City wins award for Dos Rios Park’s new design

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. ( KREX ) – Dos Rios Park has received statewide attention as it recently came away with an award for its new look.

The City of Grand Junction announced Thursday it was awarded the Columbine Award for New Park Design for Dos Rios during a conference on Oct. 30. The yearly gathering sees over 700 parks and recreation workers throughout Colorado.

"The Columbine Award for New Park Design is a significant acknowledgment of the near 40 years of community collaboration to build and activate the Riverfront at Dos Rios Park, a core part of the riverfront revitalization," Ken Sherbenou, parks and recreation director, said in a press release. "We are indebted to the service of many community leaders over the decades that created the opportunity for this new destination park at the confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado rivers."

The park was formerly the home of 8,500 abandoned junk cars and used as a landfill until 1990, the release said.

According to the city, the larger Dos Rios development – as well as the park – are planned to be a location for commerce and improved quality of life.