Virtual Events
6-6:55AM Virtual HIIT
9-9:55AM Strength and Cardio
11AM-12PM Kimodo for Balance
1-1:55PM Chair Yoga
Real World Events
10:15-10:45AM Toddler Time @ Golden Library
11AM Ride the Rockies Post Event Party @ Parfet Park
Golden is the final leg in this signature Colorado bicycle tour. Come down to Parfet Park and cheer on the riders as they arrive, having completed over 500 miles of cycling in 6 days. The event is open to the public and will feature an outdoor vendor expo, music, beer garden and BBQ. RIders are expected to begin arriving around 11:00 a.m. There will be no road closures.
1-2PM The Friday Tour @ Colorado Railroad Museum
3PM Vaccine, License & Microchip Clinic @ Foothills Animal Shelter
6-8PM Teen After Hours: An Amazing Race @ Golden Library
Live Music
5-8PM Abby Brown @ Golden Mill
4:30PM Braden McDannell @ Coda Brewing
5-8PM Big Hooray Bluegrass @ Goosetown Station
5PM Good for Nothin’ Thunder Mountain Boys @ Over Yonder
6-9PM Southside Mike @ Buffalo Rose (Sky Bar Stage)
6PM 3eatles @ Wrigley’s
8PM Super Diamond – The Neil Diamond Tribute @ Buffalo Rose (main venue)
9PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern
Golden History Moment
According to the City’s website, Golden has 253 acres of parks, 24 miles of trails, and 402 acres of open space. It was not always thus!
For more than 70 years, Golden had only one park. According to the Colorado Transcript, town father William Loveland donated four square blocks to the City with the stipulation that it always be used as a park.
Early Golden tended to operate on a shoestring, and did very little maintenance to the park. They did install a tap in 1884, so it was possible to grow and water trees. Thereafter, citizen groups often planted trees in the park on Arbor Day. Over time it became quite pleasant and shady. Civic groups occasionally tried to improve the park by mowing the grass or adding playground equipment. The equipment was usually destroyed by vandals.
The Transcript printed this sad piece in 1948.
74 Years Ago
NO PLACE TO PLAY
You know, it’s just downright pitiful that Golden has no playground for the children, when you see how they love those poor, dilapidated pieces of equipment that are still standing in Pioneer park.’
There’s seldom an hour during any nice day that there are not a few children and sometimes several playing on the rings, the swings and the slide. They don’t mind that there’s a rung missing on the ladder to the top of the slide. They stretch and strain and manage to get to the top. They don’t mind that one swing is gone entirely, another has broken and been hiked up to an uncomfortable height. They don’t care that two of the rings are gone and the chains have been tied together. They still thoroughly enjoy and love what is left— and they use it continually.
And the poor wading pool that some organization struggled to get built once upon a time. Now it is full of sand, waste paper, broken glass, splintered wood, orange peel, twigs, dead leaves and such. Of course it Is never used anymore because it was a health hazard and the dogs practically crowded the children out. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were a nice, fenced-in wading pool for the children and a beautiful playground with lots of good, sturdy equipment?
Colorado Transcript – June 17, 1948
Not long after this, the City decided to sell the park to Jefferson County and the School of Mines. Civic groups began focusing instead on the land near Clear Creek. For whatever reason, that location worked better. We got not only a playground but a campground, athletic fields, tennis courts, and a community center.
The post-World War II generation, with their profusion of baby boomers, were willing to tax themselves for parks. Over time, we acquired park land all over the city, and today we have about twenty parks–most with completely un-sad playgrounds.
Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!
