Diva Dash women’s obstacle run comes to aid
flood-ravaged Lyons, CO
Event proceeds will
support rebuilding parks and trails, as women take on an exciting and
empowering adventure through the community
Lyons, CO – March 11,
2012 - When the SHAPE Diva Dash women’s obstacle run returns to Lyons on
May 10, ‘The community will be ready for the excitement of it’s first big event
after the flood,“ says Dave Cosgrove, Director of Parks, Recreation, and
Cultural Events for the Town of Lyons. We
are very ready to move forward with the rebuilding of our community”
Lyons is a small town you may know for its trails, beer, and
festivals. You also probably heard about
the 500-year flood that took place last September. “We were decimated by the flood
and although we’re making progress, there is still a considerable way to go. We
are very happy to be working with an event that will bring donations, people,
and smiles to our community. “
Organizers of the SHAPE Diva Dash, one of the biggest
women’s obstacle run series in the country, are based in Boulder CO. ‘This is
our hometown event and Lyons is like our backyard playground.” , said Diva Dash
founder, Josh Kravetz. We want to do everything we can to help Lyons recover
and restore the parks and trails that Boulder
County loves so much.” The Adventure Fit crew that produces the event has
reconfigured the course from last year
and found creative solutions to avoid areas damaged by the flooding. They created
a 3-mile loop with space for 12+ obstacles. The school and residential
communities were supportive of the event and willing to collaborate with
Adventure Fit to create a great route.
Cosgrove believes that the Diva Dash’s return to Lyons raises
awareness that “Lyons still has huge needs. The Parks and Recreation Department
lost all of its equipment when its building was washed away. “ We were hit harder than other communities,
and now we have fewer resources to deal with our recovery.” Lyons Parks and
Recreation will directly benefit from proceeds
generated from the event. The Lyons Communtiy Foundation and Lyons Volunteers
will be staffing booths with information about projects that have been
completed and those that are forthcoming giving participants and spectators the
opportunity to donate to several other worthy causes still needing funding in
Lyons or a chance to sign up to receive
update emails or get involved with future flood rehabilitation.
Thousands of women are expected to participate in the SHAPE
Diva Dash obstacle run. The event consists of a 5K trail run filled with many fun
and adventurous obstacles like an oversized teeter totter, Fireman Pole slide,
and Rock Climb walls. Following the run is an after party sponsored by SHAPE
Magazine and other partners including Oskar Blues Brewery, which will be the
official beer sponsor. Chad Melis, of Oskar Blues is happy to help. ”Lyons is a
town that is known for our festivals and fun times. The SHAPE Diva Dash coming
to Lyons means that we are ready to get this party started again!”
About Lyons and its Parks:
The Town of Lyons has been devastated. In the early morning
hours of September 12th, 2013, following several days of record
rainfall totaling an astonishing 17 inches rain, the North and South St. Vrain
Creeks, the confluence of which occurs in Bohn Park in Lyons, flooded their
banks. Stream flows within the Town of Lyons crested above 19,500 CFS easily
surpassing the previous record set in 1941. This is incredible considering
typical stream flows for the St. Vrain average 67 CFS (USGS Data) for the month
of September. With roads and bridges washed out or under water, the 2,050
residents of the Town of Lyons were cut off from the world and isolated on six
different ‘islands’. The entire Town of Lyons began evacuation on September 13th,
2013 with the assistance of the National Guard. Every household and business
was impacted as a result of flood waters, heavy rain, and/or destruction of
infrastructure. All services including roads, bridges, access, water
distribution, sewer collection, gas, electric, telephone, cell phones, cable,
internet, gas stations, groceries, businesses, fire protection, law
enforcement, bus service and ambulance were all simultaneously unavailable for
a period of time-ranging from six to twelve weeks depending on the extent of
the damage and ability to get services back online.
Lyons has been damaged beyond what it can afford. It is
estimated that Lyons has sustained damages totaling nearly $50 million,
including $5 million in temporary measures and $45 million in permanent work,
which does not include insured public buildings or restoring the stream
channel. This is staggering for a community that typically operates on less
than a $1 million a year budget.
Lyons parks system was absolutely decimated. Nearly all
community parks and facilities were affected in some way. It is estimated that
of the 80 acres of developed/in-development community parkland, 39 acres were
severely impacted. Unfortunately, the 39 acres impacted housed most of Lyons
major park facilities. To date pre-flood damages to Lyons Parks and facilities
is estimated at approximately $16Million. The following is a synopsis of park
damages:
·
Of
our nearly 5 miles of trails, only 1.2 miles have been unaffected by the flood.
Most trails are completely gone or are inaccessible. This includes the
destruction of Lyons main arterial trail, the St. Vrain Corridor Trail which
served as Lyons major source of connectivity to neighborhoods, schools, parks,
businesses and even Boulder County’s Picture Rock Trail in Heil Valley Ranch
Open Space, Hall Ranch and other future regional connections.
·
Infrastructure
to parks has been washed away; water, sewer, gas and electric will all have to
be replaced to nearly all park facilities.
·
Athletic
fields are buried under feet of cobble and debris. Irrigation provided to 5 of
Lyons 6 athletic fields and most other irrigated portions of park areas is
either gone or no longer functional.
·
Shelter
facilities have been washed away and/or were flooded and no longer useable,
including a historic WPA shelter located in Meadow Park.
·
Additional
park features that are damaged or lost to flood damage include, among others:
14 whitewater features, 2 ponds, 2 pedestrian bridges, volleyball court/ice
rink, batting cage, dog park river access, several parking lots, tent and RV
camping facilities, picnic areas, 2 playgrounds, community garden, sheds and
storage facilities, numerous benches, bleachers, signage and other park
amenities that are associated with these park facilities.
FEMA and insurance will not make the Town whole again-we
need your help! Staff is working
diligently on grants, in-kind donations and various other funding efforts
available to us, but additional aid is still drastically needed. Please help us to restore Lyons parks and
make Lyons a recreation destination once again.
Help us reconstruct Lyons parks bigger and better and continue to offer
quality parks and services to the residents and visitors of Lyons. Thanks for your support!
About
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