BY FREDA MIKLIN
GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER
On March 6, the Greenwood Village City Council heard from Suzanne Moore, its director of parks, trails, and recreation, about potential uses for the $628,727 the city received, unexpectedly, after the Denver Broncos were sold in August 2022, as a rebate of taxes paid to the Metropolitan Football Stadium District.
The money is required to be used to support any type of youth activity program. It can be spent directly on programs or capital expenditures to support youth activity programs. There is no date by which the funds must be used.
Moore told the council that she had solicited suggestions from the city’s Parks, Trails and Recreation Commission on November 15, 2022 and from its Arts and Humanities Council on January 19, 2023.
The first suggestion she presented was for permanent outfield fences on two fields at Village Greens Park for $120,000 to provide increased safety for spectators and park users and improved game play for baseball players. Council Member Judy Hilton, who represents GV district four where Village Greens Park is located, said, “This is a hard no,” twice, noting she had received complaints from residents when temporary fences were installed.
An inflatable movie screen and projector for outdoor movies for $20,000 was also rejected and a proposal to spend $422,627 for the design and construction of a large open, covered amphitheater-type structure for use by both the city and residents to host events at Carson Park, for which Moore suggested applying for a $600,000 competitive grant to supplement GV’s contribution, was deferred.
The council agreed to spend $30,000 for inflatable slides and bouncing castles that could be used for special events like Fall Fest and Greenwood Village Day, $5,000 for a summer recreation track team for youth aged 10 to 14, $11,000 for water safety and paddleboard/sailing at Cherry Creek Reservoir, and $5,000 for equipment for family-friendly activities like bocce ball and cornhole at special events.
They also said yes to spending $15,000 for week-long drama, theater, movement, and writing camps during school breaks and summer sessions for children aged 4 to 13. These camps are to be held at the GV Maintenance Facility.
The approved programs cost a total of approximately $66,000, leaving $563,000 remaining to be spent on any youth activity programs or associated capital costs of the city council’s choosing.
In response to a question from Council Member Dave Kerber, City Manager John Jackson confirmed that the city had the money in its possession, held in a segregated account.
fmiklin.villager@gmail.com