The Rio Grande ARTway

Photo by Sarah Overbeck

Photo by Sarah Overbeck

The Rio Grande ARTway, a collaboration between Carbondale Arts and the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, is a creative placemaking project located on a one-mile stretch of non-motorized, paved trail running through downtown Carbondale. This linear park reflects the values and creativity that are important to the community. Two parks have been completed: DeRail Park, at the entrance of this section of the Rio Grande Trail and Hwy. 133 and the Latinx Folk Art Garden, located at 7th Street.

The final project will be the Youth Art Park at 4th Street and the Rio Grande Trail. This park has been designed by 7th graders at the Carbondale Middle School with help from NJD Studio, Land+Shelter Architects and the community, and will be implemented in the Spring of 2021. An archway created by over 35 artists in the Roaring Fork Valley heralds the entrance to the ARTway. Installations, murals and history can be found along this one-mile stretch, as well as creative institutions such as The Carbondale Clay Center, Studio for Art + Work and True Nature Healing Arts.

Business partners on the Rio Grande ARTway include: RFTA, Carbondale Arts, RA Nelson Construction, Evolve Structural Design, Town of Carbondale, GreenLine Architects, DHM, Modern West, Robert Condon, Chris Erikson Art, Wally Graham, Scavenger Industries, Paradise Glass, Aspen Tree, The Garden Squad, Land+Shelter Architects, True Nature Healing Arts, IO Oeser Construction

 

DeRail Park

DeRail Park, located at the intersection of the Rio Grande Trail, the Crystal Valley Trail and Hwy 133, serving as the entrance to the Rio Grande ARTway. With sculpture, a shaded picnic space, landscaping, railway artifacts and a nod to our bicycle culture, DeRail Park welcomes visitors and embrace locals alike with a little preview of what Carbondale is all about.

DeRail Park is additionally funded and supported by MBS Associates, Carbondale Rotary, SGM, DHM Design, Wild Roots Landscaping, RA Nelson, GreenLine Architects, Olivia Pevec, and 50+ local artists.

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El Jardín de Arte Latino Folklórico

The Latinx Folk Art Garden is overseen by an involved group of Latino stakeholders, including gardens, gathering spaces, mosaics and hammocks. It will also hold the Latinx History Story Sculpture, which will focus on the contributions and history of our Latinx community in the Roaring Fork Valley.

This park is funded by The Colorado Health Foundation and a grant from Garfield Healthy Communities Coalition. Collaborators include: The Valley Settlement Project, English In Action, Radio La Tricolor and El Montanes news.

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Youth Art Park

Located behind the Carbondale Recreation Center at 4th Street and the Rio Grande Trail, The Youth Art Park is created by youth, community and experts to create a dynamic space of art+play. Featuring interactive sculpture, murals, pART core, an outdoor classroom, device recharging station and more. This space will be created to spark and feed the imagination of youth of all ages. The Youth Art Park will break ground in the Spring of 2022, read more below.

Partners include: Great Outdoors Colorado, The Addy Foundation, FirstBank, RFTA, Town of Carbondale, NJD Studio, Land+ Shelter Architects and Forum Phi.

 

 

Community Input Presentation for the Upcoming Youth Art Park

September 9, 2020

 
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With much excitement and anticipation the design for the Youth Art Park has begun! Local Landscape Architect and member of the Carbondale Arts Board, Nicholas DiFrank will be updating the design and managing the project, which was originally conceptualized and designed by students of Carbondale Middle School with help from Andrea Korber of Land+Shelter and Kurt Peterson of Forum Phi.

This park will be one of a kind, playing on the intersection of art + recreation for our youth population. Elements such as p-ART-kour, outdoor classroom space, art walls, renewable energy and nature as art are up for discussion and visioning. Below is the presentation from this fall, covering the options for use of space and possibilities for execution directions.

If you’re interested in sponsorship of this project, please contact amy@carbondalearts.com

 

 

Scroll through to see the Rio Grande ARTway come to life!

 

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