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JUNE 12, 2014 VOLU M E 6 9 | I S S UE 31 | 5 0 ¢
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Expansion near completion at Rodeo Market Park By Ashley Reimers
areimers@colorado communitymedia.com Construction has begun on the expansion at Rodeo Market Park in south Westminster. The park, at 73rd Avenue and Osceola Street, is phase two of the expansion and is being funded by 2014 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The $240,000 project includes a large lawn area, a small natural children’s play area and pedestrian enhancements that will support community events, like the annual Orchard Festival every fall. Tony Chacon, senior projects coordinator for the city, said the lawn area will support daily activities for kids as well as provide extra space for outdoor entertainment like live music. He said the pedestrian enhancement includes a cement walkway that will connect the Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Rodeo Market Park. “The city is working with the church on an arrangement to utilize their parking facility for larger events and activities,” Chacon said. “So that way people can park at the church, and then use the new side-
A construction worker works on the new cement trail at the Rodeo Market Park in south Westminster. The park will open in late June and will also feature a natural play area. Photo by Ashley Reimers walk to walk to the event.” Another perk to the expansion is the installation of several more art pedestals at the sculpture garden, which Chacon said will allow the South Westminster Arts Group, SWAG, to increase the number of
Governor vetoes road transparency bill Retains parts of measure, signs executive order By Vic Vela
vvela@coloradocommunitymedia.com A bill that sought more scrutiny of the teaming of state and privately-backed road projects has failed to make it any further than Gov. John Hickenlooper’s desk. Senate Bill 197 — a bill that would have provided greater oversight and transparency Report for privatepublic road construction partnerships — was vetoed by Hickenlooper on June 4. However, some of the bill’s intent survived. The bill — a response to grumblings over the US 36 road project process — would have required any public-private partnership “P3” project that exceeds 35 years to be approved by the Legislature. It also would have required a Colorado Department of Transportation board to hold public meetings throughout any road project process and keep the Legislature and other local elected officials informed along the way. The $425 million, 50-year US 36 project, which will widen the lanes of the highway and incorporate toll lanes, received a great
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artist sculptures on display at the park. “SWAG does an art competition every year, and now a total of 10 pieces can be part of the competition,” he said. Debbie Teter with SWAG said the expansion will be great for the community
and the Rodeo Market Community Art Center and will give SWAG more opportunities to hold outdoor events and will allow for more useable space in the park. “I have already seen children in the area taking advantage of the sidewalks that are in place and a lot of interest in the new park,” she said. “Several of the other businesses in the area will be joining SWAG for a dedication the second Saturday in July. It will be a fun event with food and entertainment.” Along with a natural play area that will feature rocks and logs to climb on, Chacon said the city is also going to revive a natural ditch in the area, which will eventually be a place for kids to play in and fish for crawfish. After completion of the project by the end of June, the city will also look at a possible third phase which would include a community garden. Chacon said in order for a garden to be possible, the city would need to acquire the land first. “Overall, this project really provides an interactive, wonderful space for the community and families,” he said. “It’s a place to gather, which is really lacking throughout the area.”
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deal of criticism by local residents who felt as though the P3 contract was too secretive and that they were kept out of the loop on key parts of the project. Hickenlooper supports the part of the bill that sought greater transparency and signed an executive order that requires the state to improve “accountability, transparency and openness” of CDOT P3 projects. But the overall bill, which he said contained “unworkable provisions,” was vetoed. Hickenlooper issued a statement, saying that he took issue with parts of the bill that required legislative go-ahead for projects that exceed 35 years and other features that “inappropriately constrains the business terms of future P3 agreements.” “These constraints on business terms would create a chilling component on future transactions, making investors unlikely or unwilling to bid on Colorado projects due to the increased risks this process would generate,” the governor said. Hickenlooper’s statement was accompanied by a list of 48 persons or local government entities that called on the governor to veto the bill, including many business organizations. Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp, D-Arvada, a bill sponsor, said she was disappointed with the governor’s decision, but that the executive order means that her effort did not go for naught. “I hope we can build on the transparency piece so that we can move toward figuring out a way to figure in oversight,” she said. “We’ll work on this again. I don’t think this is a black and white issue.”
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Cirque professionals perform during the debut show of the Westminster Promenade Summer Sounds summer concert series on June 4. The show was a Beatles-themed cirque performance and is the first of six concerts at the Westminster Promenade. The free concerts are at 6:30 p.m. on June 18, July 2, July 16, July 30 and Aug. 13. For more information, visit www.thewestminsterpromenade.com. Photo by Ashley Reimers