Delta Park

Local artist, Armando Silva, is preparing for his next adventure, this time at Delta Park in East Greeley. The nationally recognized artist has been working with the City of Greeley and the Trust for Public Land to create an art installation in the newly transformed park. Delta Park's transformation can be described as vibrant, colorful and connecting. Silva's art pieces intend to continue the transformative story of the park with an emphasis on the "delta" in Delta Park. Somos Delta: Where Two Rivers Meet will be two pillars that serve as entrance points of the park. On his Instagram page, Silva described this work as, "...new sculpture, pillar, seating area, castle tower art thing." While the colors seem more natural and muted compared to the park, residents feel confident that Silva will bring the vibrancy in the storytelling of his artwork.

"His art is so colorful and powerful," said a resident at the park's opening event.

During the park's September 10 opening celebration, Silva invited attendees to color the concrete pillars installed and tell him what they imagined the artwork to look like. Silva has worked closely with the resident engagement group, Coffee Chat group, and Delta Park residents to be inspired for his painting of the pillars. Seeing the kids "paint" on the blank canvas was especially fun.

Greeley's Public Art Scene

Silva's work is part of the Greeley Public Art program, where he presented three designs to the Greeley Art Commission for feedback. The commission's feedback was to ensure that the seating piece was accessible and that people didn't confuse it with a play piece.

Kids color on the blank pillar art installation at the Delta Park Opening Celebration.

What happens when you bring the community together to design their park?

We are proud to announce that the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA) presented Delta Park with the Columbine Award for its design. The Columbine Award, given annually, recognizes creative, fresh and innovative park and recreation programs and initiatives in Colorado.The award ceremony was on October 16, 2025 in Vail, CO, bringing together Parks and Recreation programs from all over the state.

Parks Manager Eric Bloomer, who has been involved in the project and kept its momentum since its beginning several years ago, accepted the award for the city.

Delta Park shows the power of letting the community help plan changes to our city. When we listened to our residents, grandmothers asked for a walking path in a circle. This way, they could walk while watching their grandkids play on the playground. The community wanted a colorful shade area that brings neighbors together at the park's center. The children needed a place to play, climb and spin while feeling the grass under their feet and the space to run.

We changed the park from a hot, grassy lot into a green space with over 80 new trees. We also fixed up the basketball court with bright colors and three hoops. For the first time ever, we added a playground serving hundreds of neighborhood kids of all ages.

This award-winning project shows Greeley's commitment to community development by including everyone in the planning process.

We are proud to keep investing in our community and creating spaces that bring us together. Thank you to everyone who helped make this dream come true!

Five years ago, Delta Park in East Greeley was a sunbaked lot of grass that residents didn't even know was public space. On September 10, over 300 community members gathered to celebrate the park's transformation into a $2.8 million community hub. The diverse Latino and Somali refugee families who call this neighborhood home designed the park. On September 10, we got to celebrate together.

A Day of Unity and Joy

To signal the official opening of the playground, adults formed a human tunnel for kids to run through as they raced toward their new playground for the first time. The air filled with laughter as families explored basketball courts, the splash pad, and green spaces they had helped design.

A local ice cream truck served cold treats while people connected over games and activities provided by Greeley Recreation's Play on the Way. Gloria Galindo, who led the transformative Coffee Chat group process, stood with other group members and spoke about the park's impact on the community. Her words captured the journey from hesitation to empowerment that defined this project.

Diana Frick, Director of Greeley's Culture Parks and Recreation Department, along with Councilmembers Deb Deboutez and Melissa McDonald, addressed the crowd and celebrated this breakthrough model for civic engagement. A model that embraced community voice and involvement in their park design.

Community Partnership in Action

The event brought together the partners who had tables with resources and goodies for attendees to visit. Thanks to our partners at the event:

• Salida del Sol
• Armando Silva
• Natural Areas and Trails
• High Plains Library District
• Sunrise Community Health
• Trust for Public Land
• Mundus Bishop
• Soccer Without Borders
• Lutheran Family Services

A New Model for Civic Engagement

This project proves what's possible when local government meets communities where they are by abandoning traditional outreach methods and building genuine relationships through coffee and conversations.

The result is a space featuring a multilingual welcome sign, amenities chosen by residents and a sense of ownership that has transformed how this community engages with public space.

Delta Park is more than a playground. It's proof that when we listen to communities and honor their voices, we build spaces that truly serve everyone.

View the photo album from the opening celebration in the photos section of the project page.

The playground equipment has been installed, the courts are complete, water is spraying from the splashpad and now all we need are people to enjoy the park! Delta Park is so close to opening, with just a few outstanding things, such as landscaping. It's typical for landscaping to be some of the last work to be done at a park, especially with how much foot traffic Delta Park gets. While the colorful and tall play structure takes center stage as a focal point of the park, you cannot forget about the landscaping and numerous strategically planted plants.

Benefits of Landscaping at a Playground

• Plants can act as barriers and keep kids away from hazards like streets or parking lots. Landscape helps define the boundaries of the play area.
• Provides natural texture to a space that is otherwise full of equipment or play structures
• Creates a welcoming space that encourages people to get outside

Final Touches

Crews will water the newly planted sod in addition to some landscaping areas. The temperatures have been hot, and it's important to keep the new sod wet so it can begin to establish roots.

• Painted lines in the parking lot designating spots for the park
• Sweeping sidewalks to clear them of any debris from landscape or construction work
• Picking up trash that has blown in from the wind
• Testing water elements like the splash pad and misters

We look forward to seeing everyone at the September 10 opening celebration to come out and enjoy this new, beautiful space!

Due to recent heavy rainfall impacting construction work, we're postponing the Delta Park opening celebration to Wednesday, September 10, 5:00–6:30 PM.

While we're excited to share this community space with you, weather delays and supply chain issues with our boulder seating have pushed back completion of some key areas. The south area walking path and seating area won't be finished by our original July 10 target date.

What's Opening This Month

The good news? The playground area will open this month as planned! Our team will conduct a preliminary walkthrough on July 8 to ensure these sections are ready for public use and determine where to keep up construction fencing so there is no confusion as to where you can and cannot go on the site.

Why We're Waiting

Since our July 10 date was based on full park completion, and the opening celebration is such an important moment to showcase our community-driven design, we decided it's worth waiting to do it right. The September 10 celebration will allow us to properly highlight all the thoughtful features that make this park special. The September event will also include fun activities to celebrate the park, such as music, Play on the Way, basketball, soccer, and an ice cream truck.

We appreciate your patience as we put the finishing touches on this community space. Stay tuned for updates on the final completion timeline for the south area.

So much work has been completed at Delta Park—a lot of it underground and not visible to the public: site grading, water pipes, and drainage, just to name a few. If you pass Delta Park today, you will see some of the "fun" elements, such as the shade structure and new sidewalks showing a new path for connectivity. Before long, you will see grass, trees, and play structures that will truly brighten up the place.

Thanks to a relatively mild winter, construction on the Delta Park Project is progressing on schedule. We remain on track for our anticipated summer opening!

We remind all residents to please respect the construction fencing and obey all posted safety signage when near the project site. Your cooperation helps ensure everyone's safety while we complete this exciting community addition. We will announce an opening date and celebration details in the coming weeks.

The City of Greeley Parks will be installing construction fencing around Delta Park starting the week of August 5, weather permitting.

For your safety and to ensure the timely completion of this project, we ask all residents to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Do Not Disturb the Fencing: Please do not disturb, move, or climb over the construction fencing. It is there for your safety.
• Stay Out of the Construction Zone: Avoid entering the construction area at all times. Heavy machinery and ongoing work can pose serious hazards.
• Keep Children and Pets Away: Ensure that children and pets are kept at a safe distance from the construction site. The fencing may impact walking paths to school.
• Find Alternative Routes to School: The fencing may prevent children from cutting through the park to get to school. Please plan ahead and use alternative routes during the construction period.
• Be Aware of Increased Traffic: Expect increased traffic and activity around the park. Please be vigilant and cautious when driving or walking nearby.
• Respect Signage and Barriers: Follow all posted signs and respect the barriers in place.

We appreciate your cooperation in keeping everyone safe and allowing us to complete the project without delays.

Thank you to everyone who attended the July 26 'Meet Me in the Park' event and groundbreaking at Delta Park. What a beautiful day of food, fun, families and fellowship.

In the coming weeks, residents will start to see construction vehicles and fencing in the park.
A friendly reminder to stay safe and stay out of the construction zone.

Join us for a "Meet Me in the Park" event at Delta Park!
Celebrate the groundbreaking of our new community space, designed by our Delta Park residents.

Wednesday, June 26
1:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Delta Park

Get ready to embark on an exciting journey as we unveil the vibrant vision for the upcoming park refresh - a tapestry of energy, color and community spirit. Picture this: a harmonious blend of seating areas and pathways, creating inviting spaces for connection and relaxation. Dazzling hues inspired by our diverse community will paint the landscape. Brace yourselves for a new playground experience, featuring unique play structures that will spark joy in the hearts of children and adults alike. And for those barren spaces? We're weaving a lush tapestry of plants and trees, transforming the landscape into a green and water conscious oasis. (The park will grow from 17 trees to over 75!)