Community-driven design transforms Colorado towns into vibrant destinations
Over the past year, the Development Services team at Ayres has partnered with four Colorado communities to bring vibrant, welcoming spaces to life in their downtowns. These design and planning projects focus on supporting and promoting downtown placemaking, safe streets, and community and economic development.
Springs and Craig, in the western side of Colorado, and another in San Luis, in the south-central part of the state. They are finalizing design and engineering on another for Lafayette, on the Front Range near Boulder. Additionally, they are leading a multidisciplinary team on a complete revitalization and makeover for downtown Parachute.
With three new main street plazas built this year and one more on the way in 2026, as well as plans to make over an entire downtown, the team’ s thoughtful community-based design work is coming to life and generating a lot of excitement. Last summer, the Western landscape architecture team worked closely with contractors, local leaders, and the community members to implement main street parks in Steamboat
The following stories highlight three of these projects: the newly built plazas in Steamboat Springs and San Luis, and a preview of the exciting changes coming to the Town of Parachute. These projects play a critical role in building community pride and identity, providing public gathering space, improving safety, and acting as a catalyst for economic development.
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