20 Things That Happened in 2020 (Besides a Pandemic)

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A pandemic, an election, a few hundred jaw-dropping moments in between… that’s how most of us will remember 2020. While this chaotic year has brought about an endless supply of head-hurting news headlines, we like to look on the sunny side whenever possible. As we close up the year and look forward to 2021, let’s take a moment to highlight the top 20 ECI happenings of 2020:

 

  1. We Celebrated Our 40 Year Anniversary!

While our plans for a grand party were sadly dashed, we are still immensely proud to mark this noteworthy milestone. Learn about 40-year history and how we evolved into Colorado’s leading outdoor spaces general contractor here.

 

  1. Completed Site Work Along Cherry Creek in Denver

This project took place in two phases and concluded in early 2020. ECI built four ungrouted boulder drop structures, self-performed all earthwork, and managed 10 times the normal winter flow, due to Cherry Creek Reservoir release all winter. Read more>

 

  1. Started and Finished ECCV Expansion and Sitework

The purpose of this project was to enhance and upgrade the stormwater system at the ECCV headquarters, as well as create a new maintenance building, parking, site utilities, MSE walls, concrete flatwork, and additional landscape and irrigation. We began working on this project in January and wrapped it up in October.

 

  1. Participated in College Career Fairs

Interacting with emerging talent in the construction field has always been one of our favorite things to do. We were fortunate to participate in a few career fairs in January and February before the insanity hit. Thank you to Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, and University of Colorado for having us!

 

  1. Started and Finished Platte Farm Open Space

In collaboration with the City and County of Denver and Mile High Flood District, ECI created a detention pond to help with stormwater and flooding in the adjacent neighborhood. The park also included an open space with trails, landscaping and irrigation, access roads to the neighborhood, and new on-street parking. Learn more>

 

  1. Selina Stepped into COO Position

Hats off to Selina Cook! After 17 years of shaping ECI into the company it is today, Selina transitioned from Vice President of Finance and Administration to Chief Operating Officer. Learn more about her career journey.

 

  1. Started and Finished 39th Avenue Greenway

ECI’s scope for this project included the amenity plazas with large paver areas, nature play components, and associated boulder work. The final greenway featured nature playgrounds, paver plazas, a community garden, and site furnishings.

 

  1. ECI Donated $7,000 to Aims Foundation

While we unfortunately could not host our annual golf tournament to benefit the Aims Foundation, we partnered with Flood and Peterson, FirstBank, and The Greenway Foundation to raise $7,000 for construction trades students. Read more>

 

  1. Completed Painted Prairie

ECI built the main neighborhood park and five pocket parks at the Painted Prairie housing development near DIA, spanning a total of 22 acres. They include numerous fascinating amenities, such as custom play structures, sport fields, community gardens, sand beaches, shade structures, etc. Read more>

 

  1. Started and Finished Fort Collins High School Track and Field

ECI was contracted to do a complete overhaul of Fort Collins High School’s track and field, which consisted of a new synthetic football field, new track, and new long jump and pole vault runways. Read more>

 

  1. ECI Received the Top Honor in BizWest’s Mercury 100 List

We are truly humbled that ECI ranked in the number one spot for Flight I of BizWest’s Mercury 100 Fastest Growing Companies list for Northern Colorado. 100 companies are honored every year, and we achieved the top rank due to our 108 percent annual revenue growth from 2017-2019. Read more>

 

  1. Started and Finished Jeffco Public Schools Phase II

After successfully completing the first round of turf and field improvements for nine schools in Jeffco in 2019, ECI was contracted to conduct the second round of improvements. This phase featured six schools, and renovations included replacing grass sports fields with synthetic turf and the installation of post-tension tennis and track facilities to improve safety and durability.

 

  1. Celebrated Groundbreaking of Arkins Promenade in RiNO

The RiNO Promenade will combine recreation, leisure, the natural environment, and the vibrancy of the neighborhood to create one all-encompassing linear park along the South Platte River. We look forward to completing this project in 2021! Read more>

 

  1. Travis Made BizWest’s 40 Under Forty List

Congrats to our Vice President of Pre-Construction, Travis Coulter! Travis was one of the 40 young professionals to be honored by BizWest for his professional achievements over the years. We celebrated this accomplishment with a virtual event.

 

  1. Started and Finished Timnath Community Park

ECI was selected as the general contractor for phase two of Timnath Community Park. The 12-acre second phase features a more natural style of playground, a large open play field, additional parking, a large pedestrian bridge, a new dog park and a custom restroom building.

 

  1. Started and Finished Severance Community Park

Just down the road from Timnath Community Park, we built a new community park for the Town of Severance. Aspects of the park included new turn lanes into the park, 26 acres of earthwork, a large sod field for town events, and new parking. It also featured baseball and softball fields, a sledding hill, and other landscape and site features. Read more>

 

  1. Participated in Mentor Protégé Program

ECI has had the pleasure of being a part of the City and County of Denver’s Mentor Protégé Program, in which our president, Ted Johnson, has served as a mentor for Ascend Landscaping. We enjoyed sharing our thoughts on business leadership and interacting with the other mentors and proteges!

 

  1. Broke Ground on Erie Community Park Final Phase

We completed the first phase of Erie Community Park eight years ago, and we’re looking forward to working on the final phase in 2021! We broke ground in December, and the new phase will include basketball courts, an asphalt bike pump track, and many more amenities.

 

  1. Started Working on East West Trail

We are immensely excited to be working on East West Trail in 2021. This new trail will connect to The Incline trails in Douglas County.

 

  1. Getting to Say Bye to 2020

While there certainly have been plenty of highlights of this dismal year, we are just as relieved as you are to see 2020 come to a close.

 

Cheers to 2021!

 

 

7 Colorado Parks to Visit This Summer

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We’re not going to sugarcoat it – the beginning of spring is shaping up to be a rough season for Colorado (and for the rest of the world). But since we’re a “glass half full” kind of company, we like to focus on the silver lining and provide hope whenever possible. The good news is that these dreary days won’t last forever, and soon we’ll be back to our normal lives and enjoying the many beautiful outdoor spaces Colorado has to offer.

 

While you’re stuck at home and dreaming of brighter days, we’re here to remind you to put these fantastic Colorado parks on your post-quarantine day trip list:

 

1 | Poudre River Whitewater Park, Fort Collins

This revolutionary venue is the only whitewater park in northern Colorado. Whether you’re a killer kayaker, terrific tuber, or just someone who enjoys relaxing next to the rushing rapids, the Poudre River Whitewater Park is the place for you. Officially opened to the public in October 2019, the park is located in north Fort Collins and boasts an enormous pedestrian bridge, children’s play area, new paved trails and plenty of boating features for an adventurous day.

 

2 | Woodbriar Park, Greeley

This spacious park has been a Greeley staple since its original construction in the 1970s. Over the last few years, the City of Greeley decided the entire park needed a revamp with a new neighborhood park and improved stormwater system that was better coordinated with city departments. The redesigned Woodbriar Park was unveiled in 2018 and included a natural style of playground and adjacent structures that were repurposed from existing trees.

 

3 | Confluence Park, Denver

Confluence Park and Shoemaker Plaza have been dubbed “The Heart of Denver,” and we couldn’t agree more! This iconic landmark was one of our largest – and most challenging – projects a few years back. During the shore work, buried coal tar was discovered, requiring construction to pause for a year to address water treatment and filtering. Today, the ADA-sensitive plaza serves as a gathering space for Denver residents, with the South Platte River running alongside it.

 

4 | Twin Silo Park, Fort Collins

Who can forget when those two giant silos popped up in southeast Fort Collins? Located just south of Fossil Ridge High School, this relatively new community park was a gamechanger for the growing population in the region. The park is outfitted with a twisting slide connecting two relocated steel silos, a farmhouse-inspired shelter, pickleball courts, multi-purpose fields and a unique vertical grow wall. This summer, come out to enjoy a BMX riding area and water play area in McClelland’s Creek.

 

5 | Wellington Community Park, Wellington

As soon as we’re able to gather in crowds of more than 10, Wellington Community Park is the perfect venue for a summer softball league. Located near the Buffalo Creek subdivision, this 30-acre park includes ball fields, tennis courts, a dog park, playground, splash pad and multipurpose fields. In addition to the new amenities, ECI improved the park’s stormwater system. So pack up a picnic basket and bring a frisbee – this park has a little bit of everything for our Wellington friends.

 

6 | Mehaffey Park, Loveland

This gem in west Loveland has everything you need for a jam-packed day of family fun! Mehaffey Park includes an adventure playground with one-of-a-kind concrete climbing and retaining walls that simulate natural stone properties and shade shelters, a custom skatepark and post tension tennis courts. Plus, the park features a lovely waterfall structure with a stream that runs through the entire playground.

 

7 | Margaret Carpenter Park, Thornton

Completed in 2013, Margaret Carpenter Park is considered Thornton’s flagship park – and for good reason. This 150-acre park is like none other, featuring a carousel, boat rental house and dock, bocce ball and shuffleboard courts, professional sand volleyball pit, horseshoe pits, 500-seat amphitheater, skate park, playground, and much more.

 

Here’s to a better summer and sunny days at the park!