After nearly seven years of planning, fundraising and design work, construction on the Heart of Monument Play Park is expected to begin within weeks following unanimous approval of contracts by the Monument Town Council on July 20 during its regular meeting at Town Hall.

Council approved contracts for both the first phase of the universally accessible playground and its accompanying ADA-accessible parking lot, clearing the way for work to begin on the long-awaited community project.

Town Planner Zach Archuleta told council members the vision for the downtown playground dates back to 2019.

“It all started with the Kiwanis Club getting this idea of a universally accessible playground right here in the heart of downtown,” Archuleta said.

The first construction contract, awarded to Fisk Landscapes, totals $754,913. Phase 1 includes site grading, installation of playground equipment and construction of a poured-in-place rubber play surface designed to accommodate wheelchairs and others with mobility challenges.

Funding for the project comes from multiple sources. The Town of Monument contributes $100,000 from a Colorado Health Foundation grant and another $100,000 from its parks fee fund, which includes $1,000 raised through sales of the town’s annual zombie-themed planning department license plates. The remaining project funding has been raised by the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club through years of community fundraising and grant support.

Archuleta said town staff worked closely with the town engineer to maximize the available funding and complete as much of the project as possible during the initial phase.

“There are still going to be a couple more phases after this initial one,” he said. “The Kiwanis are working very hard to get that money fundraising.”

If construction proceeds as planned, officials hope work can begin within the next month and Phase 1 could be completed before the end of the year.

“Hopefully by the end of the year, we can actually have a ribbon cutting for this Phase 1,” Archuleta said.

The playground will be located near the intersection of Adams Street and Second Street, immediately south of Monument Community Presbyterian Church and behind nearby apartment buildings.

Mayor Pro Tem Steve King praised the Monument Hill Kiwanis Club for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars toward the project.

“This is a fully accessible park,” King said. “I do want to commend the Kiwanis for fundraising. It’s incredible how much money that they’ve raised.”

He added the combination of community donations and grant funding represents “a really great value for the citizens.” Council also unanimously approved a second contract for construction of the park’s ADA-compliant parking lot.

The Heart of Monument Play Park has evolved into one of the community’s largest volunteer-led park projects and will be one of northern El Paso County’s only universally accessible playgrounds. Community members participated in design workshops and planning meetings over the past several years to help shape the park’s features, which are intended to allow children and adults of all abilities to play together.

While additional fundraising continues to complete future phases, Town Council’s approvals represent the project’s most significant milestone to date, moving it from years of planning into active construction.

With contracts now approved, crews are expected to mobilize in the coming weeks as Monument takes the first visible steps toward bringing the long-envisioned play park to life.