On Sunday, September 11, Riverside Parkway will be closed in both directions from 9th Street to D Road as the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments complete landscaping renovations in front of Las Colonias Park.
The renovation includes planting 35 trees including 14 Hackberry trees, 11 Kentucky Coffee trees, seven Honey Locust trees, and three English Oak trees.
Fall is a good time of year for tree planting as temperatures begin to decrease. By selecting larger trees in burlap balls, they will be just the right size to grow quickly while still being small enough to stay healthy. The trees being planted were selected because of their success growing in the climate of the Grand Valley and by planting different varieties there isn’t the potential that a disease or pest will damage all the trees at the same time.
The work is planned for Sunday when traffic volumes are down significantly to minimize interruption to the public. Motorists are asked to follow detour route signage. The amphitheater parking lot as well as the gravel overflow area will be closed for the entire day and no events are planned.
This renovation is part of a greater effort to repair the urban canopy on the parkway. With pressures from the ash bark beetle and lilac ash borer, ash trees are in decline and this has forced numerous removals.
Other than the amphitheater and gravel overflow lots, all amenities at Las Colonias Park including the dog parks, river trail, festival area, butterfly pond, and boat ramp, will be open as normal.
Park users will need to access Las Colonias Park from 27 ½ Road on the east side of the Riverside Parkway, east of Las Colonias Park just past the curve. Park users need to come south on 27 ½ Road and then turn right on C ½ road. At the roundabout, dog park users will need to take the 1st exit and boat ramp users will need to take the 2nd exit on the roundabout.
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Contact: Sara Spaulding, Communications and Engagement DIrector | 970-985-8180 or saras@gjcity.org