18th Annual Arvada Kite Festival set for April 16 at Stenger

Day of windy fun coincides with Gold Strike Park redesign

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arvadans are hoping for windy skies on April 16, as the city prepares for its 18th Annual Arvada Kite Festival at Stenger Sports Complex. e event is free and open to the public, and will also coincide with the city’s redesign of Gold Strike Park.

e kite festival will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16. Professional kite vendors and demos will be on site, but the majority of kite yers are local amateurs who do it for fun. Kites are available for purchase at the event, and there also will be food trucks. Pets are not allowed at the event.

“ e Kite Festival continues to grow each year and is quickly becoming one of Arvada’s greatest traditions,” Adelle Burton, Arvada’s special events coordinator said. “It’s a great opportunity to get outside with friends and family and enjoy a unique festival experience. Shout out to our awesome group of volunteers from the Arvada Festivals Commission. Without them, this free community event would not be possible.”

Also happening on April 16 is the kicko for the Gold Strike Park redesign project, which will go through a planning process throughout 2023 before being implemented the following year. At Stenger, the city team will host an interactive pop-up where kids and residents can weigh in on what they would like to see out of the park. e community identi ed possible needs for the park during the 2019 Clear Creek Corridor Plan, which included suggestions for a sculpture garden, outdoor education programs, river access, a community lawn, safer pedestrian access and additional parking.

“Community input is going to be a huge part of our e ort to redesign Gold Strike Park,” Maki Boyle, the project manager said. “We have many engagement opportunities planned this year, starting with the pop-up adventure play activity at the Kite Festival where kids can show us rst-hand how they’d like to play in the park.” e design process will continue with further community engagement thereafter, the city’s webpage on the project says.

Following the pop-up, a public meeting is set for May 4 at 5:30 p.m., where folks can provide more input.

Free parking is available at Stenger on a rst-come- rst-serve basis; the gates to the lots will open at 9:45 a.m. Space is limited and biking to the event if possible is recom-