Denver Parks and Recreation announced it will reopen the Montbello Recreation Center on Monday, following more than two weeks of closure after a 14-year-old was shot and killed at the facility on May 21.
The announcement settles community uncertainty about the city’s plans to serve youth in the neighborhood just as schools let out for summer.
“We extend our deepest sympathy to those affected by this tragedy and thank the Montbello community for the compassion, resilience, and solidarity shown in recent weeks,” said DPR Executive Director Jolon Clark in a statement. “The Montbello Recreation Center is more than a facility. It is a place of connection and belonging. We are committed to reopening safely and supporting healing through programs and services that serve residents of all ages.”
Summer programming will kick off next week. The schedule will be posted on the rec center website.
Denverite has asked about specific safety plans for the reopening.
A few hours before the reopening announcement, Clark told Denverite safety plans are in the works, though he noted he was “not the subject matter expert on that.”
Some city leaders were on vacation when the shooting occurred ahead of Memorial Day weekend, and they took a few days to get back to town and hold a community meeting on May 26.
The department is talking with staff and the community about what safety looks like at the facility and other rec centers around the city, he said.
Should metal detectors be added? What about more park rangers or armed police officers? Each safety strategy comes with potential benefits and risks, and Clark does not want to rush those conversations.
The department is providing therapy and paid time off as its staffers heal.
“This is a very sad time for all of us, and we’re working to get back to normal operations as soon as possible,” said Mayor Mike Johnston’s spokesperson Jon Ewing in a text.
When asked whether workers from other rec centers would be deployed to Montbello, Clark told Denverite that each worker is being treated as an individual case
Planning to plan
On Thursday morning, Deputy Executive Director John Martinez sent a note to city officials and a few community leaders announcing the city was working toward the reopening.
“Denver Parks and Recreation is coordinating a strategy meeting to develop an activation plan for the reopening of the Montbello Recreation Center,” Martinez wrote in the message Denverite obtained.
Community leaders will be gathering with Councilmember Shontel Lewis for a healing circle on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the rec center in advance of the reopening.
“As we move forward, we want to incorporate your expertise and suggestions for involving all relevant community organizations to ensure important resources are made available to everyone impacted by the unfortunate tragedy experienced in this community,” Martinez wrote in the email. “We remain mindful of the staff and the decisions for returning to work and receiving the support needed to re-engage in the environment where they work and serve the community.”
Councilmember Stacie Gilmore, who represents the area, has been frustrated over the past two weeks about Parks and Rec’s handling of the closure.
“There’s just zero communication,” she said a few hours before the reopening announcement was made. “I think that Denver Parks and Recreation, in their lack of professionalism in reaching out to the elected councilmember to communicate with me and my aides about what they’re planning and working on, is a gross oversight in transparency and clear communication.”
Gilmore plans to hold a separate healing gathering on Saturday evening.
Clark insists he has reached out to Councilmember Gilmore and included her in conversations – including at a meeting Denverite covered last week.
“We haven’t left anybody out,” he said. “We’ve been focused on our staff.”
