Thirty for Thirty
SMLC thanks the community for its support for its inaugural tree planting program last year. We made a contribution to the City of Sheridan to help with their neighborhood tree planting efforts. We are continuing this program in 2024. Every $30 donation will benefit local tree planting efforts and support our organization. Donate today!
Reimagining Powers Park Took a Big Step!
Powers Park temporarily fills with water after rainstorm.
By that we mean funding is now committed by both the City of Littleton and South Suburban Parks and Recreation (SSPR) for the design of a reimagined park. A park that will go beyond being a hole in the ground to retain flood water to be a true park that the neighbors will enjoy…A place where they can play, walk, roll, sit and connect with nature.
It all started when the SMLC Board learned that South Metro Housing Options (SMHO, Littleton’s public housing authority) was planning a 51-unit apartment building on a corner of the park. SMHO was interested in ideas that could make this park a true asset for the seniors who will live there. SMLC was interested in seeing the park transform to serve seniors and all of the neighbors in this dense part of the City of Littleton. The SMLC Board saw an opportunity for a partnership.
This partnership grew with financial commitments to fund the vision plan from SMLC, SMHO, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and a private foundation. But nothing can happen here without the support of the City of Littleton (owner of the park); SSPR (manager of the park); and Mile High Flood District (entity that manages the region’s flood waters). The City and SSPR made it very clear to SMLC: the preliminary work for the vision plan had to be undertaken by SMLC as neither government entity had staff or resources to commit to it.
SMLC commissioned Stream Landscape Architecture + Planning to develop the vision plan. Outreach with the Powers Park neighbors was held to get their thoughts about amenities like a perimeter path, community gardens, native plants, rainwater harvesting, the playground and exhibits about water quality. Those ideas were incorporated in the vision plan. You can see the drawings here.
In addition to these partners, North Littleton Promise assisted with outreach in the neighborhoods and The Denver Botanic Gardens advised on native plantings. SMLC could not be more pleased with the enthusiasm with which this project has been met.
SSPR will be seeking additional grant funding toward the park’s design development during the early part of this year and anticipates design development to begin later in the year. We will continue to keep you posted on progress.
