North City Park

Perry Weissman 3

Article by David Goens and photos by Jonathan Macias

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On the afternoon of June 27 North City Park residents came out in large numbers to listen to good music, let their children cool off on the water slide, meet neighbors, eat great food, and generally have a good time.  Approximately 300 residents participated in the free event which featured free homemade ice cream from Red Rock Ice Cream (made right here in North City Park and sponsored by Genesis Conservation) free food (hamburgers and frankfurters (frankfurters donated in part by Franks Food Mart) along with a surprise donation of 4 slabs of ribs provided by Dennis Brooks who also provided a grill.

Participants also listened to great music by:   Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine, with a special appearance by North City Park resident Charlie Burrell, a long-time fixture on the jazz scene in Denver and ground-breaking bassist with the Denver Symphony Orchestra; Changes Through Faith, a gospel group headed by North City Park resident James Michael Jones; and long-time local band Perry Weissman 3, whose members include Rick Benjamin of North City Park and members from the Whittier Neighborhood, to our west.

The kids (and those who wanted to have fun like kids) enjoyed the cool and thrill of the giant water slide which made cool work of an afternoon. Hair Peace Salon, a new hair salon in North City Park, offered free nail painting for kids, too.  Kids also liked the art opportunities offered at the Voices On Canvass booth.
The festival was also used as an opportunity to highlight the need to have the property redeveloped and Deborah Fard took advantage with the launch of the “Brick by Brick” fundraising effort to fund the purchase of the property, formerly known as the East Denver YMCA.

Thanks go to Chad Theis for  organizing this event; Jason Kallas, Rob and Lauri Oye, Charlotte Goens, Dorothy Spears, and Howard Barry for helping out so much; David Kempf, Agent for Blue Rhino Inviestments, for providing the use of the property at no charge; local businesses providing in-kind and financial support Stix’s Income Tax Service, Nadia Personal Care, Nubian fashion & Styles, Pierre’s On Madison, Frank’s Food Mart, East 28th Avenue Liquors, Ben’s Super Market, Genesis Conservation, East Denver Bible Baptist Church, and Hair Peace Salon; friend’s of NCPCA Michael Salvidio, Deborah Lanman, and Dennis Brooks for financial support; and special thanks to The Denver Foundation’s Strenghening Neighborhoods Program for a $1500.00 grant; and Commerce City Community Enterprises for the use of 20 canopies.  If thanks are due to anyone not mentioned, the omission is mine and please notify me so I can correct the error.

As our first community festival the event was a success.  We plan to do this again next year.  Let’s all pull together and make it a bigger success next year, as well.