by dvmosomy | Thursday, December 19, 2024 |
Riverside Park is a 100+ acre regional park that was destroyed by the flood events that ravaged Colorado in September 2013. The flood not only destroyed the park and several structures, it also unearthed an abandoned landfill that had been created along the banks of the South Platte river at the edge of the park.
THK was hired to develop a master plan to address the damage, remove the landfill and restore and improve the park to pre-flood conditions. The park is located within the historic floodplain, but projects over the years had isolated the park from the river. In addition to typical park improvements like ballfields, playgrounds and trails, the master plan focused on restoring the riparian habitat along the banks of the river to help with future flood mitigation.
Following the approval of the Master Plan completed by THK in 2015, THK was contracted to complete final design and construction documentation for the entire park. Final design included repairing flood damage, removing an existing berm comprised of approximately 70,000 cubic yards of unsuitable soil (trash and waste from a former landfill), restoring approximately 10 acres of floodplain, raising the park road and ball fields to provide future flood resiliency and balancing grading efforts to achieve a no-rise certification in the floodplain.
Site amenities included 4 redesigned ballfields/ballfield complex, multiple shade structures, concession/storage/restroom building, playground, basketball courts, parking and recreational paths. Riverside Park has become a recreational node in the region and hosts many baseball tournaments during the year.
THK also assisted the City of Evans in securing $15 million dollars in funding for design and construction of Riverside Park. Construction in the Park was completed in September 2018.
by dvmosomy | Monday, September 23, 2024 |
As a part of the New Pueblo Freeway, THK Associates Inc. master planned mitigation measures for Mineral Palace Park caused by the widening of I-25. The result of this effort was a Park Restoration Plan for the entire park. Mineral Palace Park was originally constructed in the late 1800’s and was originally constructed as a tourist destination, housing a spectacular rose garden and the largest mineral collection in the world at that time. The grounds around the Palace consisted of an elaborate garden with botanical displays, flowerbeds, a lake and walking paths. The Palace also functioned as a community gathering place housing many community functions. In the early 1900’s, the City of Pueblo took over the ownership and maintenance of the park. In the 1930’s and 1940’s, major renovations occurred in the park as a part of the WPA program. Also, by this time, the Palace had been torn down. Since the early 1900’s, Mineral Palace Park has survived as the only regional park in the north half of Pueblo.
Due to the park’s long history and the importance of the park within Pueblo’s park system, City, community and business interest in the park was very high. THK lead a very intense public involvement process to develop a Master Plan for the park. This Master Plan will become part of the required mitigation for widening I-25.
THK also helped establish the Friends of Mineral Palace Park. This group includes the city, business and concerned citizens to help with the maintenance of the park, and to form a partnership with the city to assure that the park continues to be a vibrant element of the city.
by dvmosomy | Thursday, September 12, 2024 |
Fishers Peak, standing at an elevation of 9,633 feet, is an iconic landmark in southern Colorado, serving as a majestic backdrop to the City of Trinidad. In September 2019, the vast 19,200-acre expanse known as the Crazy French Ranch was transformed into Fishers Peak State Park (FPSP), marking Colorado’s 42nd State Park. This ambitious endeavor was made possible through a collaborative effort involving key partners, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), and the City of Trinidad. Right from the outset, the project was guided by two fundamental pillars:
To offer world-class recreational opportunities while preserving and promoting the park.
To ensure long-term ecological conservation.
The Fishers Peak State Park Master Plan, meticulously crafted by THK Associates, Inc. and ERO Resources, serves as a comprehensive blueprint for infrastructure development. It outlines the envisioned future state of the park and aids in determining its long-term physical development. The Master Plan was developed through a collaborative and interactive process, informed by both scientific expertise and the sentiments of the public. Engaging over 300 stakeholders, including local Native American Tribes, the plan adeptly strikes a balance between the imperative of safeguarding the park and the opportunity for meaningful human access and recreational activities.
Furthermore, the Master Plan establishes overarching management objectives and strategies. It identifies various management zones within the park, each tailored to the existing natural resource conditions. These zones range from enhancing and managing development areas to conserving and preserving the park’s natural resources. The Master Plan envisions a diverse range of uses, encompassing recreational activities, wildlife and habitat conservation, the protection of natural resources, trailheads, parking facilities, and the creation of a visitor’s center.
The Fishers Peak State Park Master Plan was finalized in the fall of 2020, marking a significant milestone. Subsequently, the THK Team designed an initial trailhead and unveiled twelve miles of trails in conjunction with the completion of the Master Plan. In 2023, an additional six miles of trails were added. Currently, construction is underway for a one-mile trail leading to the summit of Fishers Peak. This ongoing work is part of the broader vision outlined in the Master Plan, which seeks to make Fishers Peak State Park a cherished destination for residents and visitors alike, while safeguarding its ecological integrity.
by dvmosomy | Tuesday, August 8, 2023
THK recently finished the design and construction documents for Anythink Nature Library in Thornton, CO. The entire design philosophy for this project is to allow any visitor to find their place in nature by providing a variety of outdoor spaces that serve as different discovery opportunities. THK incorporated a small botanic garden area which includes a sensory, pollinator, desert, Colorado native, mountain, and prairie gardens. A learning garden was designed to allow the library to teach anyone and everyone about planting, maintaining, and harvesting vegetables or other foods. A community garden was also designed and it includes 30 garden plots, compost processing, a beehive area, and a food forest.
