All the News About Denver’s Best Residential Community Since 1960 • Volume 62, Issue No. 11 • November 2023
Committed To History
Penfield Tate and Woody Garnsey Honored With 2023 Babbs Award For Community Service
Woody Garnsey and Penfield W. Tate III, in front of the Park Hill Golf Course clubhouse. In April, Denver voted overwhelmingly to protect the city-owned conservation easement protecting the 155-acre property at 35th and Colorado Boulevard. Photo by Cara DeGette
Ed. Note: Woody Garnsey and Penfield W. Tate III, who led this year’s efforts to protect the conservation easement on the Park Hill Golf Course, are the recipients of this year’s Babbs Award. The two were honored during Greater Park Hill Community, Inc.’s annual meeting on Oct. 5. The following remarks were delivered by GPHC, Inc. Board Chair Shane Sutherland.
of Park Hill met and decided that a community service award in his memory would be a fitting tribute to the neighborhood’s outstanding leaders. This year’s recipients of the Babbs Award (rarely do we name two people in the same year) are Woody Garnsey and Penfield W. Tate III. I would like to highlight both their efforts for you.
Dr. J. Carlton Babbs was a minister at Park Hill United Methodist Church from 1955 until his death in 1978. He helped organize the Park Hill Action Committee and was a key supporter of integration in Park Hill. On the same Sunday in May of 1956, all of the ministers in the community preached sermons on the need to eliminate all the barriers to church membership and housing on the basis of race, sex or national origin. The Park Hill Action Committee, organized and sponsored by these churches, subsequently became the Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. (GPHC). Historically, GPHC’s impact on integration, zoning, schools, justice and legislation for the community has been widely recognized. At the time of Dr. Babbs’ death, the clergy
Woody Garnsey Woody Garnsey is an exceptional member of the Park Hill and Denver community. Over several decades, he has made an outstanding impact in preserving our parks and open space. Garnsey, an attorney, successfully represented the “Save the Pavilion” group in a lawsuit to preserve the City Park Pavilion for public use. At the end of 1989, Denver Parks and Recreation proposed using bond funds to develop and renovate the pavilion in City Park so it could be used as the department’s administrative offices. Several community members wanted the pavilion to remain as an open-air shelter and eating area. Garnsey continued on page 7
Inside This Issue PAGE 2
In Honor Of Luis Garcia
PAGE 4 PAGE 5
East High Pays Tribute To Slain Teammate, Classmate, Friend Story and photos by Reid Neureiter
Teens Give New Meaning To Walking Colfax Global Climate News Is Grim, But In Park Hill We Are Rocking It
Helen Wolcott Calls Final Curtain After 50 Years Of Art Shows
For the GPHN
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continued on page 6
PAGES 8-9
Oct. 12 was an emotional night for East High School’s defending state champion boys varsity soccer squad. The home league game against the Far Northeast Warriors was designated to remember 16-year old Luis Garcia, a member of the state championship team who was senselessly struck down in February by gun violence on the Esplanade next to the very soccer field where he had played so many games. The fence behind the home stand was decorated with Luis’ name and uniform number (#11). Luis’ family, including parents Criselda Bobadilla and Santos Garcia, sister Jovana, and brother, also named Santos, were seated in the center of the grandstand, under a tent protecting them from the threatening rain. Fifteen minutes before kickoff, both teams, the Angels and Warriors, paraded somberly together across the field. Every player presented Garcia’s parents with a rose — either red or white, East’s colors. Tears were shed by players and fans alike as the players hugged first Santos, then Criselda. Head Coach Kirk Bast introduced two of Luis’
Scenes From The Home Tour & Street Fair, Plus Fall Fest
Gravel Racer Lucas Clarke Has Just One Speed: Fast
Upcoming GPHC Meetings Community meetings are conducted on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., except for July and December.
East High varsity soccer player Luis Garcia, during a game against Lewis-Palmer High School on Oct. 22, 2022. On Feb. 13, Garcia was shot as he sat in his car parked next to East. He died on March 1.
Meetings are held in person at 2823 Fairfax St. People can also attend via Zoom at greaterparkhill.org/join-us/community-meetings The next meeting is Nov. 2. at 6:30 p.m. There is no meeting in December