DPR: CITY PARK "SILLY" LOOP ON HOLD

With an email press release, Denver Parks and Recreation seems to be taking a step back from the City Loop project after much public outcry, which included rebranding City Loop as Silly Loop. From the press release:

City Loop is intended to be a new, multi-generational activity and play area that would replace the existing Dustin Redd playground, which is in need of significant repair or replacement after nearly 20 years of use. The goal behind the current City Loop concept is to create a new area that gives everyone using the park - from small children to older adults - an opportunity to remain active and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

While the project design was chosen through a very public process that started more than 18 months ago, it is clear that our outreach requires more work. Denver Parks and Recreation leadership attended a meeting on Friday, December 6th at the Ford-Warren branch of the Denver Public Library, which was attended by many residents from neighborhoods that surround City Park. In that meeting we heard many concerns and received some very good feedback regarding the current City Loop concept.
As such, we wanted to let you know what DPR's next steps are with regard to this project:
* Effective immediately, we have put all fundraising efforts on hold for City Loop.
* Our Parks planning and maintenance staff is evaluating all maintenance and renovation needs in City Park and putting a plan in place to address those issues moving forward (this includes general maintenance and other projects such as the renovation of the Sullivan Gateway and other features in the park).
* With assistance from Tina Bishop, of Mundus-Bishop Design Inc., the City design team will meet before the end of the year to evaluate the current concept and discuss changes to the overall size and scope of the project to attempt to better integrate the project into the park. (Tina Bishop is a local landscape architect who has worked all over the City and specializes in designing projects specifically to integrate into historical parks and landmarks.) The team will also evaluate other locations around the City to determine if the project, as planned, would have a more appropriate fit elsewhere.
* Once those evaluations have been completed and any other potential design concepts are available, Parks and Recreation will hold a community meeting to collect your feedback. We anticipate scheduling that to take place in the early spring (March), but exact timing cannot be determined just yet.
* After that meeting, DPR will evaluate the level of support/opposition for the project and determine how/if it will move forward.