The Mancos Northside Park is now finished and ready for play.

The playground and turf surroundings, in the works for several months, aim to fill a need for children and families living in the northern part of Mancos. Town officials and Mancos Elementary School students and staff members crowded into the play area for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon.

“This will historically be the first park located north of Highway 160,” said Mayor Queenie Barz before the ribbon was cut and children were allowed to clamber onto the new playground.

The park is in the Creekside subdivision at the northwest corner of Angel Way and North Willow Street. The north side of Mancos has seen increased growth in recent years, according to town staff, and the new structure means children won’t have to cross the highway to find park space.

The park also has been managed organically from the beginning – something citizens wanted to see. Artificial turf was used in the park too, in order to reduce water use and lower maintenance costs.

It was funded by grants from Great Outdoors Colorado and Atmos Energy.

Mancos elementary students were also given a say in the playground’s design. The town came up with three options, which were then voted upon by the students.

ealvero@the-journal.com