Travelers on Ralston Road may have noticed a great deal of construction activity taking place in the area just off Carr Street between 57th Avenue and Ralston Road. The area previously served as the track and football field for the adjacent building, which once housed Arvada High School and Arvada Middle School. The former track and football field, which has not been utilized in years, is now being transformed into a vibrant neighborhood park named Wolff Park. Arvada K-8 School students chose the name in honor of John B. Wolff, the founder of the first school in Arvada, and because the Arvada K-8 School mascot is “The Timberwolves!”
The building’s most recent conversion to Arvada K-8 School provided a partnership opportunity between the City of Arvada and Jefferson County Public Schools to convert the unused field into a recreational space that would serve children, families and the community. Coming up with the master plan for the park involved meetings between Arvada K-8 students, residents in the area, the Jeffco school district, the City of Arvada and representatives from DHM Design Corporation. This partnership of ideas was consolidated into the conceptual master plan seen here.
Currently there are 29 parks paired with neighborhood schools in the City of Arvada. Wolff Park will be the first in this particular Arvada community. Features for the park include an amphitheater, a baseball field, climbing rocks and playground equipment. In addition to providing the school and nearby residents with recreational opportunities, the completion of Wolff Park will further the Ralston Redevelopment Project by beautifying Ralston Road, one of the main corridors through the City.
In keeping with The City’s goal to recycle and reuse materials whenever possible, approximately 18,000 cubic yards of dirt from the Garrison/Ralston Central Park project is being used in the construction of Wolff Park, thus saving costs and materials on both park projects.
While the City hopes to have the majority of the construction completed before winter hits, final touches are expected to be completed by Spring 2013.
For more information on the develpment of Wolff Park, view the Arvada Insights video featuring Arvada Mayor Marc Williams and Jeffco Schools Superintentdent Dr. Cindy Stevenson.