By Cristina Frésquez
The Westwood neighborhood received overwhelming support in building a new colorful and updated playground on the corner of Knox Ct. and Kentucky Ave. recently.
Through the help of various contributors -- Kaboom, Mutual of Omaha Foundation, The Park People, LiveWell Westwood, Denver Parks and Recreation and Denver City Council, District 3 – the three day project came to life on the last day with 150 volunteers helping to install the new play equipment in just six hours. During the first two days workers tore down and prepped the area for the new play area. Fifty area youth also participated in a variety of activities throughout the day and former Denver Bronco, Ring of Famer and NFL record holder Billy Thompson, also showed his support for the Westwood community.
Denver City Councilman Paul D. LĂłpez donned his work gloves, mixed cement, and shoveled truckloads of mulch, along with the volunteers.
The elected official expressed his gratitude to the volunteers and organizations that made it possible for Westwood to receive such a generous gift. “Rebuilding this playground showed us that as a community we can make things happen when we work together. The playground is only one example of the work we have to do and how we intend to do it,” explained Councilman López.
The newly designed park will make a substantial impact in West Denver, an area that has the highest density of children under 15 years of age. Approximately 400 children and their families in the immediate vicinity of the playground will enjoy a new sense of community pride through this new playground.
“This is the first playground rebuild that we have focused on. Next up is the Joe P. MartĂnez park playgrounds in the Villa Park neighborhood,” stated Councilman LĂłpez.
The playground’s design is based on drawings and input from children who attended a Design Day event in May. Other park amenities, including several trees, will also be added to the park.
The Denver playground is the third of seven playgrounds built nationwide by the Mutual of Omaha Foundation and KaBOOM! in 2009, through a partnership that will eventually serve more than 52,000 children across the country. The build will also be one of more than 150 KaBOOM! playgrounds built in 2009 in an effort
to provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.
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