us back and make ourselves our own worst enemy.
12 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
catering to the loudest few and cater to the greater community good. Budgets and finance are an anathema to many parks and recreation professionals. This detestation is a self-inflicted wound that allows us to accept budget cuts without a profound fight, and in addition deepen the chasm of understanding where money comes from, how budgets are created, cost recovery systems, and overall understanding how best to use the funding that has been allocated in the budget. A common refrain on budgets is “You stick to it”. Yet no one seems to know why we have to stick to it. To be successful in parks and recreation and to get to positions of leadership, a finance litmus test must be performed on the professional to gauge their fitness for the job. As budgets drive the Councils or the Boards decision making process, it is imperative for us to know and be able to speak to the finances and budgets when the opportunity arises. We should be able to offer clarity with modelling and empirical data to substantiate our claims and continue to educate. This would also imbibe in our organizations a business like acumen while also offering a balance, especially when it relates to equity and access to programming. Potentially much innovation can also take place if we were to understand finance and budgets first before going deep into
programming or the day-to-day. At the CPRA annual conference we can get the ball rolling by introducing a track on finance and budgets, and shift away from programming, just ever so slightly. We all know the great story of parks and recreation—from its beginning of getting people outside to smell the clean air away from the miasmas to its present day manifestation where we are being called an essential service. The three pillars as adopted by the NRPA clearly state—Conservation, Health and Wellness, and Social Equity—that we are all of those and do it very well. Where we fail is to tell that wonderful story over and over again to the wider audience of the community, region, state and the nation. We can invariably have a marked difference in local thought if we were to repeat incessantly the stories of lives saved—literally and otherwise, property values raised, economic vitality created, social equity generated, and offering overall improvement to personal health and wellness. We do this well after an incident or in a reactive fashion. However, can you imagine if we had already proactively created a local following on all fronts that
when we do slide into periods of duress, parks and recreation is looked upon to lift the community from that unpleasant state to a place where we all thrive. Our story is befitting of any era, culture, socio economic status or geography. Our story is one that is timeless and can save our profession from the wraths of budget cuts and indifference that seem to cloud us often. Let us espouse the great benefits of parks and recreation as loudly as we can and as often as we can till we earn the respect of the elected and sway the
community to our side. That would be a great day for our profession. Placing these five principles into play on a daily basis can get us to a level of acceptance and credibility that allows us to sit at the municipal table as equals to other departments who for years have told their story well and with force. We can do the same and with that leave an indelible mark of our great qualities of empathy, listening, and community building to take us even further ahead.
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When Things Return to Normal By Aaron Harris, MS CPRP, Recreation Manager, City of Fort Collins
These are the words that have become a common phrase for Parks and Recreation professionals since the start of COVID-19 pandemic closures in March. The phrase that had offered me hope that at the end of the pandemic life that we would return to normal. It would not be until a performance review with a direct report that I realized that the aforementioned statement was completely incorrect; it had been, until they commented, “the old normal will never return”. However, this pandemic, like all pandemics and all other seismic societal shifts from the past, will indeed come to an end. One effect of the pandemic is that it has exposed the fiscal fragility for which our industry operates. Parks and recreation has spent decades building and remodeling facilities, adding programs, increasing services, and increasing our footprint in the community. The pandemic has forced
14 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
conversations in my organization which has led my community to prioritize their needs in terms of programs (e.g., childcare) vs. revenue generating opportunities (e.g., youth sports and special events). As a result, several individual programs and entire program areas have been identified as permanent cuts. As Parks and Recreation professionals we must all be thinking about the balance of these priorities and have the confidence to make tough choices when necessary. In hard times, it is important to reflect on the positives associated with the pandemic. Many of the process changes that have been created because of the pandemic are not temporary solutions to pandemic related problems but are enhancements that will continue after this pandemic ends. These innovations consist of synchronous virtual and in person fitness classes, enhanced focus on cleaning procedures and documentation, enhanced childcare options to simply being able to reserve a swim lane online.
These types of innovations are unquestioned progression, in fact, many of those program cuts eliminated mature programs that begun to wane in interest in recent years and for various reasons the programs or services were being continued. In addition, these eliminated programs or services were likely being subsidized by other programs or taxpayers. To this end the pandemic has helped to create more nimble organizations for the future that will be able to better withstand the next pandemic, recession, or other societal shift. The post pandemic parks and recreation industry will be different than the industry was, pre-pandemic. Our organizations will not be, “returning to normal.” The change will be both necessary and positive because it will be made to ensure the fiscal longevity of our industry so that we are able to provide the community benefits in the future. Now, as experienced pandemic leaders, we have a responsibility to take initiative to ensure our industry thrives.
Design, Innovation & Adaptability Colorado communities accept the challenge to create and adapt facilities, playgrounds, programs, and gathering spaces to meet the needs of all residents.
Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 15
arts in the park By Regina Smith, Arts & Events Supervisor, Foothills Park & Recreation District
It became very clear in April, that things would be different this summer. As the Arts & Events Supervisor for Foothills Park & Recreation District, I started to see all of my 2020 event plans crumble before me in a pile of restrictions, mandates, and safety concerns. How could we safely have thousands of people attend concerts in the park? Or even hundreds of people attend Shakespeare in Clement Park when we cannot gather in groups? The answer was, we couldn’t. My goal has always been to bring art to the community. Up until this year, my team and I accomplished this through classes, events, theatre, and dance performances. With this new roadblock before us, it was a moment to pause and pivot. What could we do to engage individuals and small family groups in the arts? I saw local artist, Austin Zucchini-Fowler, gain international attention for his “Walls of Gratitude” mural series around Denver. His murals are colorful, engaging, and were bringing hope and joy to the community. The idea for Arts in the Park was born! Our new goal was to create long lasting pieces of visual art that could be experienced well after the pandemic is over and would give the community an artistic outlet right now. I quickly met with Sarah MacAfee, Parks Volunteer & Operations Coordinator, to identify
16 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 16 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
potential mural walls in the district. Sarah is a huge supporter of the arts and had been advocating for this type of project. Utilizing Scientific & Cultural Facilities
District (SCFD) grant funds, that the art department is so grateful to receive every year, we had the funding to get started. This type of project isn’t possible without
SCFD makes our community more vibrant.
an enormous team. Staff from the arts and parks departments as well as the management team were instrumental in getting the project moving. With a timeline and funding in place, our Executive Director brought the idea to the Foothills Board of Directors and they agreed to give it a try. We chose the southwest wall of the Grant Family Amphitheater in Clement Park for our first public mural location. In addition to being a performing arts space, the wall faces the main walking path in the park which allows the community to experience art by just stumbling upon it. We chose Austin Zucchini-Fowler as our first mural artist and he created a beautiful concept incorporating the performing arts and nature. The feedback from the community has been so beautiful and the gratitude overwhelming. Because of this, we will continue the Arts in the Park project into 2021 with more murals, art wraps, and instillations. 68 cans of spray paint and 38 hours of a dedicated artist created the first ever Arts in the Parks mural for Foothills Park & Recreation District. Every time I look at this mural I am reminded of how something beautiful can come from something so dark, how teamwork can make an unimaginable project come to fruition, and how creating arts in a pandemic is not only possible, but necessary.
About the Artist: Austin Zucchini-Fowler of AustinZArt has been creating art his entire life and jumped into Denver’s mural scene just last year. His medium of choice is painting and he’s best known for utalizing pointillism in his pieces. His subject matter usually focuses on animals, mountain scenery, and portraits. In April he gained international attention for his “Healthcare Hero” mural, the first of his “Walls of Gratitude” series to honor the essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Austin isn’t painting, he is a full time swim coach working with National level age group swimmers. For more information on Austin visit https://austinzart.com/
Like many of the other sectors of the economy, the arts and culture community has been hard hit by necessary cancellations and closures. Working artists rely on live events, exhibits and other audience-driven experiences to support their families and themselves. Shuttering these experiences, while absolutely necessary, creates hardships for these individuals and the organizations for which they work. Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) is working to help fund cultural projects. The SCFD is a seven-county tax district created within Colorado law, approved by Colorado’s General Assembly, and renewed by voters multiple times over more than 30 years. The seven-county Denver metro area including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties participate, with the exception of Castle Rock and Larkspur in Douglas County. SCFD is the only cultural funding model in the nation that serves a region of seven counties. This broad base has allowed them to grow into the second largest cultural funding mechanism in the United States. SCFD funds nearly 300 organizations across our front range urban corridor, distributing more than $60 million annually. These tax dollars provide critical operational support for small, medium, and large organizations. SCFD is also a catalyst for bringing world class exhibits and events to the metro region which would otherwise never be presented. SCFD is proof that we are stronger together. Culture is not just available in the epicenter of our cities, but surrounds us throughout the metro area. SCFD has a list of resources for artists and cultural organizations available on their website. Learn more at www.scfd.org.
Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 17
going TO NEW HEIGHTS Colorado Springs takes Challenge Head-On with New Visitor Center atop 14,115 foot Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain
By Monica Ramey, bachman pr
This is one of the projects you’ll look back and tell your grandkids about,” construction superintendent Robert Clough commented to the mayor of Colorado Springs during a recent project tour. At an altitude of 14,115 feet, this new visitor center could not be a more challenging nor innovative undertaking for the City’s Parks Department. The new $65 million complex is being fully funded by Pikes Peak revenues and donations. Between the altitude; it’s the highest ongoing construction site in North America and one of very few visitor centers in the world constructed above 14,000 feet, and weather factors; deep snow arrives early and stays for half the year and wind
A PermaTrak® system, an environmentallyfriendly precast concrete boardwalk and elevated greenway solution, is part of the new Pikes Peak Summit Complex. The pedestrian boardwalk will connect visitors from the parking lot to the new visitor center and dining terrace, and most impressively will include a promenade and viewing platform wrapping along the edge of the mountain.
18 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
speeds often reach more than 230 miles per hour – so what could possibly go wrong? So far, not much. The architectural team of RTA (Colorado Springs) and GWWO (Baltimore), and contractor GE Johnson, admits it’s one of the most challenging projects they’ve ever had the privilege of working on, but it has progressed well and is on track for a spring/summer 2021 completion. It’s a privilege because of its’ national significance as Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain; views from the summit inspired Katherine Lee Bates’ to write the poem, America the Beautiful, subsequently put to song.
Pikes Peak’s elevation presents logistic and health challenges, requiring constant adaptability. Lower oxygen levels in the air mean crews need additional training and must undergo a thorough physical exam. As for climate at 14,115 feet, snow is a possibility year-round, and even during the summer temperatures can still dip below freezing at night. Thunderstorms and lightning strikes occasionally knock out equipment and are also a safety concern. Crews are currently working to close-in the 38,000 square foot building from the elements so they can work on internal finishes through the colder months ahead. Specially manufactured windows were installed following a year of high-wind
Architectural rendering of the view of Mt. Rosa from inside the new Pikes Peak Summit Complex. Rendering courtesy of RTA Architects and GWWO Architects
testing at the summit to assure they could withstand the hurricane force wind speeds. “An innovative aspect of the sustainable design is a water conservation measure. The new complex will have a closed-loop wastewater system serving the toilets that allows solids to be removed and composted offsite while the water is reused again and again,” said Jack Glavan, Pikes Peak manager. The system is the second of its kind in Colorado to treat wastewater to reclaimed standards and reusing it within the building. Annually, the new system will reduce water truck trips to the summit from 127 to 72 and
A cold October day (10 degrees) on the summit of Pikes Peak. Most of the windows on the new summit complex have been installed, specially manufactured to sustain hurricane force winds.
Visitors to the new Pikes Peak Summit Complex will be able to post personal images and location of their hometown at the “My Pikes Peak Touchwall” of seven 55-inch portrait-oriented and ever-changing mounted monitors. Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 19 Rendering courtesy of Northern Lights Productions
Once completed, the new summit complex will be one of the nation’s most accessible of facilities for all ages and abilities. wastewater trips back down from 174 to 69, saving more than 350,000 gallons of water per year over the former system. Once completed, the new summit complex will be one of the nation’s most accessible of facilities for all ages and abilities. It will achieve LEED Silver status and will meet requirements for Living Building Challenge certification, the most rigorous environmental sustainability standard in the world. No easy feat for those working on the project, but a challenge worth the effort for bragging rights to have been a part of this new iconic visitor center atop Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain. Architectural rendering of the outside dining terrace of the new Pikes Peak Summit Complex. Rendering courtesy of RTA Architects and GWWO Architects
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20 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
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adapt & overcome By Luke Bolinger, CPRP, Community Partnership & Special Projects Manager, Town of Erie
Photo: Wember, Owner’s Representative
Adapt and overcome. It’s a phrase I heard a lot during my ten years in the United States Marine Corps, both as a follower and a leader. Adapt to the changing circumstances – what you think you were going to do is no longer applicable. Overcome – make a decision, charge ahead, and accomplish your mission. Sounds familiar, right? We’ve all had to adapt and overcome this year. What we
thought we were going to do in 2020 is no longer applicable. We’ve had some significant obstacles – rapidly changing orders and restrictions, upset patrons and program participants, abrupt stops to projects, but that’s what we do as Parks & Recreation professionals – we find a way to adapt and overcome.
I saw this mode of operation play out in the development of Erie’s Clayton Park. The excitement around Erie’s newest neighborhood park was palpable. The park would support Erie’s growing sports programs with two ballfields and a multipurpose field, a half-court basketball court, a small amphitheater, a clovershaped playground with a boulder hill slide, and a loop trail.
We’ve had some significant obstacles – rapidly changing orders and restrictions, upset patrons and program participants, abrupt stops to projects, but that’s what we do as Parks & Recreation professionals – we find a way to adapt and overcome.
Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 21
The two-year planning was complicated. Because the park is partially funded by the community developer, it wasn’t a typical “design-bid-build” project. After negotiations for financing were complete, and the community had given their input, we had a master plan. The construction documents were developed, and finally, we were ready to build. We would hold construction site tours, complete with hard hats, safety vests, refreshments, and the opportunity to engage with our project partners and staff! We had visions of fancy gold shovels and smiling photos of staff and community. Then COVID happened. While construction moved forward, our hopes of engaging the community onsite fell apart. So what? Adapt and overcome. Our management approach changed overnight. Going virtual is not that simple. The OAC meetings, ASIs, RFIs, COs, and whatever other acronyms that came along had to be managed during the project, without ever being in the same room. Wember, our owner’s representation, helped us maintain the project schedule, budget, and communication throughout to ensure things got done…and done correctly. Onsite tours were replaced with a selfie video series of myself. I walked the site during construction and provided the audience a “behind-the-scenes” explanation of what was happening and what to expect next. In a changing world of communication where people are constantly bombarded with photos, social media updates, and virtual programming, we had to find a way to keep our community engaged, but in a way that fits into their everchanging way of life. We uploaded them to our projects
Clayton Park
Congratulations to the Town of Erie on the completion of Clayton Park. Roche was honored to be the general contractor for this project. www.rocheconstructors.com ▪ (866) 71-ROCHE
22 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
page, in addition to YouTube and Facebook, reaching thousands in the community who would otherwise not be aware of the happenings across Town. The videos have been so successful and well-received by our community that we are now using the same model for other projects. It is an inexpensive, and easy way for our community to stay informed and for the Town to spread positive messaging during uncertain times. Adapt and overcome.
Photo: Wember, Owner’s Representative
In a changing world of communication where people are constantly bombarded with photos, social media updates, and virtual programming, we had to find a way to keep our community engaged, but in a way that fits into their ever-changing way of life.
ENGAGING ALL WALKS OF LIFE By Hannah Reiter, CPSI, Director of Operations, Star Playgrounds
Yalp interactive playgrounds are great catalysts for inclusive play. Playground equipment should be as diverse as our communities – interactive playsets are genuinely inclusive and multigenerational. In 2006, Yalp started developing their first interactive play equipment, the Yalp Sona Interactive Dance and Play Arch. In various projects over the years, Yalp discovered that products suit the needs of children with disabilities astonishingly well.
Yalp Play Activity tracking software
Yalp strives to create unique playgrounds that punctuate, not define, a play space. Embracing the true meaning of inclusion and adaptive play, Yalp products have no barriers. Yalp interactives are ground level and, therefore, easily accessible for people with physical impairments, such as wheelchairs and larger powered mobility devices. Yalp systems can connect any software platform to their interactive playsets for advanced customization using Yalp API, commonly known as YAPI. API offers controlled and safe access to the interactive play systems. Star Playgrounds is the exclusive distributor of Yalp products for Colorado and Wyoming. The team at Star Playgrounds are also Certified Inclusive Playground Designers and therefore especially suited to help you to create a play space that includes everyone. Visit www.starplaygrounds.com to learn more. Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 23
Building the future By Becky Grubb, Communications Manager, South Suburban Parks and Recreation
The south Denver metro area population has continued to steadily grow, and South Suburban Park and Recreation District (SSPRD) is doing its part to meet the needs of the changing community. A new, 206,000 square foot sports complex is set to open in January 2021 after SSPR’s 2017 Master Plan outlined the desire for more indoor recreational amenities, including more sheets of ice, and indoor courts and fields. South Suburban is a special district that encompasses 46 square miles. Currently it serves approximately 160,000 residents in six cities and towns throughout Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson counties in Colorado.
24 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
“We recognized a need in our community to provide first-class, indoor recreation facilities,” said SSPRD Executive Director Rob Hanna. “We’ve made a commitment to our patrons to provide the best in recreation and replace aging facilities like the 52-year old South Suburban Ice Arena. The new regional sports complex will provide more opportunities for ice sports and drop-in activities such as Pickleball, basketball, lacrosse and soccer.” In November 2017, South Suburban took a ballot initiative to the voters. The issue asked voters to allow SSPRD to increase its debt to improve trail connectivity, as well as fund water and energy efficiencies
and improve and repair recreation facilities for seniors, families, and children; build a new indoor multigenerational facility, and renovate and upgrade existing playgrounds and parks. The public, recognizing the importance of community investment and upgraded facilities, passed the measure. “We created a Gold Medal Committee, which was a citizen’s forum to discuss community needs and requests from South Suburban,” said John Ostermiller, South Suburban Board Chair from 2012-2018. “We learned that there was a strong interest in more ice time and additional turf fields. That feedback gave us confidence that voters would support a bond issue to
increase the borrowing capacity, while not raising taxes. The response was very positive – we received more than a 70% favorable vote.” Plans immediately started for the regional facility located in the heart of the District in south metro Denver. The facility will replace the aging South Suburban Ice Arena and the current administration offices. The project enlisted the architecture firm of Perkins + Will, and Adolfson & Peterson Construction, and broke ground on May 14, 2019. The state-of-the-art complex is ADA compliant and boasts energy efficient lighting, plumbing and mechanical equipment. SSPRD also worked within Xcel Energy’s design assistance program to ensure equipment is being used as efficiently as possible. “Our community spoke, and we listened,” said South Suburban Board Chair Susan Pye. “This is a unique facility that allows South Suburban to expand its recreation programs, leagues and classes to athletes of all ages and abilities.”
The new regional complex features: •
Three sheets of ice, including a center ice sheet with five locker rooms and seating for 800 spectators; a second sheet with five locker rooms and seating for 220 spectators; a third sheet with 5 locker rooms
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Gymnasium that can be divided into 2 full size basketball courts, 4 junior basketball courts, 4 volleyball courts or 8 Pickleball courts
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Two indoor synthetic turf fields with Dasherboard systems
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Restaurant and bar with views overlooking the ice sheets
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Figure skating room
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Dryland training room (off-ice training area) – springboard floor, mirrors, ballet bar
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Skate rental
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Concession Stands
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Pro Shop
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Party rooms
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Administrative offices and board room that also serves as a rental space for other activities
“We’re excited at the opportunity to grow our recreational skating programs with three available sheets of ice, “said South Suburban General Manger of Ice Bill Dobbs. “We currently have the largest skating program in the region but we are always looking to expand. We are working with USA Hockey on a grow-the-game pilot program, where skaters can try hockey for free. The goal is to make the sport accessible for everyone at a grass roots level.” South Suburban expects to reach more than 300,000 participants and spectators in the building annually. The sports complex is located at 4810 East County Line Road, just north of C-470 in unincorporated Douglas County. Additionally, there is easy pedestrian access from the C-470 and Centennial Trail Systems. To learn more about the South Suburban Sports Complex, visit ssprd.org/sportscomplex.
Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 25
AQUATIC TRANSFORMATION By Victoria Webster, Project Assistant, Essenza Architecture
Scott Carpenter Park and Pool is a community park located in Boulder, Colorado that provides a wide variety of recreational facilities including swimming pools, skate park, open turf field, diamond fields, and the space themed playground in honor of the park’s namesake, astronaut and aquanaut Scott Carpenter, a former Boulder resident. Over the past several years the pool facilities have undergone a major renovation and transformation that represents what was desired most by the community, user groups, and stakeholders. The design team was tasked with creating
an iconic, state-of-the-art facility that promotes inclusiveness, accessibility, sustainability, durability, while honoring and nurturing the existing mature trees and established astronaut theme. We transformed and repurposed the existing building into a low maintenance, durable facility with a warm mountain feel that is a reflection of the Flatiron formations in the foothills of Boulder. The renovated facility opened in summer of 2020 and included a new 50-meter outdoor pool, a double waterslide tower, an 8,000 square foot recreation pool that includes a
diving board, jumping platform, drop slide, climbing wall, lazy river, zero depth entry, and an outer-space themed water play feature. In addition to the pools there is a 2,000 square foot splash pad featuring a 20-foot-tall rocket ship that ties back to the existing historic rocket ship playground feature. Colorado has only a handful of outdoor 50-meter pools and this feature certainly makes the Scott Carpenter Park a destination for competitive swimmers. The additional fun water amenities provide engaging activities for people of all ages. The heavily renovated bathhouse features
Photos: Philip Wegener
26 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
durable materials alongside the existing preserved historic brick, an accessible design for all ages, and an undulating curved blue roof mimicking water waves to welcome visitors. Outdoor design features include shade structures that are scattered throughout the deck in wave like forms to provide much-needed cover from the Colorado sun. Shower towers are located outside of each locker room to encourage rinsing off before jumping in the pools. Low
retaining walls and grass landscaping are provided in the patron lounging area. The facility offers ample bicycle parking and enlarged paths on all sides of the property encouraging multi-modal transportation and accommodating increased traffic, an important goal for Boulder. During this time of COVID, the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation team has been adapting the use of facility in innovative ways. The 50-meter pool is being used in the 25-meter direction so
that more individual lanes are open and swimmers can be socially distanced allowing the facility to stay open. At other times of the day the 50-meter pool is being sectioned off into pods where families can swim together. After several years of design collaboration and community outreach aimed to better meet the community’s aquatic and park needs, the renovated facility is a top recreation destination for the City of Boulder and surrounding communities.
After several years of design collaboration and community outreach aimed to better meet the community’s aquatic and park needs, the renovated facility is a top recreation destination for the City of Boulder and surrounding communities.
Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 27
By Robyn Bartling, PLA, ASLA, Principal and Craig Stoffel, Associate, Hord Coplan Macht
Synthetic turf has become an increasingly popular option for municipalities, park and recreation districts, educational campuses, and others responsible for maintaining fields and recreation areas. The global synthetic turf market is expected to grow by USD 1.49 billion during 2020-2024, according to Technavio. Turf has risen in popularity for a variety of motivations – from advances in technology
to ecological benefits, maintenance, and budgetary considerations – and is likely to see continued growth with a variety of lifecycle considerations. Reviewing and discussing key questions can help determine the type of solution to implement. We recommend several factors when considering synthetic turf versus natural turf.
1. What are the proposed uses? 2. How many programmable hours will the fields be in use annually? 3. What is the availability and budget for irrigation water now and in the future? If synthetic turf is selected as the best option, we work to educate our clients on the key differences and benefits as it relates to the different types of systems,
There continues to be significant demand for high-quality playing and recreation surfaces with more options and technology advancements on the horizon. 28 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
Growth + Lifecycle Considerations
maintenance and long-term planning and sustainability goals.
Ecological Benefits The most significant ecological benefit of synthetic turf is the reduction in water use. Other benefits include reduced pesticide/weed control products and lower emissions with no mowing. The
synthetic turf materials are advancing as well to be more ecologically viable. There are now options for infill that can be repurposed as soil amendment at the end of its useful life as well as shock pads with “cradle to cradle” (C2C) certification, which are products that are assessed for environmental and social performance.
Site Preparation Site preparation varies depending on soil conditions and if the field is installed on an undeveloped site or is a conversion from natural turf. In Colorado, and especially along the Front Range, much of our soil has high levels of clay, which can cause expansion within the soil. Compaction and drainage strategies often need to be
PLANNING + LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
1800 Wazee St Ste 450, Denver, CO 80202 303-607-0977 | ww.hcm2.com
Photo: Scott Dressel-Martin
Colorado Byline | Fall 2020 • 29
Photo: Chinook Landscape Architecture, LLC
implemented to achieve proper installation and should be considered with the overall site plan.
Drainage Drainage for fields can be complex depending on current detention and water quality requirements for the site, which
are very site specific. On undeveloped sites, construction site disturbances will be incorporated into the overall site design and drainage plan. For turf field conversions it is important to evaluate the entire site to determine if current water quality and detention requirements are being met. With site disturbance we often
need to include improvements or additions to the water quality and detention to meet current requirements. This could mean site and cost impacts well beyond the field area to provide new or enlarged water quality and detention facilities.
Maintenance Synthetic turf installation eliminates the need for irrigation and greatly reduces overall maintenance requirements from no mowing to no need for replacement/ reseeding or sodding of natural turf areas.
Costs
Photo: WDavid Lauer Photography
While there are both short-term and long-term cost savings associated with a synthetic turf system, there is also a large upfront investment. It is important to weigh the proposed uses and lifecycle implications against the budget needs of the project when selecting this type of system.
30 • Colorado Byline | Fall 2020
The outlook for synthetic turf is strong from an ecological and maintenance standpoint, as well as other factors including safety, durability and increased programming for more playable hours. There continues to be significant demand for high-quality playing and recreation surfaces with more options and technology advancements on the horizon.
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