Press Releases & Announcements

Adams County Opens New Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts Operations Building in Thornton

Adams County held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event on Monday, Oct. 20, to celebrate the opening of our new South Parks Operations Building at 9500 Riverdale Rd., Thornton. The new operations building is now home to the South Parks operations team, staff from the Community Safety & Well-Being Department, and the Adams County Park Rangers.

By investing in our infrastructure, Adams County is making an investment in the families that play, gather, and find respite in each of our parks and open space properties. This building emphasizes Adams County’s commitment to providing efficient services for residents and devotion to maintaining beautiful spaces for all to enjoy.

“Adams County is committed to providing a premier quality of life to its residents, and investments in infrastructure like this building allow us to do just that,” said Lynn Baca, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners. “Modernizing this building allows for increased efficiency and effectiveness when it comes to caring for the 658 acres of park and open space land and 125 miles of trails the staff in this building are responsible for keeping in working condition for our residents.”

Adams County commissioned two new public art installations to be prominently displayed at the new South Parks Operations Building, adding to the Adams County Public Art Collection. NEST, a sculpture by artist James Peterson, is inspired by the beauty of open space and the flowers, wildlife, and plants that inhabit our area. Leilani Nobuko Derr, another Adams County artist, created LANDSCAPE GALLERY, a vibrant mural located in the building’s entryway with plans to expand the piece to the building’s exterior.

“In addition to allowing for an even higher level of service to our residents, the South Parks Operations Building is a shining example of how public art can be integrated into our county capital facilities projects,” said Byron Fanning, Director of Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts.

The South Parks Operations Building replaces an older facility at the same location. Benefits of the new building include more modern facilities for staff, safe storage and handling of hazardous materials and chemicals, and increased storage capacity. The Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts Department worked closely on the project with the county’s Facilities & Fleet Management Department, along with contractor FCI Constructors and the Adams County Arts & Culture Commission.