Parks and Recreation press release

For Immediate Release:

October 26, 2006

Contact: Tiffiany Moehring, 720-913-0633

Denver Parks and Recreation

201 West Colfax Avenue, #601

Denver, Co 80202

Daniel Libeskind's Civic Center model moved for public viewing ease

(DENVER) The three dimensional model created by Studio Libeskind of ideas for Civic Center Park has been moved to the Denver Public Library, Denver Western History Department, 5^th floor, 100 W. Fourteenth Avenue Parkway, to allow for greater public access and longer hours. The display will offer the public an additional opportunity to explore the ideas presented by Libeskind on August 30^th, 2006 during a town hall meeting at theColorado Convention Center. Comments are being collected through an online survey available at:http://www.denvergov.org/Planning_Design_and_Constr/template26273.asp.

Libeskind was contracted by the Civic Center Conservancy to develop conceptual ideas for revitalizing the park that would inspire public discourse and stimulate community interest and participation in park improvements.

While the Libeskind ideas present some exciting concepts for revitalizing the park, the combination of inspiration, public process and the objectives of the master plan will be the driving force for the parks future, said Denver Parks and Recreation Manager Kim Bailey.

Since August 30th, when the ideas were unveiled to the public at a town hall meeting, a series of public forums and community discussions have been hosted by Denver Parks and Recreation and the Civic Center Conservancy, dubbed Civic Center Sessions.

The planning ideas that were presented by Daniel Libeskind do not represent final designs but rather are intended as a starting point to inspire the publics imagination beyond ordinary solutions.The purpose is to seek public input to not only to respond to Mr. Libeskinds planning ideas, but also to give park stakeholders and the citizens of Denver an opportunity to voice their opinions on the potential future of Civic Center.This is only a beginning point of a much larger process needed to implement park improvements.

Currently, there are no funds to undertake a complete design process or construction planning. Therefore, this initial public dialog represents only one step in a much longer process that is required to implement future improvements. All ideas are welcome at this point as we strive to be open-minded and encourage creative solutions to come from all points of view. This dialog will help us determine priorities for projects worthy of pursuit.The process for implementation will be another separate phase, if there is a funded project to pursue.The selection of the architectural team that includes a well developed public involvement process, would be undertaken when a project is funded for implementation.

There are two remaining public forum opportunities aimed at gathering citizen input. These meetings are part of a 3-month long series of public meetings regarding the future ofCivic Center.

November 15 The Park People Panel Civic Center Renaissance Colorado History Museum 5:30- 7:30 PM

The public event will be held at the Colorado History Museum on Wednesday, November 15th, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m- The museum is located at 1300 Broadway.-Free and open to the public.

-John Temple, editor, publisher and president of the Rocky Mountain News, will serve as moderator of the discussion.? Panelists include:

Tina Bishop, landscape architect and partner with Mundus Bishop Design

Kathleen Brooker, President of Historic Denver

Richard Farley, Principal of CIVITAS urban design firm

Kathy Hoeft, architect and historic preservationist

Dennis Humphries, Principal of Humphries Poli Architects

? Dr. Thomas Noel, Professor of History and Director of Public History, Preservation & Colorado Studies at CU-Denver

December 6 Civic Center Conservancy More ideas Colorado History Museum5:30 7:30 PM

The Libeskind ideas have sparked a number of design ideas for the park by local architects and landscape architects. The Civic Center Conservancy will host a presentation of the plans and follow up discussion. Participating presenters include:

Yong Cho

Steve Chucovich

Dave Duclos

Richard Farley

Susan Saarinen

Randle Swan

David Tryba

William Wenk

Public comments will be included in a summary report to the Denver Parks Advisory Committee in January, 2007.? A public announcement will be made when the details of the report presentation is finalized later this year.