October Newsletter from GJ Parks & Recreation

October 7, 2023

5:30 p.m.

Las Colonias Butterfly Pond

Let's celebrate together as we share in an evening of peace, beauty, and memories. Decorate a lantern and launch it on the Las Colonias Butterfly Pond.

Water lantern kits, including the lantern, LED tea light, and marker, are $7 each, or six kits for $36. Lanterns cost $9 the day of the event.

Please bring additional coloring and decorating materials if you wish.

*Only lanterns purchased through Parks and Recreation allowed.

Purchase your lantern!

Community Recreation Center Update

Many community members participated in the Community Recreation Center Public Design Forum on September 19, 2023. This forum was an opportunity for the lead architect, Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture, to provide an update of what the designed space looks like so far and gather additional input from the community. If you were unable to make it to the public forum, you are encouraged to review the presentation and include your input on EngageGJ.org. All information collected will be provided to the architects for inclusion.

Watch the CRC presentation!

Las Colonias Receives Phoenix Award

At the Brownfields 2023 conference, Las Colonias was awarded the EPA Region 8 Phoenix Award for 2023. This award showcases the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated properties, known as brownfields. Las Colonias began in 1899 as a sugar beet mill and in 1950 was transformed by Climax Uranium Company to operate as a uranium and vanadium mill until 1970. During 20 years of operation, the mill produced 2.2 million tons of radioactive tailings. It has been remediated and redeveloped into a sprawling multi-purpose hub along the Colorado River including the Las Colonias festival area, butterfly pond, zipline, bike park, the Camp Eddy RV park, and multiple future developments. This award celebrates the positive social, environmental, and economic impact the redeveloped site provides to community members and visitors alike.

RiversEdge West

Volunteer Event

On September 9, 25 volunteers gathered at the Las Colonias River Park teaming up with Parks and Recreation Open Space staff for a planting event. Volunteers included elementary aged children, retirees, and employees from RESPEC and U.S. Bank. They worked with RiversEdge West and the City of Grand Junction to dig holes and get over 60 plants in the ground. Native plant species included Woods’ rose, mountain mahogany, New Mexico privet, and cottonwoods. Funding for the plants was provided by the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Colorado Watershed Restoration Grant.

Lincoln Park Tennis & Pickleball Update

The pickleball and tennis courts at Lincoln Park closed Friday, September 29 for the multi-week conversion. This phase also includes resurfacing of the courts at Pine Ridge in the Redlands. This conversion is the final phase of the larger Tennis and Pickleball expansion project that began earlier this year. Upon completion there will be 16 tennis courts at Canyon View Park and 20 pickleball courts at Lincoln Park. While the pickleball courts are closed, indoor pickleball play will be available at the Lincoln Park Barn and the Bookcliff Activity Center starting October 2 until the completion of the project.

Youth Basketball League

We will continue to accept Girls' Youth Basketball registrations through October!

Call us if you are interested in joining the league.

Boy's Registration Deadline:

December 22, 2023

Become a coach, it's a great experience!

Coach applications are valid August 2023 - August 2024

Let's play Basketball!

Junior Pickelball or Tennis

Mondays & Wednesdays OR

Tuesdays & Thursdays

October 2 - 26

4:30 - 6:00 p.m.

You can choose 1 day or 2 days of lessons per week.

I Love Ponies

Wednesdays

Oct. 11 - Nov. 15

5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Grand Valley Climbing

Day Camps

Multiple days

October 12, 13 & 16

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Pack a lunch and water bottle!

Harmony Horsemanship

Thursdays

Oct. 12 - Nov. 16

5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

First Beat

Fridays

Oct. 20 - Dec. 15

9:30 - 10:15 a.m.

Wacky Wednesday

Wednesdays

Starting October 25

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

$4 per child collected on site at Bookcliff Activity Center.

Trick, Track, & Treat

Kids will have a howling good time running in our annual Trick, Track, and Treat track meet! Dress up in Halloween costumes and head to Stocker Stadium for an evening of fun running, throwing, and jumping events!

Thursday, October 26

Stocker Stadium

On-site registration opens at 5 p.m. Events begin at 5:30 p.m.