Behind the Scenery
Bringing the Colorado Experience to You
Thanks for stopping by the newest edition to the Parks, Open Space, & Cultural Arts website, Behind the Scenery. This space is dedicated to keeping Adams County residents updated on all the exciting things we are working on in the Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts department. You may have heard about our community events like the Adams County Fair, our beautiful art projects, or our trails and open space properties, but we want to take a look Behind the Scenery of what we are planning next and highlight some of the work our staff do on a daily basis for our residents. This page showcases those projects and more as we work hard to significantly enhance quality of life, enrich communities, and INSPIRE!
We will update this page monthly to keep you in the know. Thanks for taking a look Behind the Scenery!
Cultural Arts
The Cultural Arts division of the Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts department brings art to the forefront of Adams County communities through new commissions for the Adams County Public Art Collection, programming through the Poet Laureate program, and opportunities to get involved in shaping art and culture through community engagement and Artist Selection Panels.
In July, the Cultural Arts division conducted outreach in the Welby neighborhood of Adams County, seeking input from area residents on the public art coming to City View Park (City View Drive and Cleo Street). Residents were asked to select between different design concepts from renowned local artist Pard Morrison. Over fifty submissions from residents were received, and the results were overwhelmingly in favor of design 1, shown at right. This sculpture will be completed in 2026 and added to the Adams County Public Art Collection.
Of the survey responses from City View Park, 83% of respondents live in the Welby neighborhood, highlighting the division’s strong commitment to selecting art for the residents it serves. In the survey, one community member said of Welby, “we are an extremely diverse, hard-working community. We love the parks and trails, closeness to Denver, and the surrounding areas.”
Looking forward, the Cultural Arts division is excited to have started the public art process for the Adams County Fairgrounds Gateway Mural, a large mural intended to welcome guests to the Adams County Fairgrounds in Riverdale Regional Park. The call for entry is open through Sunday, Aug. 16. More information on that project can be found here.
Also in August, spend an evening immersed in poetry at the Adams County Poet Laureate Open Mic, being held at Reunion Coffee House. For more information on the Poet Laureate program, including the open mic and an open call for poetry submissions, visit our Poet Laureate page.
Planning, Design, and Construction
The Planning, Design, & Construction division has been leading the charge on the improvements taking place within Riverdale Regional Park, and by the time the Adams County Fair rolls around on July 29, the improvements will be nearly wrapped up!
- Park Boulevard and the new parking lots were open for the 30,000 visitors at Stars & Stripes.
- The third new barn and the Outdoor Arena are completed, and the outdoor arena held its first livestock event in July.
- The final paving of the parking lots and roads is complete, and safe and accessible sidewalks now lead visitors from the parking lots to the park, and throughout the entirety of the fairgrounds.
- New grass and landscaping enhance the infrastructure, and the Brantner Gulch channel is open with new paths for the many visitors to enjoy the edge of Mann-Nyholt Lake.
The final touches of the Riverdale Regional Park Improvements will follow the Adams County Fair, and vegetation will develop over the next few years.
With this year’s drought conditions, the planning, design, and construction team is focusing efforts on water-efficient irrigation methods. Enhancing irrigation systems will increase functionality and reduce water waste, energy use, and retroactive maintenance. Ongoing conservation of water and sustainability of natural areas of the parks and open space across the County remains a top priority.
Looking ahead, the Riverdale Bluffs Open Space project will be celebrating its groundbreaking on Monday, August 17, and the first phase to be seen is the work on the E-470 Trail. The details of the bike trail design are developing, and the construction of the ADA walking paths, singletrack bike trails, overlooks, stair inclines, and pedestrian bridge, and passes across roads will be here before we know it!
Parks, Open Space & Trail Operations
The Parks, Open Space & Trails Operations team has remained busy maintaining our miles of trails in Adams County and keeping our parks and open space properties ready for visitors. The parks and open space properties in Adams County’s system are busiest in the months while school is out, with families spending days at the park with their children, commuters biking to work along the trails, and gatherings taking place nearly every weekend and most nights in our pavilions and shelters.
Additionally, both the North and South Parks Operations team get involved with the large community events held each summer at Riverdale Regional Park. Adams County Pride, Stars & Stripes, the Adams County Fair, and Festival Latino bring over 200,000 guests to the park, and it takes all hands to keep the facility looking top notch and the events running smoothly. The North Parks operation team, housed out of Riverdale Regional Park, works to prepare the complex and ensures that the park is ready for guests. The South Parks Operations Team assists with preparation, and works throughout the evening and night of each event to keep the park clean, accessible, and ready for guests the following day. Much of the clean-up and facility maintenance required after events is handled by the South Parks operations team, and both North and South Parks work hand-in-hand to keep our facilities open to the public and operational throughout the events season.
Business Administration
The Business Administration team kicks into high gear in the spring and summer months. As our parks, trails, and open spaces are getting busier and our summer events season rolls around, the Business Administration team works diligently behind the scenes to make sure things run smoothly across the Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts department. From hiring and onboarding temporary and seasonal help for special events and parks operations to processing invoices, assisting walk-in visitors, and overseeing the Open Space Sales Tax Grant Program, it’s busy season for Business Administration!
Over the last couple of months, the team processed nearly 225 invoices, assisted over 340 residents and visitors who came into the administration building, and processed 28 requisitions. The Open Space Advisory Board recommended the awarding of grant dollars from the spring grant cycle, and late this July, the Board of County Commissioners awarded over 12 million dollars to community organizations and municipalities within Adams County to ensure the prioritization of open space and recreational amenities in Adams County.
Looking ahead, the Business Administration team is looking forward to helping make the Adams County Fair a success by onboarding the temporary fair staff, coordinating the Open Class competitions at the Adams County Fair, and keeping the business of the Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts department moving by preparing for the fall Open Space Sales Tax grant cycle.
Special Events
For Adams County residents, summer is filled with time spent in parks, on trails, and at Adams County’s special events. Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts’ Special Events division spent June at Adams County Pride with over 5,000 attendees, and kicked off July with the annual Stars & Stripes event on July 3. Nearly 31,000 Adams County residents and neighbors joined in for a day filled with food, fun, a free concert with Franklin Jonas & The Byzantines, and fireworks to end the night.
The largest event of the year, Adams County Fair, takes place July 29-Aug. 2. A fun-filled lineup of concerts and entertainment fill the United Power Grandstands, and free entertainment can be found throughout the fairgrounds with acts like Aces Flying Pig Races and Extreme Lumberjacks, live music, and more! Adams County Seniors can join in the fun for Senior Day on Thursday, July 30 at 10 a.m., and families can join for Kids Day on Friday, July 31 at 10 a.m. Activities specifically chosen for those communities will fill the Waymire Dome from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on those days, and as always, fairgoers will enjoy the carnival, food, and drink vendors that are open for guests to enjoy! Once the Adams County Fair fun is done for 2026, the Special Events division will be looking ahead to next year’s fair, held Aug. 4-8, 2027!
Coming up in September is Festival Latino, an afternoon filled with Latino culture, heritage, and community. Live music runs on the free entertainment stage all day long, food vendors offer cuisines from across the Latino community, and public art is front and center centering Latino culture and artists. Festival Latino will be held on Sunday, Sept. 13 from noon-6 p.m. at Riverdale Regional Park. Find more information here!
Riverdale Golf Courses
The Riverdale Golf Courses have been in full swing this summer, with near-full tee times and a bustling restaurant! With the renovations completed at the Riverdale Golf Course Clubhouse, golfers and visitors alike have enjoyed new features including lighting, flooring, furniture, and beverage and snack coolers. Other enhancements to check out include the fitting room in the pro shop and remodeled restrooms. The expanded outdoor patio with a TV and the fire pit have been the favorite feature for golfers and diners, with the patio busy nearly every day.
In exciting news, the Riverdale Knolls Golf Course is back to 18 holes! For over a year, the course has been restricted to 9 holes due to the improvements taking place at Riverdale Regional Park, and the team is excited to offer an 18-hole experience once again. To book a tee time, please visit riverdalegolf.com. Tee times are available 8 days in advance, beginning at 6 a.m. Please be patient while booking tee times as the website sees high traffic during these periods. All users should receive an email confirmation once the tee time is booked.
Plan your next outing to the Riverdale Golf Courses! Visit their website or call 303.659.6700 with questions!
CSU Extension
Adams County’s CSU Extension Team crosses Adams County providing educational programming and services to Adams County residents. The team works to enhance the quality of life for residents, enrich communities, inspire, and empower individuals and families to thrive. Adams County 4-H, managed by CSU Extension, has been doing just that over the past months. In the leadup to the Adams County Fair, the 4-H team has been busy making sure participants are prepared for the Adams County Fair. The team makes sure all those who wish to participate are enrolled, their projects are ready, and each child feels prepared for their competition or showcase during the duration of the Adams County Fair.
Did you know that the Adams County Fair runs longer than 5 days? While the carnival, food vendors, and live entertainment run from July 29-Aug. 2, each year, the 4-H team begins their fair schedule over two weeks before the carnival opens, and the events are open to the public! This year, over 42 events and competitions were hosted by Adams County 4-H from July 11-Aug. 3! Curious about the 4-H events at the Adams County Fair? Check out the exhibitor schedule to see what it’s all about!
Outside of 4-H, the Extension team is busy helping residents with their lawn and gardens, small acreage farms, and more. The Extension team oversees the Adams County Master Gardener Program, which hosts office hours each week for anyone looking to ask an expert about their garden! They also host xeric garden tours at Riverdale Regional Park for anyone interested in being more water-wise in their own gardens.
Looking ahead, the CSU Extension team is excited to get back to school-year programming and connecting with Adams County residents.