Alison Koff has fond memories of growing up a block away from Cranmer Park in the Hilltop neighborhood. She played soccer there and picked up her first lacrosse stick. After dinner, her family would often take walks around the park, stopping at the sundial plaza.
When Koff, 17, heard that the community needed to raise money to repair the plaza, she had an idea.
The soon-to-be senior at Kent Denver School went to the “Save the Sundial” neighborhood group and said she wanted to put on a benefit concert to bring awareness and raise some of the money needed for the repairs.
Almost two years later, that concert is about to happen.
“The show is mostly to bring the community together around the cause, but also to restart the marketing,” Koff said.
The plaza contains an old sundial that was donated by park founder George Cranmer in the 1940s. After it was damaged in the 1960s, it was rebuilt. But now the plaza is deteriorating and needs $1.5 million in repairs. About 20 years ago, the city did a small restoration that was deemed a temporary fix and now those repairs are failing. Last year, the sundial plaza was listed as one of the state’s most endangered places by Colorado Preservation, Inc.
The sundial is seen as the centerpiece of the 24-acre park; the plaza also has a panorama piece that is well known. The plaza was once the highest point in the city of Denver and the best place to view the mountains. Five 14ers can be seen on a clear day, including Pikes Peak to the south and Longs Peak to the north.
The Gray Line bus tour still routinely stops at the park as part of the Denver tour.
Denver Parks and Recreation is putting up $500,000 toward the project and Denver Arts and Venues is contributing another $45,000, leaving the community to raise the remaining $1 million.
“It’s kind of an iconic structure that attracts people,” said Denise Sanderson, a Hilltop resident and the leader of the “Save the Sundial” committee.
The neighborhood group recently began working with the Park People, a nonprofit organization focused on improving, maintaining and activating Denver parks. The Park People will be able to handle the money raised for the renovation and restoration of the sundial plaza. The goal is to have the funds raised by December 2015.
The group has two matching grants for the concert that could net up to $50,000 on top of what is raised at the show.
This is the second attempt at the Save the Sundial concert. It was originally rained out in June and rescheduled for Aug. 24. Koff said that the songs will all be covers of songs about the sun such as the Katrina and the Waves hit “Walking on Sunshine,” and the Eagles song “Tequila Sunrise.”
“I hope it brings awareness to need to restore it, I want to restore it to our best ability,” said Denver City Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman, who represents the area.
“It’s one of those hidden-jewel parks, but there are a lot of people who use it throughout the area,” Park People executive director Kim Yuan-Farrell said.
Sanderson hopes that her group can engage people both inside and out of the neighborhood and keep the park aa great place to visit.
“All the parks in Denver are used by people across the city,” Sanderson said. “It’s not just that neighborhood’s responsibility — we want support from all over the city.”
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joe_vacc
Here comes the sundial: a benefit concert
Where: Cranmer Park, 4501 E. First Ave., Denver
When: 4-7 p.m. Aug. 24
Who: Petals of Spain and guests
Admission: Free
Details: saveoursundial.com
