COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The community playground in Palmer Park, including restrooms and the surrounding area, will be closed Tuesday-Thursday, Aug. 25-27 for the installation of roughly 1.5 acres of bluegrass. The playground will reopen once the sod has been laid, however, the public is asked to stay off the freshly-laid grass until October so the roots can establish. Signage will be posted in the area.
The bluegrass is being transferred from the softball fields at Cottonwood Creek Park, which will be converted to artificial turf using 2B funds this fall. Rather than paying a removal and disposal fee for the Cottonwood Creek sod, reusing it in Palmer Park achieved a cost savings of roughly $20,000. This area of Palmer Park was previously native grass and dirt. The new grass area is expected to enhance the user experience in this area of the park.
Palmer Park is a regional park centrally-located near Austin Bluffs Parkway and Union Boulevard. In addition to the playground, one of the largest in the city, Palmer Park offers a variety of amenities, including more than 25 miles of multi-use trails, several sport courts and fields, picnicking pavilions, a dog park, and a scenic overlook and drive. The park was deeded to the City by its founder William Jackson Palmer in 1907.