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Chapter II National Endowment for the Arts Grant Duane Holmes National Park Service Rocky Mountain Regional Office Denver, CO In 1987, the Grand Junction Planning Department and Downtown Development Authority received a National Endowment for the Art~ (NEA) Design Advancement Grant. The grant helped fund a resource team to cOfi'iider design alter- natives for the urbanized Colorado Riverfront in Grand Junc- tion. The team was guided by the following local and national objectives: National Objective: Demonstrate the value of a multi- disciplinary approach to riverfront design/redevelopment, and disseminate the findings of the approach. local Objective: Create a multi-disciplinary development plan and design strategy for the Colorado River Confluence Park Redevelopment Project. The NEA Design Arts grant a'isisted the City in creating an exemplary design plan reflecting the diversity of the com- munity and other river users. The design integrates natural and ecological concerns with demand'i for "people places" and aesthetic beauty for the Colorado River's only urban waterfront park. The grant brought together leading design and development experts representing a wide variety of backgrounds to analyze opportunities and constraints for the Grand Junction River- front. The final report suggests design alternatives as well as an implementation strategy. The design team addressed not only the riverfront, but also the major corridors linking the riverfront to downtown. Ronald Lee Heming of the Townscape Institute offered his expertise in public art for the design of public space. Bob Seams and Wendy Booth of Urban Edges contributed their expertise in parks and recreation development along water- fronts. Grant Jones of Jones & Jones Architects and Land- scape Architects teamed up with Urban Edges in recreation design, with special consideration given to the natural river environment. Ann Breen and Dick Rigby from the Water- front Center focused on private redevelopment aspects of the project and an implementation strategy. Duane Holmes from the National Park Services River and Trail Conservation Assistance Program served as facilitator for the group. The team was also assisted by three landscape architect interns: Sheldon Emery, Terence Hoaglund and David Sarkowitz. The group was given background materials prior to visiting the site on June 14-16, 1988, These materials included a project overview, property owner surveys, maps and airphotos. Upon their arrival, team members were given a ground tour to familiarize themselves with the opportunities and constraints presented by current physical conditions of the area. A helicopter tour, provided by U.S. West, gave the team a chance to view the project area as it relates to the residential and business areas and surrounding physical environment. A reception was held during the first evening of their visit enabling the community to meet the team members and share ideas. The following day, the team was split into four subgroups, each attending prearranged interviews with members of the community. Representatives from the Waterfront Center met with several riverfront landowners as well as members of the Riverfront Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Department of Energy, and the Downtown Development Authority. Discussions focused on the private redevelopment aspects of the project. Ronald Heming had the opportunity to visit the local museum guided by a well known local historian. Other NEA Team on Confluence Point 7