Ames Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to a dedication ceremony for the new Sunset Ridge Park. The event will be held at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at the park at 325 Wilder Avenue. This accessible park includes a playground, picnic shelter with lighting, grills, drinking fountain, benches, and bike racks. The 1.3-acre park also features open green space and connects to a shared use path along Wilder Avenue.

The park was made possible in part to due to the efforts of the Sunset Ridge Property Owners Association (POA), which deeded the property to the city and raised funds needed in excess of those allocated by the city for park development. “The Sunset Ridge neighborhood’s generous support of this park helped the city provide new outdoor recreational opportunities to this growing neighborhood in west Ames,” said Ames Parks and Recreation Director Keith Abraham. “In addition, the shared use path connects this neighborhood to other parks and recreation areas throughout Ames.”

Due to concerns about COVID-19 transmission, those who attend the dedication ceremony in person are expected to wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least six feet from others at the event. There will be no seating, but the POA will be providing ice cream cups and popsicles at the end of the program. Additionally, the ceremony will be offered virtually for those who want to watch without being physically present. The event will be livestreamed on City of Ames Facebook (@CityOfAmes) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/AmesChannel12).

The Parks and Recreation Department manages 38 parks and offers approximately 180 athletic, aquatic, instructional, and wellness programs. Indoor programs are provided year-round at the Community Center, Ames/ISU Ice Arena, and Municipal Pool.

For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation homepage at www.amesparkrec.org or call the Community Center at 515.239.5350.