The Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners awarded $906,500 in grants to four recreational projects across the county in late 2017:
• $300,000 to the city of Aurora for lighting upgrades at the Olympic Ballfield Complex;
• $182,000 to the Arapahoe Parks and Recreation District to update the Spring Creek Park playground;
• $327,000 to Cherry Creek Vista Park and Recreation District for renovations to the fields and playground at Lakeview Park; and
• $97,500 to the city of Greenwood Village to expand the Carson Skate Park.
Parks leaders say they will add about 4,000 square feet to the skate park to add rails, tabletops, stairs and boxes that can be used by a variety of riders. The spot is frequented by skaters and those riding scooters and BMX bikes.
“We are excited for these parks to get much-needed updates and enhancements so that our citizens can enjoy them for many years to come,” District 1 Commissioner Kathleen Conti said in a news release.
The county awarded $3.2 million to 11 local agencies for parks, open space, trails and other projects in 2017. Since 2005, 25 local agencies have received more than $32 million in grants, supporting 192 projects.
Every year, 12 percent of Arapahoe County’s open space tax is set aside for competitive, merit-based grants to support land acquisition for open space, parks and trails; construction/renovation of trails; trail crossings and trailheads; and other similar projects.