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Battlement Mesa Building Purchased for Future Daycare Center

Battlement Mesa, CO

September 5, 2024

On August 28, 2024, the Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District (PBMPRD) purchased a vacant commercial property near The Shops at Battlement Mesa, Clark’s Market, and Alpine Bank. In a partnership with Garfield County School District No. 16 (G16), the property will serve as an early childcare center for children ages six weeks to three years old.

Some dedicated space in the property will be used by the PBMPRD for offices and the majority of the remaining space will be used as a childcare center operated by G16. Initial feasibility studies indicate that the early childcare center could accommodate up to 60 children.

G16 and the PBMPRD are working on finalizing budgets and seeking grant funding for the estimated six million dollar project.

In 2022, the State of the Grand Valley community meetings with Aspen Institute identified three areas of need in the community: housing, childcare, and economic development. Access to affordable and quality childcare is a major issue for many people in the region, Colorado, and the nation.

"This partnership and opportunity is exciting," said G16 Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Baugh. "It is a real need in the community for our working families. It will generate jobs in the community and hopefully allow more people to access the workforce here and in other communities because parents will know that their children are safe and well cared for."

Both Districts will begin planning for funding, construction, and operations in September.

“The PBMPRD identified a need for administrative offices and additional storage space,” said Dr. Adam L. Ford, President of the PBMPRD. “We brought our district management internally, and it has been hard to accommodate office and storage in existing district facilities. The new property is adjacent to the Grand Valley Recreation Center, a walking path, and a PBMPRD plot of land. Acquiring this building is a huge step in the right direction for both districts. Both of our districts (PMBPRD and G16) are undergoing various Master Plan initiatives and our partnership on this resource is going to do great things for our community.”

The building was originally constructed in 1982, with intentions of it becoming a restaurant. The restaurant was never opened. Over the years, the commercial investment building changed ownership several times, but no business ever operated out of it, at least not one that was open to the public. The 10,000+ square foot building was completed in the aftermath of “Black Sunday” in Parachute, CO, when Exxon shut down the Colony Oil Shale Project near Parachute.

Both districts, Garfield County School District No. 16 (G16) and Parachute/Battlement Mesa Park and Recreation District (PBMPRD) are excited for the future of this building, it’s administrative offices and a daycare center, in order to better serve the needs of the Parachute/Battlement Mesa community.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Nicole Loschke at (970) 285-5701 Ext. 5177 or nloschke@garfield16.org or Dr. Adam L. Ford at aford@pbmprd.org

Future childcare center building. A large brick building with a red roof surrounded by grass and a sidewalk.

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