On Saturday, July 27, Villa Park neighbors and friends gathered for the 3rd Annual Private Joe P. Martinez Birthday Celebration in his namesake park. Private Martinez was the first Latino and Coloradan to receive the Medal of Honor in World War II.
At the event organized by the Villa Park Neighborhood Association, Denver Parks and Recreation and Livable Cities Studio shared design plans for Phase 1 of the park revitalization project. With construction slated to begin this fall, Phase 1 will include a new playground, a community gathering space and pavilion, and the Private Martinez Plaza as the entryway to the park.
The final design comes following extensive input from residents of Villa Park, community groups, and other stakeholders. Once the project is completed, Martinez Park will be a welcoming gathering space for longtime residents, new arrivals to Villa Park, and folks from across the city interested in celebrating community and Private Martinez. Many of the design elements are inspired by Private Martinez’s bravery in service to our country. The playground will offer challenging play for multiple ages, the pavilion and great lawn will be available for community events, and the plaza will feature a tribute wall and public artwork celebrating the life and legacy of this local hero.
Through a campaign organized by the Denver Park Trust, stakeholders raised $45,000 and leveraged $70,000 from Denver Arts & Venues to hire local artist Marco Garcia to design, create, and install a lasting tribute to Private Martinez in the revitalized park. The art piece, along with the tribute wall, will highlight the story of Joe P. Martinez, the Latino veteran experience, and the significance of the Congressional Medal of honor. Contributors to this effort included members of the Martinez family, veterans groups, supporters of the Medal of Honor, and individuals from across the state. See here for more information on the campaign.