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Town of Carbondale Receives $35,000 GOCO Grant for Youth Art Park

Town of Carbondale

In partnership with Carbondale Arts, The Town of Carbondale has been awarded a 35,000 dollar Mini Local Park and Outdoor Recreation grant from the Board of Great Outdoors Colorado. The funds will be used to build the Youth Art Park, the third and final park along the town’s one-mile Rio Grande ARTway. KDNK’s Lucas Turner has more.

 

 

Carbondale, CO - The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Board awarded a $35,000 grant to the Town of Carbondale to design and build a youth art park. The project received one of eight Mini Local Park and Outdoor Recreation (Mini LPOR) grants awarded. 

The Town of Carbondale, in partnership with Carbondale Arts, will use its Mini LPOR grant to build the Youth Art Park, the third and final park along the town’s one-mile Rio Grande ARTway. The intergenerational space provides recreation and education opportunities for 117,000 visitors annually. 

With support from Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, the Town will begin construction by clearing weeds along the trail, adding topsoil, leveling, and laying down a compacted gravel base. The site of the park, which sits on a hill, will feature youth-led design elements, including a slide to access the park, railroad ties along the entry point, and a climbing structure with attached ropes.

A bicycle recharging station will also be installed to charge electronic devices while teaching children about renewable energy through kinetic motion.  An art wall designed by local students will make for an engaging space. Students will have the opportunity to change the wall’s theme every year or two. Other park features include a tire dragon created from recycled tires, benches made from recycled skis and snowboards, a tetherball area, and a gathering deck with seating and shade. 

Local Carbondale youth have been involved in almost every aspect of the project, collaborating with local architects and project managers, integrating diverse voices to ensure the park’s friendly and inclusive environment. Through collaboration and community building, the town hopes that the Youth Art Park inspires kids to engage in outdoor spaces and understand how getting outside is connected to health and well-being. 

“We are so excited that the youth of the Valley will get to see their designs come to life,” said Amy Kimberly of Carbondale Arts. 

Construction is expected to begin this year and in last into 2021.

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. GOCO’s independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts, and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created when voters approved a constitutional amendment in 1992, GOCO has since funded more than 5,200 projects in all 64 counties of Colorado without any tax dollar support. Visit GOCO.org for more information.

Carbondale Arts is a non-profit organization committed to fostering creativity, collaboration, and community. Through the promotion of the arts, artists, education, cultural activities and events, Carbondale Arts collaborates with artists, businesses, and other non-profits in surrounding areas to cultivate a strong community with a creative spirit at its core. More information is at carbondalearts.com

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