STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-May 19, 2023-After emerging from a long dormant winter, the Yampa River Botanic Park (YRBP) will open to the public with a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony at 10am on Wednesday, May 24.
“We’re so excited to welcome everyone to the park and officially christen the new entrances,” said Executive Director Jennifer MacNeil. “The entrances now look as inviting and beautiful as the gardens visitors admire inside and we couldn’t be happier.”
The entry project was conceptualized in 2020 with a goal to improve accessibility, recognizing that the former gates were too narrow for wheelchairs and strollers. The concept grew to incorporate an artistic element which creates a sense of place.
The Botanic Park board of directors embarked upon a schematic design process led by one of the board members, Cales Givens, a retired landscape architect. At a time when contractors were scarce, the late Chris Rhodes of Soda Mountain Construction was interested in helping with this project for the community.
The Botanic Park is grateful to all of the subcontractors who worked to create this project with their skills and talents including: Tim Wilson of Steamboat Steel, Journey Vreeman of The Fencing Specialists, Rosendo Calderon of Rams Masonry, Peter Sloop of Sloop Painting, and Dave Gittleson of SSX. Project Manager Zack Buckallew and new Soda Mountain Construction owner Chris Imbler stayed dedicated and passionate throughout and pulled the work together.
Grants and contributions from community members raised $455,000. A brass donor plaque will be installed once the fundraising campaign is complete. View progress photos and a list of contributors at yampariverbotanicpark.org/entrance-campaign/.
In addition to the opening ceremonies, park visitors can enjoy many of the plants blooming this week including daffodils, tulips, Daphnes, pasque flowers, Frittilarias, and tiny sub alpine plants in the tufa rock.
Once a sprawling horse pasture, the six-acre Yampa River Botanic Park is now home to more than 60 unique gardens, thousands of plant species, animals, and hosts special events of all shapes and sizes. An innovative experiment in private/public partnerships, the Botanic Park is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk, from May through October. www.yrbp.org
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Contact
Jennifer MacNeil, Executive Director, Yampa River Botanic Park, 970.846.5172 or email
Emily Hines, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, 970.871.7031 or email
Michael Lane, Communications Manager, 970.871.8220 or email