Support Cheesman Park by supporting CPAG

by DeAnne Minner

Ten years ago Cheesman Park was seedy, to put it politely. Summertime grass was mottled brown, if not bare dirt. Off-leash dogs ran unrestrained in the meadows, making even dog-lovers cringe. The fountains didn’t run because the concrete basins were spalling badly. The rose gardens were untended and deteriorating. No one was standing up for the park or urging the City to address these issues, so Councilwoman Jeanne Robb formed CPAG. After almost a decade of planning and facilitating between City officials and the community, CPAG has been instrumental in helping Cheesman Park undergo a sea change. Today the park is home to lush grounds and has more park users than ever.

The 2010 master plan recommendations have been implemented, and additional improvements are made as the City’s time and budget permit. CPAG continues to advocate for park needs, but as a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization, it depends on volunteer labor and charitable donations to operate. Community contributions to CPAG have been used to fund and dedicate a memorial park bench, replace broken sprinkler heads, and improve the safety and appearance of west-side park entrances off 10th and 11th Avenues. Most recently, CPAG facilitated undergrounding power lines on the east side of the park — a monumental task now being completed. Repairs to the pavilion are next in line.

Please support your park by supporting CPAG. For a donation of $15, $5 of which is tax-deductible, you will receive a gift box containing five note cards featuring photographs taken by Cheesman Park resident Greg Sorensen. Two options are available:

1. Seasonal Cheesman Park views including the pavilion, fountains and linden allee
2. Close-ups of roses in various colors and stages of bloom from the Cheesman Park Rose Gardens

A PDF document showing Greg Sorensen’s photos is attached to this posting.

Send check or money order payable to the Cheesman Park Advocacy Group (CPAG) c/o DeAnne Minner at 1201 Humboldt St., Denver, CO 80218. Include a notation showing the number of boxes of each variety you desire along with your name, mailing address and phone number. For example: 5 boxes park views and 2 boxes roses = $15×7 = $105 (total check amount). CPAG will send you a receipt reflecting your $5/box donation — in this case, $35.

Please don’t delay. We hope to receive your order by Monday, October 10.

Donations in addition to or in lieu of cards are always welcome and will be receipted at full value. Proceeds of this fundraiser will enable CPAG to continue serving the Cheesman Park community. Many thanks to those who value this park enough to help sustain it.

cheesman-pavilion-rose-card-designs

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Cheesman Park Auto-Free on Second Sundays

Want more fun in the sun this summer at Cheesman Park, free from the roar and pollution of cars and buses? Then mark your calendar for Second Sundays in the Park  – one day each month when motorized vehicles are banned from park roadways.

A summertime tradition since 2008, occasional auto-free days were recommended in the most recent Cheesman Park Master Plan. In 2012, auto-free days moved to the second Sunday of May through September so as to minimize conflict with holidays that fall on or near first Sundays. 2016 dates are May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14 and September 11. Park roads will be closed from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm to enhance the pedestrian and biking experience in the park. (Note: These hours are the hours that barricades will be blocking entry into the Park via the roads. RTD has different hours for their bus schedules.)

So dust off those rollerblades, bikes and trikes, baby strollers and little red wagons, pull out the kites, volleyball nets and picnic baskets from the closet, and get ready for some old-fashioned, fun-day Sundays in the park!

Please note: If possible, please walk or bike to the park, but if you can’t, Sunday parking is available on 8^th Avenue. While cyclists will have free reign of park roads, trails are reserved for pedestrians, strollers, walkers and wheelchairs. Denver Parks and Recreation Rules and Regulations require cyclists to dismount when using park trails. They also require dogs to be on a leash and prohibit skateboards in the Pavilion or fountain areas. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Park road closures are made possible thanks to the efforts of District 10 Councilman Wayne New, Denver Parks and Recreation, and the Cheesman Park Advocacy Group.

Contacts: Councilman Wayne New, 720.337.7715, wayne.new@denvergov.org

Cheesman Park Advocacy Group, cpag@cheesmanpark.org

by DeAnne Minner

No CPAG 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade in Cheesman Park

There will be no official 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade in Cheesman Park this year. The park will be open as usual for recreation, rest, picnics and fun with family and friends.

Have a great 4th of July!

Looking for the Cheesman Park Good Samaritans

On September 30, Phil Lawson’s life was saved by 2 women who administered CPR and called 911 after he collapsed while jogging in Cheesman Park.

Phil and his wife would like to find the women and thank them.

If any of our readers know who the women are, please comment below, or email us at CPAG@CheesmanPark.org.

Here’s the CBS 4 story.

Road Closures for AIDS Walk Colorado This Weekend

Some of the roads in the neighborhood around Cheesman Park will be closed for the AIDS Walk on Saturday, August 16, 2014, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Here’s a map of the Walk route.

Here’s a fuzzy document with more info on the road closures.

All entrances to Cheesman Park are already closed to motor vehicle traffic, and will not reopen until Saturday at 6 p.m.

 

President Obama to Speak at Cheesman Park Wednesday Morning

From the office of Councilwoman Robb:

President Obama will be delivering a speech at Cheesman Park on the morning of Wednesday, July 9^th, 2014, at approximately 10:15 am.  The White House has shared the following information in preparation for this event:

1.  Minor road closures around the park on that day prior to the motorcade arrival,

2.  Trail diversions on Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon, and

3.  Temporary diversions around the east end of 9^th Avenue – 11^th Avenue during event set up on Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning.

Every attempt to minimize disruptions will be made during this event and we appreciate your patience with this event.

UPDATE: This event is closed to the public.

No CPAG 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade in Cheesman Park

After many successful years of organizing the 4th of July Kids’ Bike Parade in Cheesman Park, we are taking a break this year.  

We’re grateful for all the help and support we have received from families and local businesses over the years.  It has been a good run.  We will keep you posted about our future plans.  

Have a great 4th of July!

 

Emerald Ash Borer Educational Forum

CHUN and Councilwoman Jeanne Robb will co-host an educational forum on the Emerald Ash Borer threat in Colorado on Thursday, January 30^th, at 6pm at the Denver Botanic Gardens (1007 York St.), in Gates Hall. 

Click here for more information on the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle that kills ash trees, and is already in Colorado. If you have an ash tree, you may want to attend.

Cheesman Park has 113 ash trees, all of which may be at risk from the Emerald Ash Borer. Here are the locations of those trees in the Park.

For Specific Info

Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon This Sunday

The Denver Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and 1/2 Marathon are this Sunday, October 20, 2013. The course includes the roads in Cheesman Park. Many neighborhood roads will be temporarily closed, from as early as 6:00 am to as late as 2:30 pm (although most will open well before 2:30 pm). Click here for the complete list.

The City Park Esplanade Fresh Market will be open. For more information about getting to the Market, and other race day news, click here.

Attempted Kidnapping in the Neighborhood

An apparent attempted kidnapping happened on 7th Avenue near Gilpin Street the other night. The info from the police indicates that on October 1, 2013 at about 9 p.m., a woman was walking on East 7th Avenue near Gilpin Street and 2 men attempted to abduct her. See the crime alert from the Denver Police Department for more information, and stay safe out there!