Carbondale is a friendly place where people like to bask in the sun or shelter in the shade in the company of others. So it’s no surprise that one park is about to open and plans for another are in the works. The Sopris Sun caught up with Nicholas DiFrank of re:LAND, the local urban design and landscape architecture firm tasked with bringing both projects to fruition.
Youth Art Park
If you’ve traversed the Rio Grande Trail through town lately, you’ve likely noticed a unique park. After breaking ground in July 2022, the Youth Art Park is expected to open in the coming weeks.
“Amy Kimberly, the local visionary of this project, once said, ‘Don’t mistake clarity of vision for a short distance,’” Carbondale Arts community engagement director Michael Stout echoed. “True to those words and over five years later, our team at Carbondale Arts has steadily been working through funding, approvals and more to coordinate this ambitious barn-raising effort.”
No Carbondale tax dollars have been used, according to Stout, who added that funding came by way of national, state and regional grants, as well as financial and in-kind support from local partners. The Town did act as the sponsoring entity for a Great Outdoor Colorado grant.
“The park’s design was originally conceived in collaboration with local students and will continue to engage youth over the coming years,” Stout continued . “A living mural will grow over time as youth are invited to work with local artists to contribute their expressions.” Gabriela Mejia, along with a group of high schoolers, has already started the mural on the west end of the climbing wall.
The layout closely mimics Phase One of the original design. The climbing wall, staircase, slide and boulder play area, among other features, match the dreamed up concept. Initiating Phase Two, which would include older-kid play areas, will depend on additional funding. Some elements of Phase Two, including seating for the amphitheater, were incorporated into Phase One but with some modifications.
“There are no plastics,” DiFrank was quick to point out. The park is made up of 100% natural materials, and much of it was donated — including three truckloads of marble from Colorado Stone Quarries, operators of Marble’s Yule Quarry. Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) donated the land and has pitched in throughout the project.
The designer foresees everyone utilizing the space from elders who can find a place to sit, schools and daycares holding classes, to a mother and child simply stopping by during a morning stroll.
Chacos Park
re:LAND plans to update the Carbondale Board of Trustees on the Chacos Park project in the coming weeks. That meeting will include a “little bit of a refresher and begin a conversation about the next steps moving into design,” summarized DiFrank.
To date, there have been 12 community engagement events. From that public outreach, the top five desired elements included: 1) trees and green space, 2) making it comfortable, 3) reinforcing Chacos Park as a center space of town, 4) ensuring it’s a welcoming and inclusive environment and 5) having a focus on social activity.
Some of the larger ticket items the community expressed were important which re:LAND will focus on are: the continuation of the winter ice rink, a multifunctional raised platform (for music sets, socializing and more), integrated shading (natural and built) and public seating.
The space will accommodate everyday gatherings as well as the regular farmers’ markets, musical events, etcetera which the park is known for.
One significant alteration residents may see is a six-inch elevation of Fourth Street between the southern alleyway and Main Street, bridging the sidewalk curves. This would make it easier for pedestrians to flow back and forth from Chacos Park to Fourth Street Plaza, and slow down traffic. “It metaphorically and literally elevates the role of pedestrian safety,” stated DiFrank.
And there will, of course, be a tribute to the late Chris and Terry Chacos.
Stay tuned for updates as both projects progress.