Greeley’s Culture, Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to celebrate from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2 the grand opening of the East Greeley Natural Area and the refresh of Balsam Sports Complex.
Ribbon Cutting Event
The main event and ribbon cutting will take place at the Discovery Bay Waterpark parking lot, located at 714 E. 24th Street and include:
- Live music,
- Food trucks,
- Outdoor activities at both the park and natural area, and
- Scavenger hunt for giveaways.
Greeley Recreation will also bring their Play on the Way mobile recreation program to Balsam Sports Complex.
Explore Art
The public will have the opportunity to create artwork as well with artist Wes Sam-Bruce. He was commissioned to create pieces for both the park and nature area by the Greeley Art Commission 1% for Art Project, and will begin the installation of his design to the Balsam Sports Complex later this month. He will install his second piece, for the East Greeley Natural Area, in 2022.
Great Parks
“Great people and great processes create great parks,” said Adam Bienenstock, the Founder of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds, the firm designed and led the build of the project. “From our first project four years ago to the projects we’re completing today in Greeley, the common thread has been the city’s commitment to design, build, and maintain each space for the specific needs of the community that lives there.
“The East Greeley Parks project has involved a thoughtful process to identify the needs of the local community. The diversity in Greeley led us from a traditional design process in favor of community-based celebrations with Somali and Hispanic translators, and playing with parents, grandparents, and children while we discussed their needs. The result is a series of parks that intertwine the work of amazing artists and natural habitats and superior engineering to manage storm surges for decades to come. No two sites look the same or function the same. However each park generates a series of experiences that relate back to the original community consultations.”
The improvements to east Greeley parks offers great opportunity for the surrounding neighborhoods to enjoy the outdoors through nature play, walking and more. These projects were made possible by grant funding from the Colorado Health Foundation and Great Outdoors Colorado, which supports the renovation efforts of Balsam Sports Complex, and the development of the East Greeley Natural Area. Additional efforts for future renovations at Delta Park are being supported through Trust for Public Land and Colorado Health Foundation.
For more information about the East Greeley Parks projects and community celebration, visit playgreeley.com/east-greeley.