Everyone loves a good before-and-after reveal! Images below show just how much the park has changed throughout the years.
Entrance View from Arroyo Seco - March 2011
The original welcome bed enclosure was just larger than the sign, and was our first IMPD project was to signal to the neighborhoods that FOBP was here to help. The elm tree was planted by Boy Scouts in the 1990’s and was later lost to the “snowmageddon” ice storm of 2021.
Entrance View from Arroyo Seco - April 2025
The elm tree is gone, while others have matured. A new picnic pavilion was completed, and a new ADA parking spot was created which resulted in a retainer wall along the Arroyo Seco and main park entrance sidewalks. The planting bed was thus expanded to its current size today.
Foot Path Mulch Project (Arroyo to Yates) - 2009
Long before Emily Wilson led the walking trail project, locals created a well worn foot path behind the houses that abut the park on Justin Lane. The first park project was to mulch this trail for a more defined path. Turns out, neighbors did not enjoy the large grind mulch and preferred a walking trail (as determined later in the neighborhood survey).
Decomposed Granite Trail - 2013
The almost half-mile walking trail around the north, west and south sides of the park was completed in fall 2013, and quickly became one of the most popular park features today. While neighbors led the installation project, the city now maintains the trail edging and lays new granite every several years.
Purple Martin house and butterfly shaped planting bed- 2012
The memorial Purple Martin house was moved from the open field to the space it occupies today, and Denise Daily has taken care of the birds and gourds ever since. The butterfly bed was meant for pollinators but the plantings hindered Denise’s ability to lower and maintain the gourd colony, and city mower’s repeatedly mangled the steel edging.
Purple Martin house with planting removed, plants/materials repurposed - 2024
Over a decade later, it was agreed upon to removed the butterfly-shaped planting bed and for easier gourd maintenance. Limestone bricks and plants were salvaged and moved to the Welcome bed, and now Denise and her helpers can easily clean the gourds and look after our Purple Martin colony. Visit the park early to see them and hear their delightful chatter.
Tree Folks tree planting along Arroyo Seco - 1993
The Hancock Creek drainage ditch is original to the neighborhood and Arroyo Seco (newly changed from
Arroyo Seca) used to look very different. TreeFolks and Brentwood neighbors planed 150 trees and changed a crowded, traffic-filled road into a bright, green spot for neighbors to slow down and enjoy. The holiday luminarias commemorate this historic tree planting.
A shaded haven for pedestrians and bikes - 2024
The pedestrian and bike trail from St. John to Koenig Lane was added many years later around 2015. Can you imagine Arroyo Seco any other way? This is the power of a community that comes together to accomplish great things.
View from the main sidewalk towards the old playground and fitness bars - 2017
The playground equipment was geared towards younger children with low climbing bars, balance bars, and baby swings. Lack of amenities for older kids spurred a handful of neighbors to create today’s Brentwood Playground Project.
View from the main sidewalk towards the new playground - 2025
The older playground equipment and fitness bars have been replaced with new jungle gyms. climbing cubes, and towers and slides. The sandbox has clearly outgrown its concrete framing and updates are included in coming phases of the playground project.