Artists, Sarah and Josh Palmeri will activate City Park’s Lily Pond

 “COLOR FIELD at the LILY PONDS” PROJECT


Denver Arts & Venues has announced their 2019-2020 “P.S. You Are Here” funded projects. These projects are designed to revitalize neighborhoods through collaborative and community-led outdoor experiences. CPFAN is one of the eleven grantees. Our project, “Color Field at the Lily Pond,” (Color Field) was created and will be executed  by Denver artists and City Park enthusiasts, Sarah and Josh Palmeri. The project has also received funding from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Color Field will draw attention to the historic Lily Pond that lies deserted for now southwest of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Denver city records from 1917 show that the Sediment Pond in City Park was “constructed as a man-made work of art inspired by Monet’s composition of still water, weeping willows, and lily pads.”  Later, in 1925, the DeBoer Canyon and Lily Pond were incorporated and designed by famed Denver landscape architect, Saco DeBoer, creating a unique, romantic attraction for Denverites. In 1970, a severe storm flooded the area, and the pond has since been waterless (with one exception) with the sandstone seedbed walls exposed.

In Color Field, visual artists Sarah and Josh Palmeri will activate the Lily Pond space thorough a colorful, site-specific art installation of roughly 10,000 painted gardening stakes in the seedbeds of the drained pond. The six uniquely shaped seedbeds will transform into abstract forms of lenticular colors, bringing attention to this underutilized area of City Park. The installation aims to recall the history and beauty of the pond area while building momentum for current plans to restore the historic area. Restoring the Lily Pond as well as the DeBoer Canyon and Waterway are recommendations of the updated City Park Master Plan.

The artists will connect Monet’s influence on City Park with Color Field’s display in the spring following the 2019-20 Monet exhibition at the Denver Art Museum. The community will be invited to participate in various volunteer days, where neighborhood residents and park visitors will paint and install this work alongside the artists at the Lily Pond site.  The artists hope to activate the space over the five month display period through various partnerships with museums, schools, and local businesses. The success of the project will be measured by an increased number of Denver residents that are aware of the historic ponds, increased use of this area of City Park as envisioned by City Park Master Plan, and ultimately, the full restoration of the space and broad community support.

Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator and Director of Outreach at Denver Botanic Gardens will kick off our Color Field Campaign on February 4 at CPFAN’s regular meeting at Messiah Community Church, 1750 Colorado Blvd, from 6-8 pm. Details about this exciting program will follow! 

 

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UPCOMING CPFAN EVENTS – GEESE AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

 

Scott Gilmore, Deputy Manager of Parks and Recreation, will address wildlife management issues in City Park, particularly the management of the goose population, at the CPFAN December 3 meeting from 6-8 pm at Messiah Community Church, 1750 Colorado Blvd.

Gilmore worked for the Colorado Division of Wildlife before working for DPR. He is very knowledgeable. There will be an extensive Question and Answer session to follow his remarks.

CPFAN presents Wildlife Management with DPR’s Scott Gilmore
Messiah Community Church
1750 Colorado Blvd.
Nov. 5, 6-8 pm
Free parking behind the church,
off 18th Ave.

Senior City Planners, Scott Robinson and Stephen Rijo presented slides and narrative concerning the East Central Area Plan to a well-attended audience at CPFAN’s Nov. meeting.

Post meeting, Robinson reports he heard the following concerns about the ECAP’s impact on City Park from the audience:

*Include the City Park Design Advisory Committee (part of the City Park Master Plan) in ECAP concepts and design
*Make sure recommendations don’t favor institutional expansion in City Park
*Would like to see more green in renderings
*Concern about impacts on flooding and the use of impervious surfaces
*Concerns about Traffic Calming and the use of roundabouts.

To review the ECAP plan and voice concerns, go to www.denvergov.org/eastcentralplan. There is a review tool on the site.

There will be a workshop on the East Area Plan that includes the Hale,
South Park Hill, East Colfax and Montclair neighborhoods on Sat., Nov. 23.
The workshop will take place at the Johnson and Wales University
Academic Center at 1900 Olive St. from 10-12:30 pm. Food and drink will be
provided and children are welcome. General parking is available at the
parking lot on the northwest corner of Quebec St. and 17th Ave. (parking
address for Google Maps: 1785 Quebec St. Accessible closest to the
building is available in the small parking lots at Oneida Street and East 18th
Ave. and the northeast corner of Olive St. and East 19th Ave.

To view the EAP and to RSVP, go to the city’s website:

https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/community-planning-and-development/planning-and-design/Neighborhood_Planning_Initiative/Planning-Areas/East_Area_Plan.html

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How will ECAP effect City Park? Senior City Planner will respond

 

 

Update from CPFAN President, Stephen Eppler

View this email in your browser


Our Mission:
“To actively protect the classical, pastoral character of Denver’s City Park.”

Denver’s Senior City Planner, Scott Robinson, will discuss the East Central Area Plan (ECAP) at the City Park Friends and Neighbors (CPFAN) meeting on November 5 from 6-8 pm at Messiah Community Church, 1750 Colorado Blvd.

The East Central Planning area includes Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Congress Park, City Park and City Park West. An upcoming draft plan will include “summaries of the public input we have received,” according to the ECAP website, www.denvergov.org/eastcentralplan.  Of particular interest to CPFAN is the impact proposed changes in density and traffic patterns would have on City Park. Robinson will present a summary of the draft plan and there will be an extensive Question and Answer session to follow.

Response to Oct.1 Denver Post Article:
Rezoning deal could make way for new skyscrapers
(and change City Park view plane to mountains)

Tryba Architects and the Dikeou family are poised to submit a proposal to the city to rezone and develop Dikeou-owned parking lots north of the state capitol into 48 story skyscrapers that will destroy the view from City Park, known as the Crown Jewel of the Queen City since its founding in 1882, forever.

David Tryba describes a years-long careful process of discussing and refining this proposal with the public, but City Park Friends and Neighbors (CPFAN) disputes that claim. Our registered RNO, active since 2014, whose mission is to advocate for City Park, never heard about the proposed destruction of the view of the mountains from City Park until the Denver Post reported it. The view plane was created in the 1880’s by Denver pioneers and visionaries and was legally established in 1975. The view of the mountains is as important to the unique character of City Park as its meadows, trees and historic structures. CPFAN adamantly opposes the Sherman Street project that will mar the beauty of one of Denver’s first parks and one of Denver’s remaining treasures, the much-loved City Park.

CPFAN December Meeting

Scott Gilmore, Deputy Manager of Denver Parks and Recreation, will address wildlife management issues in City Park, particularly the management of the goose population, at the CPFAN December 3 meeting from 6-8 pm at Messiah Community Church, 1750 Colorado Blvd.  

Musicians jam in SE corner of City Park
If you were lucky enough to be strolling in City Park on Sunday, October 13, you were treated to the African Cuban music of the ensemble pictured above. Hal Hosmer, Rapa Nui, Jonathan Murdough, Jeremy Sparig and Henry Johnson are the musicians who filled the park with compelling music around mid-day. We hope to hear they will come back to play regularly. Stay tuned!!!

 

 

 

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Letter from the President, Stephen Eppler

The “History of City Park” presentation by Liz Clancy and Kris Haglund at our well attended last meeting on June 11 was wonderful.  The historic photos were particularly interesting as they showed how City Park has evolved into its current form as well as documenting the Park’s long history.  We are planning to post the video of this presentation when editing is complete.

The planned sale of the Park Hill Golf Course land to Denver-based developer Westside Investment Partners was the next topic.  Woody Garnsey, a retired attorney, involved with Save Open Space Denver [sosphgc@gmail.com] explained what was known about the planned deal.  Years ago, Denver paid $2 million for a conservation easement requiring this land to remain as a golf course or open space.  Despite this obligation, there is enormous pressure to develop these 155 acres of  what could become a regional park.  Please sign the petition posted here to show your support for preserving the PHGC land as a regional park. https://www.change.org/p/denver-city-council-members-preserve-and-uphold-the-park-hill-golf-course-conservation-easement

After discussion, a ‘Resolution In Support of Preserving the Park Hill Golf Course Perpetual Open Space Conservation Easement’ was nominated, seconded and passed overwhelmingly by the present membership and Board.  This resolution will be forwarded to Inter Neighborhood Cooperation (INC), Denver City Council Members and others as part of the effort to preserve this remaining area of open space from development.

A copy of the resolution is presented below:

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PRESERVING THE PARK HIILL GOLF COURSE PERPETUAL OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION EASEMENT
WHEREAS, on November 4, 1997  under the administration of Mayor Wellington Webb, the City and County of Denver (“Denver”) purchased a perpetual open space conservation easement covering the Park Hill Golf Course land from the George W. Clayton Trust (“Clayton”) in exchange for $2 million paid to Clayton;
WHEREAS, in granting the perpetual open space conservation easement, Clayton in perpetuity relinquished its right to develop the Park Hill Golf Course land in exchange for the $2 million payment; 
WHEREAS, Clayton’s decision to sell its development rights for the Park Hill Golf Course land was made by its Board of Trustees based upon an appraisal commissioned by Clayton;
WHEREAS, Clayton now wants to sell the Park Hill Golf Course Land to a purchaser that wants to develop the land;
WHEREAS, any such sale would be subject to the encumbrance of the perpetual open space conservation easement unless Denver might agree to terminate it; 
WHEREAS, for many reasons, preservation of this 155-acre parcel of open space is critical to the health and well being of Denver citizens in this increasingly densifying city;
NOW THEREFORE, City Park Friends and Neighbors respectfully urges the members of the Denver City Council to reject any effort to terminate the perpetual open space conservation easement.
Approved by City Park Friends and Neighbors this 2nd day of July, 2019

There will be no meeting in August.

CPFAN’s next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 3rd at 6 PM at the Messiah Lutheran Church on the corner of Colorado Blvd and 18th Street.  Peggy Day, Director of Strategic Planning at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science will be speaking about the planned nature play area to be built adjacent to the museum.  Following a question and answer period, a discussion is planned about the new playground, the status of Park Hill Golf Course and other issues effecting City Park.

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The History of City Park

City Park, Crown Jewel of the Queen City

Do you know how much Denver taxpayers paid for the 320 acres of barren land out in the country to become City Park in 1882? Where did the Zoo’s first elephants, Cookie and Candy live in City Park before their move to the Zoo? What Breckenridge taxidermist donated the collection that started the Denver Natural History Museum? Come find out!!!

The History of City Park,
presented by Kris Haglund and Liz Clancy,
sponsored by City Park Friends and Neighbors
Tuesday, July 2, 6pm
Messiah Lutheran Church
1750 Colorado Blvd.
Free parking behind the church, best accessed from 18th St.
Light refreshments and discussion to follow presentation

We look forward to seeing you for this unique program!

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