Sugar Beet Park

Historical Significance

Sugar Beet Park is a 5.3-acre park located in northeast Fort Collins, Colorado, at the intersection of Ninth Street and Vine Drive. The park opened in September 2019 and is situated near the site of the former Great Western Sugar Factory, paying homage to the city's sugar beet industry history.

The park is central to Fort Collins' Tres Colonias neighborhoods, where many employees of the Great Western Sugar Factory once lived. It is designed to honor the heritage of the sugar beet in Fort Collins and recognize the contributions of migrant workers to the city's economic and cultural development.

Unique Play Features

The centerpiece of the park is a unique 12-foot-tall wooden sugar beet play structure, which serves as the focal point of the playground. This structure features climbable slats, a rope ladder, and a slide, offering children an engaging and memorable play experience.

Sliding benches on repurposed train tracks replicate the rail cars that once transported sugar beets, adding an interactive and educational element to the park.

Design Elements

The park incorporates elements that reflect its historical context. Trees and plants are arranged in distinct rows, reminiscent of how sugar beets were planted in fields.

Interpretive signage in both English and Spanish educates visitors about Fort Collins' unique sugar beet heritage and the benefits of pollinators.

Environmental Features

A notable feature of Sugar Beet Park is its large community pollinator garden, which is the first of its kind in Fort Collins. Developed in partnership with the Nature in The City program, this garden aims to provide more natural spaces within the urban environment and supports local wildlife.