Title
Recognition of the Colorado Parks & Recreation Association Columbine Award for Renovated Park Design Presented to Panorama Park
Presenter:
Britt Haley - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director
Body
Summary:
The Colorado Parks & Recreation Association Awards Program is intended to recognize and celebrate the individuals and organizations that contribute to the success and value of parks and recreation in the state of Colorado. Designed to bring attention to its recipients, the awards program highlights the successes of association members and community champions. On Thursday, September 28, 2023, Panorama Park received the Columbine Award for best renovated park design.
Background:
Panorama Park is a 13.5-acre neighborhood park located in Southeast Colorado Springs. To say Panorama Park was a special project would be an understatement. Attention for this park sprung to life through organized resident leaders, community partners, philanthropy, and community-centered design; a real lightning-in-a-bottle kind of project made possible through partnership. City Council's sustained and enthusiastic support for this project was a keystone to its success.
As a neighborhood park, Panorama serves Southeast Colorado Springs. Over 3,400 residents live within a 10-minute walk. In Southeast, many neighborhoods are geographically isolated, disparately served, and inundated by negative indicators for equity and health. The area has some particularly distressing statistics, as identified by El Paso County Health Indicators and American Community Survey data:
? Extremely limited health services, including zero primary care providers
? Disproportionately high incidence of youth violence
? 10-12 year lower life expectancy
? Limited tree canopy, resulting in hotter temperatures/heat island effect
Despite area hardships, Southeast residents dedicated their time and energy to rally around the renovation of Panorama Park and the opportunity to create r...
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