Rec Facilities: Cultivating A Community Gathering Space

Creating a rec center with a farmhouse feelBy Zach Bisek and Lauren McKissack What began as a homestead fueled by the Gold Rush and then turned into an agricultural hub, the town of Berthoud, Colo., has not-so-slowly morphed into a growing destination for young families and modern-day Coloradans looking for a slower pace of life and lower living costs than in its neighboring cities. With both a population growth and shift in culture, Berthoud has become perfectly poised for a new recreation facility. Simultaneously and serendipitously, a long-time farming family, the Waggeners, donated more than 59 acres to be repurposed to serve the community. After conducting an in-depth park master plan and feasibility study led by Wenk Associates Landscape Architects, gaining community support, and passing a bond, the design commenced to build Berthoud’s first recreation center.