CASE Committee Meeting Materials Packet 2022.02.17
970-748-4065 ddempsey@avon.org
TO: CASE Committee FROM: Danita Dempsey, CASE Manager
RE: Staff Update
DATE: February 7, 2022
SUMMARY: This report provides a status update on (1) the Special Events Calendar, (2) Dancing in the
Park potential programming content, (3) Historical Markers, (4) Art Around Avon RFP and timeline, (5)
invites the continued conversation on the potential expansion of the CASE Committee; and (6) the Culture,
Arts & Special Events Strategic Plan and 10-Year Vision.
STAFF UPDATE:
1. 2022 Special Event Calendar: No action needed by CASE Committee. Below is an
update to the Special Events Calendar. Exhibit A provides the detailed calendar of events.
a. Avon Arts Celebration – CCM Events is the producer of this event, and he has
offered Avon a second weekend. Therefore, we would host Avon Arts Celebration on
July 22 – 24 and July 29 – 31, 2022. As you might recall, we did not renew event
dates/agreements with two art festival producers who provided programming in 2021.
This is a great opportunity to continue our momentum with Avon’s art programming
and establishing Avon an “art community”. We will support him with in-kind and
minimal cash specifically for marketing efforts.
b. Possibilities in Avon Weekly Art Expo - Discussions with the Westin for space to
host this weekly event on their outdoor terrace did not yield the desired results.
Therefore, this event will not continue this year.
2. Dancing in the Park – No action needed by CASE Committee. The Vail Dance Festival is
in the process of developing all programming content for this year’s festival and tentatively offered
Avon the programming listed below. Neither one of these are final yet however, I think both are
good fits and bring a nice diverse offering. I am glad that VVF is bringing a different group although
I do enjoy BalletX they have performed at Dancing in the Park for many years.
a. Dance Aspen (https://www.danceaspen.org/): “This company is the re-birth of the
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet which unfortunately disbanded over the pandemic. Many of the
dancers in Dance Aspen were in the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet before the pandemic, and
they are incredible contemporary dance artists (we’re planning to present them in their
own show at the VPAC as well as feature them on other evenings throughout the
festival).”
b. “One group that we’re really excited to share with the audience in Avon is a group
called Ephrat Asherie Dance (https://www.ephratasheriedance.com/) – they are a
NYC-based dance company rooted in African American and Latinx street and social
dances. Their artistic director, Ephrat Asherie, is an incredible b-girl and
choreographer. Here’s a video from Jacob’s Pillow about her:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZopgPLEXbs. We’ll be presenting a full-length
program from this company at the VPAC during the Festival as well.”
970-748-4065 ddempsey@avon.org
3. Historical Markers - No action needed by CASE Committee. I have been working
alongside Matt Pielsticker, Community Development Director, Councilor Underwood, and Mayor
Smith-Hymes for the past 20 plus months to bring this project to fruition and we are closing in on
the finish line! The project includes nine (9) locations in Avon where the Historical Markers will be
installed this spring. These locations are provided on Exhibit B and the corresponding imagery
and text is provided and attached as Exhibit C.
4. Art Around Avon - No action needed by CASE Committee. The RFP attached as Exhibit
D, will be released on February 14th, 2022. The program includes the same nine (9) locations as in
2021, four (4) new locations on W. Benchmark Road and thirteen (13) locations on Hoffman
Commercial Properties property. The Jury Panel will consist of the following thirteen (13)
individuals who will jury the works between March 29th and April 28th, 2022.
a. Melissa McDonald – VVAG Member and BOD Member – returning panelist
b. Andrew Pranger – VVAG President of BOD – returning panelist
c. Tara Novak – VVAG Member, Artist and Owner of ArtSpace in Eagle
d. Willow Murphy – Artist, VVAG Member
e. Lindsay Hardy – Town Council & CASE Committee Member
f. Kathy Ryan – CASE Committee Member
g. Ruth Stanley – CASE Committee Member
h. Thomas Walsh – CASE Committee Member
i. Justin Hildreth – Town Engineer – returning panelist
j. New Planner II – Community Development Department
k. Representative from Hoffman Commercial Properties – TBD
l. Danita Dempsey – CASE Manager
The anticipated Art Around Avon project timeline is provided below:
• Artist Call for entry: February 14, 2022
• Deadline for entry: March 28, 2022
• Proposed selection notification: April 29, 2022
• Installation of work: June 9 through June 10, 2022
• Exhibition period for work: June 10, 2022, through May 29, 2023
• Art Around Avon Walk: June 10, 2022
• Decommission and removal of work: May 29 through May 31, 2023
• Disposal deadline: June 5, 2023
CURRENT ACTIVITY & PLANNING:
1. CASE Committee Members: There was discussion at the December 16th, 2021, meeting
regarding the desire to add additional members to the CASE Committee for the purpose of in broad
terms having “more diversity”. I encourage the conversation on the following (1) how do we or do
970-748-4065 ddempsey@avon.org
we define the diversity we’re seeking (age and generational, socioeconomic status and
background, race and ethnicity, etc.); and (2) would one or two new members provide the level of
diversity the Committee is seeking (at the February 22nd Council meeting) or are additional
committee members needed?
Some comments reflected in the December meeting minutes to consider:
a. “…its valuable to have a mix of experienced members and new ideas.”
b. “…could be beneficial to increase the groups size to include more diverse voices.” c. “…a larger group would cause meetings to go longer.”
d. “…increasing diversity and recruiting younger voices…”
e. “…a larger group could muddle the conversation…”
f. “…larger committees have less engaged and focused members and cautioned to
consider the number of new members carefully.”
g. “…consider how manageable a larger group would be, but diversity is a worthy goal.”
2. Culture, Arts & Special Events Strategic Planning: Modifications discussed at the
January 27th, 2022, CASE Committee meeting have been incorporated in the (V4) Strategic Plan
and attached as Exhibit E. The changes include (1) the use of “experiences” instead of
“opportunities on the third slide (Goal: Community). “Develop a portfolio of experiences which build
vibrant and healthy community connections with…”; and (2) adding language to the seventh slide
(Accomplishments) to include the “Successful development and deployment of multi-day and single
event brands.”
a. 10-Year Vision: We will continue our review and discussion of the draft 10-Year Vision
which is attached as Exhibit F.
i. Signature Event: Defined as a reoccurring yearly event or event series with
strong association with Avon (brand recognition and brand equity) and
typically with attendance of more than 3,000. The Avon community, Avon staff,
and main athletic field can accommodate/tolerate a large signature event once
every three to four weeks during the summer.
ii. Activating Events: Defined as other reoccurring events and activations that
are well-established and provide a variety of culture, activities and attractions
for the Avon community and Avon visitors.
Thank you, Danita
ATTACHMENTS:
970-748-4065 ddempsey@avon.org
Exhibit A – Special Events Calendar 2022
Exhibit B – Historical Marker Locations
Exhibit C – Historical Marker Final Proofs
Exhibit D – Art Around Avon RFP
Exhibit E – Draft Strategic Plan V4
Exhibit F – 10-Year Vision Draft V2
2022 Events Calendar
January February March
Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa
1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 27 28 29 30 31
30 31
April M May June
Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa
1 2 1 2 3 4
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 26 27 28 29 30
29 30 31
July August S September
Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa
1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
October November December
Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa
1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
30 31
Event Type Legend
Music Education
Recreation Private Rental / APP
Arts & Culinary MSM Activation
Participatory & Athletic Field Maintenance
2+ colors for multiple
Events/Venues
APRIL
April 16 | Egg Hunt UF
MAY
May 29 | SunsetLIVE! T
JUNE
June 10 | Art Around Avon Walk A
June 4,11,18,25 | Yoga in the Park T
June 5,12,19,26 | SunsetLIVE!T
June 19 | Daddy-Daughter Tutu 2K TR
June 25 | Pop Up Music MSM
June 4 | Town Clean Up A
June 9,16,23,30 | OW Swim NB, NL
June 18 | Pride in the Park P, UF
June 21-23 | Lacrosse** UF,LF
June 22 | AvonLIVE! P, UF
June 20, 27 | Dunk-N-Dash NB, NL, TR
JULY
July 7,14,21,28 | OW Swim NL, NB
July 6,13,20,27 | AvonLIVE! P, UF
July 8,15,22,29 | LS Cinema P, UF
July 9 | Colorado Disc Dogs UF
July 10,17,24,31 | SunsetLIVE! T
July 22-24 | Avon Arts Celebration UF
July 3 | Salute to the USA P
July 9,16,23,30 | Pop Up Music MSM
July 9,16,23,30 | Yoga in the Park T
July 11,18,25 | Dunk-N-Dash NB, NL, TR
July 15-16 | Xterra**UF,NL
July 29-31 | Avon Arts Celebration UF
AUGUST
August 1 | Dunk-N-Dash NB, NL, TR
August 3,10,17,24,31 | AvonLIVE! P, UF
August 4 | Dancing in the Park** P
August 4,11 | OW Swim NL, NB
August 11 | Sunset SUP Race NL
August 13-14 | OW Swim Ch’ship NL, NB
August 7,14,21,28 | SunsetLIVE! T
August 5,12,19,26, | LS Cinema P, UF
August 6,13,20,27 | Yoga in the Park T
August 6,13,20,27 | Pop Up Music MSM
August 10-15 | Colorado CircusLF
August 13 | Vail Valley Brew-Au** P,UF
SEPTEMBER
September 2 | LS Cinema P, UF
September 4 | Paddle Battles NB, NL
September 15 | Community Picnic UF
September 3 | Pop Up Music MSM
September 4 | SunsetLIVE! T
September 5 | Summer’s End Concert
OCTOBER
October 1-2 | Vail Valley Soccer** UF October 8-9| Man of the Cliff** UF
October 29 | Polar Plunge NL,T
** Third party produced event dates are subject to change
Venue Legend
Main Street Mall | MSM Pavilion | P Terrace | T All-town | A Trails | TR Lower Rec Field | LF Upper Rec Field | UF Nottingham Lake | NL Nottingham Beach | NB
EXHIBIT A
2022 Public/Private Rentals Calendar
January February March
Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa
1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 27 28 29 30 31
30 31
April M May June
Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa
1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30
July August S September
Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa
1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
October November December
Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa Su M T W T F Sa
1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
30 31
Event: Dates, Names & Venue Details
JUNE
May 31 | BCMS Continuation Ceremony P, UF – 1-8 pm – Shannon Grant
June 2 | EFEC P, UF
SEPTEMBER
September 24 | Wedding P
Venue Legend
Main Street Mall | MSM Pavilion | P Terrace | T All-town | A Trails | TR Lower Rec Field | LF Upper Rec Field | UF Nottingham Lake | NL Nottingham Beach | NB
AVON AMUSEMENT HALL
EarlydayAvonresidentsunderstoodhardwork.Transformingsemi-aridfieldsofnativevegetationintoirrigatedfarmsandranches
requiredingenuity,determination,andgruelingmanuallabor.Thoseindustriouspioneersalsoneededsocialinteraction,andthey
recognizedthevalueofcommunitygatherings.
Formanyyearsafterthearrivalofthehomesteadersinthe1880s,Avonwasacollectionofscatteredranches.Theareanearthe
confluenceofBeaverCreekandtheEagleRiverwastheclosestthingtoatowncenterformilesaround.ItwashometoGeorge
Townsend’soriginalstagecoachstop,StephenBivan’sgeneralstore,andtherailroaddepot.Avon’sone-roomschoolhousewas
thecommunitygatheringplace,butthesmallbuildingofferedlimitedspace,particularlywhenneighborsinEdwardsandMinturn
participatedinsocialevents.
ThatsituationpromptedlocalresidentstocreatetheAvonAmusementAssociation(AAA)inthesummerof1905“toperpetuatethe
socialspiritwhichexistsintheneighborhood,formutualimprovementandsociability.”TheAAAsoldshares,raisingenoughwithinsix
monthstobuildabare-bonesauditoriumatthebaseofthegypsumcliffs,acrosstheroadfromthegeneralstore.Itwasanimmediate
successandwentbyavarietyofnames:theAvonHall,theAvonAuditorium,theAvonAmusementCenter,orsimplytheAAA.
After20yearsofschoolprograms,theaterproductions,dances,masqueradeballs,fraternalorganizationmeetings,picnics
andicecreamsocials,enoughmoneywasraisedtobuildanewfoundationin1925andakitchenette,cloakroom,andbrick
chimneysayearlater.
In1927,whenstateimprovementstoHighway6wereroutedthroughthefrontofthebuilding,communityleadersHarryA.Nottingham
andWilliamGustafsonconvincedtheEagleCountycommissionerstomovethebuilding10feetbackfromthenewroad.
TheAAAremainedthehubofsocialandcivicactivityforanother20yearsandisareflectionofitstime:eighthgradersheld
orationcontests,dancesbenefittedtheAvonbaseballteam,andassociationsofcattlemenandlettucegrowersconvened
their meetings there.
ThischapterofAvon’shistorywasendedwhenthebuildingwasdemolishedin1948tomakeroomforanotherwideningofHighway6.
TheAvonAmusementAssociation,
circa1930,islocatedontheleft.
The Avon general store is on the
right.(PhotocourtesyofEagle
CountyHistoricalSocietyandEagle
Valley LibraryDistrict)
EXHIBIT C - FINAL PROOFS
LOCATION #1
ANCIENT HUMAN HISTORY
A young man of the Utes (Nuche) with his horse.
A wickiup, which served as a temporary shelter, is
pictured to the right. (Photo courtesy of Denver Public
Library Western History Collection)
Long before the trappers, miners and homesteaders arrived in the mid to late 1800s, the mountainous terrain of the
Eagle River corridor, including the Avon area, was Ute (Nuuchu) territory. Archaeological evidence verifies that these
Native American hunter-gatherers inhabited the region for more than 10,000 years until their expulsion from Western
Colorado in 1882.
Artifacts and prehistoric features found locally tell the story of centuries of daily life: stone tools and projectile points;
fences made from tree branches and brush to funnel game to hunters; campsites and wickiups – shelters made of
woven pinion and juniper branches; food remains, fire pits and burial sites. After acquiring horses from the Spanish
in the 17th century, these animals became central to the Ute lifestyle. Twenty-five miles down valley in Brush Creek,
evidence of a Ute horse racing track has been identified.
The presence of Utes in the Eagle Valley was first officially noted by the Escalante Expedition in 1776. Mountain men
encountered bands of Utes camped in the valley in the 1860s. The Utes sometimes tolerated the intruders, but at
other times chased them away and confiscated the animal hides that the mountain men had collected. Early Anglo-
European pioneers often followed Ute foot trails to access remote reaches of Ute territory to stake their own mining
or homestead claims. Many of these foot trails were transformed into roads by the influx of thousands of newcomers
seeking their fortunes in the Mountain West.
Legend has it that Battle Mountain, located about 15 miles southeast of Avon along Highway 24, earned its name
from a fierce battle in 1868 between the Utes and the Plains Arapaho who made summer incursions into the area.
In response to hostile encounters and increasing demand for mines and homesteads, newspapers and politicians
adopted the slogan, “The Utes Must Go!”. Starting in 1863, a series of treaties between the government and the Utes
restricted the native people to increasingly smaller territories. Tensions peaked in 1879 with the Meeker Massacre
in northwest Colorado. Resentful Utes rebelled against and killed reservation agent Nathan Meeker and others,
further fueling the political demand that the Utes be removed from their native territory. There is no official record
documenting the removal of the Utes from the Avon area and the Eagle River Valley. However, by 1882 political
policies and treaties forced the Utes from their historic territory and onto a reservation in Utah.
LOCATION #2
JOHN C. METCALF FAMILY CABIN
John Conard Metcalf was one of Eagle County’s earliest non-native settlers. He was ranching in South Park, Colorado in
1881 when he and a small party of adventurers ventured over the mountain passes into the Eagle River Valley. After several
weeks of exploring, Metcalf found an appealing parcel of level land in what is now the heart of Avon.
The following spring, Metcalf returned to this valley with his 19-year-old wife, Elizabeth (Lizzie), their two-month-old son, his
wife’s grandfather, and several other men. The group, traveling in a horse-drawn covered wagon with extra saddle horses,
a small cattle herd, and a milk cow, spent six weeks traveling from Breckenridge to Avon, arriving on May 14, 1882. The
same trip would take about an hour today.
Temporary quarters were set up in a tent while the able-bodied men cut logs for a cabin, which Metcalf situated just
northeast of where West Beaver Creek Boulevard crosses the Eagle River today. That first sod-roofed cabin, built of unpeeled
logs about 16 inches in diameter, measured 20 by 20 feet. Entrance through the wooden door was gained by pulling up
a wood bar with a buckskin latch string. The latch could be pulled inside at night to lock up.
The solitary window featured eight panes of wavy glass, which in the years to come the three Metcalf children would
remember refracting the light into rainbows. Heavy canvas covered the hard-packed earthen floor. While many pioneer
cabins offered only logs to sit on, the Metcalfs enjoyed actual chairs, the worn rattan seats covered with deer hide.
In 1887, the railroad reached Avon. The new depot was nearly one mile east of the cabin, but the tracks were laid so close to their home that the Metcalfs feared for
their children’s safety. They built another cabin in 1887, a quarter mile away. The original Metcalf cabin was used to house the first school in Avon.
On June 2, 1890, John Metcalf filed homestead claims on 240 acres of land at Avon. He added another 160 acres on August 18, 1893.The men who came to the valley
with Metcalf settled farther down valley, near Eagle. All became prominent in the county. Metcalf was one of the first three county commissioners when Eagle County
was established in 1883.
Like most pioneers, John Metcalf was restless, always seeking new adventure. In 1896, he was drawn to Alaska by the Klondike Gold Rush. He disappeared in Alaska and was
declared dead in 1898 at the age of 47. Lizzie and the children moved to her parents’ prosperous ranch in Eagle. Lizzie Metcalf died in 1908 and is buried in Edwards. The Avon
pioneer family’s name lives on in Metcalf Creek, Metcalf Road, Metcalf Gulch, and their cabin which was moved to its current location in Harry A. Nottingham Park in 1984.
The Metcalf family, circa 1890, were some of
Avon’s earliest pioneers. From left are Lizzy
Metcalf, children Emma, John and Amy,
and John Conard Metcalf. (Photo courtesy
of Eagle County Historical Society and Eagle
Valley Library District)
LOCATION #3
Harry, Marie, and daughter
Winifred with his Haynes
automobile, circa 1916.
Harry A. Nottingham, circa 1955 after irrigating
at Colorado State University’s experimental
farm, known locally as “the college farm,”
which is now EagleVail.
Harry A. Nottingham
(1890 – 1966).
HARRY A. NOTTINGHAM PARK
Harry Arnold Nottingham was the hard-working son of a pioneer family that rolled into the mining camps of Eagle County in a
covered wagon in 1882 during the silver mining boom. In 1886, Harry’s parents, William and Angeline, paid $800 for a 160-acre
homestead on the north side of the Eagle River where Eagle Vail sits today.
The Nottinghams initially split their time between the Battle Mountain mining camps and their down-valley homestead, raising five
children. Harry was born July 8, 1890 at Bell’s Camp, located between Gilman and Minturn. By the mid-1890s, the Nottinghams
were well-established cattle ranchers in what is now Avon. Harry’s father, William, continuously expanded the ranch by acquiring
adjacent properties where they raised cattle, oats, wheat, and hay. Working on the ranch precluded Harry from schooling after
the eighth grade.
Notoriety dogged William, who had a history of aggression and litigation. He was killed in a gun fight with his business partner in
1896. Twenty years later, the family matriarch, Angeline, split the Nottingham property among William’s three sons, Clyde, Harry,
and Emmett. Scandal would later force Clyde to leave the area.
On Jan. 2, 1909, Harry eloped with W. Marie Cole, daughter of the Avon railroad station agent, who objected to the marriage
and to the Nottingham family in general. The couple sneaked off to a wedding ceremony in Leadville, travelling separately by
train. Harry proved to be a stable husband, industrious farmer and rancher, and engaged community leader. Harry and Marie
had six children: Winifred, Clare, Harry Arnold Jr., Carol, Mauri and Allan.
Harry served on the school board for 28 years, participated in the local stockmen’s and grower’s associations,
and managed the Avon-Minturn baseball team. In 1933, he was elected Eagle County Commissioner,
campaigning on promises of careful use of tax money and improvement of County roads. With the exception
of one term, Harry Nottingham served as a commissioner continuously for 32 years. He was a progressive,
promoting good roads, better bridges, and development of a County airport. In 1941, Harry cut the ceremonial
ribbon for the opening of the new highway over Vail Pass. It was Harry who first suggested naming the pass
after State Highway Engineer Charles Vail.
While dedicated to his county job, Harry ran a productive ranch in Avon raising cattle, sheep, hay, oats, potatoes, and row crops such as
head lettuce and peas. He typically rose at 4 a.m. to irrigate fields or tend livestock and crops before returning home to dress in a suit, happily
motor to Eagle in his automobile, and tend to commissioner business. Harry retired from public life in 1964 and died in 1966 at the age of 76.
Harry and Marie’s sons, Arnold and Allan, continued ranching in Avon until 1972 when their extensive land holdings were sold for
development. Those lands became the Town of Avon when the municipality was incorporated on May 5, 1978. This park, a
beloved community gathering place since 1979, is named after Harry to honor his life-long service to this community.
(Photos courtesy of the Mauri Nottingham
Collection)
LOCATION #4
AVON’S HOMESTEAD
Before Avon became a bustling resort community, this was farm and ranch country. Just a few families
made a living on the land that is now home to well over 6,000 people.
The Homestead Act, signed by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862, granted 160-acre plots
of public land for the price of a small filing fee and the promise to build a dwelling and cultivate the
land. This law spurred Western migration by giving people the opportunity to become landowners.
The success of homesteading in Colorado, granted statehood on July 4, 1876, displaced the native
Utes who were forcibly removed in 1882 to allow more settlers into the area.
Also in 1882, homesteaders O.P. and J.L. Herwick jointly claimed a parcel in the middle of the Eagle River
valley presently known as Avon. They started to “prove up” (improve) their homestead as required by
law. They cleared, plowed, and planted acres of land, built simple cabins, and constructed barns and
corrals for raising livestock. Proximity to water was especially valuable for irrigation and livestock.
William H. Nottingham paid $800 for the Herwick homestead in 1886. William and his wife, Angeline, had
lived at the silver mining camps on Battle Mountain where he hauled ore from the mines and timber from
the forests with his wagon and team of horses. In Avon William raised hay and cattle to feed the miners.
William partnered with Peter Puder and Ernest Hurd to expand their holdings by acquiring adjacent
homesteads including those of early pioneers John Metcalf, William Swift, and Oscar Traer.
In 1941, Harry A. Nottingham, one of William’s sons, replaced cattle with sheep. Land was also irrigated
for crops including potatoes, head lettuce, grain, and hay but farming and ranching was hard work,
unpredictable, and not always profitable. Weather could play havoc with the crops, coyotes and bears
were a constant concern, and market prices were volatile: one year Harry made a profit of just 47 cents
on 330 sacks of potatoes shipped by rail to Texas. In the early 1970s through 1990s, the ski industry and
developers came knocking, and the Nottingham ranches were sold.
The Harry A. & Marie Nottingham ranch, circa 1920, with view south
from Buck Creek to Willis Nottingham’s ranch which is now the
Beaver Creek ski resort. (Photo courtesy of Eagle County Historical
Society and Eagle Valley Library District)
LOCATION #5
AVON’S CASH CROP: HEAD LETTUCE
In 1921, Eagle Valley ranchers turned their attention from raising cattle to a new agricultural venture: head lettuce.
In a high mountain environment, this leafy vegetable proved a perfect fit for Avon and its surrounding area. Head
lettuce thrives at elevations of 7,000 to 9,000 feet and on slopes boasting dark, loamy soils and abundant water. Sunny
days and dependably cool nights formed crisp, hard heads of lettuce. The growing season was a mere 90 days from
seeding to harvest so plantings were staggered for a more manageable yield.
Local growers branded their produce as “Evercrisp” and “Mountain Iceberg” to evoke the image of the ideal head
of crisp iceberg lettuce. This crop worked well for small-scale homestead farming. One man could tend five or six
acres, only needing help for thinning and harvesting. In good years, farmers raised 500 crates of lettuce per acre.
Top market price was $42.25 per crate.
In 1924, Eagle County led the state in lettuce production: the yield from 940 acres was packed
in more than 50,000 crates, 20,000 of which were shipped from Avon. The crop at the Frank Terrill
ranch, on the east edge of current day Avon, was declared “best lettuce of the valley.”
At harvest time, heads were cut early in the morning, placed into field crates, and driven to
the packing sheds adjacent to the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad tracks near the Avon depot.
Workers trimmed, graded, and re-packed the lettuce in large shipping crates between layers
of crushed ice. Refrigerated rail cars delivered to markets around the country lasting up to three
weeks.
Availability of ice throughout the summer shipping season was critical. Each winter, large blocks of ice were cut from
the headwaters of the Eagle River at Pando located to the south. Blocks were stored in ice sheds near the railroad
tracks for use throughout the summer.
For about two decades, Avon’s lettuce industry thrived however the small rural farms could no longer compete when a
hybrid seed enabled large-scale head lettuce production at lower elevations.
Lettuce was packed in
ice and stored in crates in
this shed on the east spur
of the D&RGRR at Avon,
awaiting shipment by
refrigerated rail cars.
Family members were often the field workers
who helped tend lettuce crops.
(Photos courtesy of the Eagle County Historical
Society and Eagle Valley Library District)
LOCATION #6
HAHNEWALD BARN
The history of the Hahnewald barn is a classic Eagle County pioneer tale. Albert
Hahnewald, a German immigrant with little formal education, joined his four bothers in
Leadville in the mid-1890s. Energetic and willing to take risks, the Hahnewalds began
mining silver, finding a particularly lucrative vein that became famous throughout
Colorado as the Hahnewald Chute.
The ambitious brothers, recognizing the many needs of a mining community, also
ranched and owned a grocery store, bakery and saloon in Leadville. Seeking economic
diversity, in 1908 Paul Hahnewald purchased 160 acres of land (the original John Conard
Metcalf homestead) in the heart of Avon for $10,000. On the same date as the land
transfer Paul paid an additional $10,000 for a substantial number of items related to
ranching operations including eight horses, 64 head of cattle, wagons, a buggy, a mower,
a hay stacker, sleds, harnesses, plows, harrows, cultivators and other equipment. The
deal included a blacksmith shop complete with anvils, bellows and tools. Paul sold all
the newly acquired assets to his brother Albert and his wife, Frances, for $9,000 and the
Hahnewald Land and Livestock Company was established.
The Hahnewalds expanded the Metcalfs’ log cabin as their residence and then constructed a large (30 x 125 feet) wood barn
in about 1910. The upper level of the barn was for hay drying and storage and the lower level for sheltering livestock. The barn supported an
extensive ranching operation - 900 acres with horses, hogs, and 1,000 head of purebred Hereford cattle. In 1915, Hahnewald moved his ranching
operation west towards Edwards, and sold his Avon property, including the large barn, to another German immigrant, Paul Kroelling, for $15,000.
Hahnewald died unexpectedly at age 51 during the influenza pandemic of 1918.
For the 33 years that Kroelling owned the ranch, the farmstead was further expanded. A belfry was added to the house to call field hands to
meals, and the barn was occasionally used for community gatherings, its sturdy wooden floors making an ideal dance floor. Kroelling raised
cattle and sheep, pasturing the animals along the Eagle River and at the higher elevations of the Piney Divide. A typical year, like the fall of 1917,
would see the Kroellings busy harvesting 90 acres of well-irrigated land planted with 12 acres of potatoes (producing 200 sacks of potatoes per
acre), 30 acres of oats, and the remainder in hay at four tons per acre. The hay, feed for the Kroellings’ cattle, was stored in the barn’s large
upper floor loft. An overhead wheeled Louden Hay Carrier (patented 1894) moved hay along a rail through the huge hay door on the west end
of the barn
In 1948, the barn became the property of another prominent Avon rancher, Harry A. Nottingham, when he added the Kroelling property to his
extensive land holdings. The Nottinghams ran sheep on the property, housing the ewes and lambs on the barn’s lower level to give them easy
access to the Eagle River for watering. Although ranching in Avon ended in 1972 with the sale of the land to Benchmark-Avon Properties, the barn survived another 47 years. It became
an integral part of the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District wastewater treatment plant as a parts and equipment storage facility. The District, recognizing its functionality as well as its
place in Avon’s history, maintained the barn until it was demolished in 2019 to make room for an expansion of the treatment plant. Efforts to relocate the Hahnewald Barn by local historic
preservationists and the Town of Avon were ultimately unsuccessful. The logistical and financial challenges of moving and repurposing a structure of its age and size proved insurmountable.
The large door and Louden Hay carrier on the barn’s
west end provided access to vented hay loft storage.
In 1985, the Eagle River Water and Sanitation
District purchased the barn and repurposed it
for parts and equipment storage until its
demolition in 2019.
Albert Hahnewald painting the original
Avon bridge prior to his move to Edwards
in 1915. (Photo courtesy of the Hahnewald
family)
LOCATION #7
THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE RAILROAD
The railroad was the key to Eagle County’s early success in mineral and agriculture production. In 1881, the Denver & Rio Grande
Railroad (D&RG) extended service from Pueblo on the Front Range of Colorado to Rock Creek, just below Gilman, about 12 miles
upstream from Avon on the Eagle River. The tracks dead-ended there. The railroad company, while eager to serve Leadville and
the mining camps on Battle Mountain, did not initially have the money or the interest to extend tracks through the fledgling ranching
operations down the length of the Eagle River Valley.
That changed in 1886 when the Aspen silver mining boom kicked the D&RG and the Midland railroads into a high-stakes race to that
bustling mining camp. Property rights were purchased, and hundreds of men were hired. Ten months of furious construction in 1887
extended the narrow-gauge railroad line along the Eagle River and all the way to Glenwood Springs. In 1890 the rails were upgraded to
standard gauge to better handle the large engines and heavy trains needed to make the arduous trip through the Rocky Mountains.
The earliest documented use of the name “Avon” appeared on a D&RG route map in 1888. A small depot was constructed on
the siding south of the tracks near today’s intersection of Avon Road and Hurd Lane. It featured a
small stockyard and a wooden crane for transferring mail bags to and from the train while in motion.
Workers bunked in the section house. Smiley Cole was the D&RG’s railroad station agent.
The ranchers and farmers of the area rejoiced. The railroad efficiently connected the Eagle Valley with the rest of the nation, allowing
larger shipments of livestock, crops, ore and timber to market. Numerous passenger and freight trains traveled daily along this route. Locals
could easily and affordably hop on a train to visit relatives and neighbors down valley, attend the Strawberry Festival in Glenwood Springs,
or tend to business up the line in the county seat at Red Cliff.
Railroad lines through the valley were busy through the early 1940s. After World War II, the federal government shifted its spending from
railroads to highways; cars and trucks became the preferred modes of transportation and railroad traffic slowed. In 1990 the D&RG merged
with the Southern Pacific Railroad, which in turn was absorbed into the Union Pacific Railroad. Expensive to maintain and operate in the
modern age, rail traffic on what is now called the Tennessee Pass line halted in 1997, bringing rail traffic through the valley to a standstill.
Since then, there has been periodic interest in resurrecting the rail line for freight, passenger, or recreational uses. The cost and competing interests
of various stakeholders have stymied these efforts to date, so only time will tell whether trains will ever rumble through Avon again.
A coal-fired locomotive steams
past the Avon stock yard and
depot, circa 1920. Nearby,
Emmett & Myrtle Nottingham’s
white farmhouse can be seen.
A crew of railroad section
workers pose at the Avon
depot with the passenger-
powered hand car, used for
rail maintenance work, circa
1910.
(Photo courtesy of the Eagle County Historical
Society and Eagle Valley Library District)
LOCATION #8
Men with lettuce crates on the south end
of Avon’s second bridge, circa 1928.
Mildred Howard and her horse, Dot, on Avon’s first bridge, circa 1920.
AVON’S BRIDGES
River crossings were especially challenging for early pioneers, their
wagons, and horses. Archival records indicate that early Avon settlers
forded the river where shallow waters permitted. Faint remains of a
primitive road on the south bank of the Eagle River can be seen about
200 yards west of the Avon Road bridge in use today. It leads to a
shallow point in the river – the ford – that was a convenient crossing
point below the original schoolhouse perched above the river. By 1899,
enterprising pioneers had built the original wooden Avon bridge, which
crossed the Eagle River at this location. The pioneer structure, featuring
a center pier, was suspended about 10 feet above the river. That
bridge was replaced by Avon’s second bridge, also wooden, in 1923
at a cost of $10,165. The Lewis brothers, who apparently lived nearby,
did the extensive dirt work for the second bridge’s approaches. The
second bridge served the community until 1971, when heavy trucks
damaged the decking and support brace. Eagle County replaced
it with an Army Corps of Engineers prefabricated steel bridge. The
current bridge, named “Bob” by a construction worker who won the
town’s “name that bridge” contest, was built in 1991.
(Photos courtesy of the Eagle County Historical Society and
Eagle Valley Library District)
LOCATION #9
Artist Call Out / Request for Proposal
Art Around Avon Project 2022 Page 1 of 3
CALL FOR SCULPTURE ARTISTS / REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
TOWN OF AVON ART AROUND AVON PROGRAM for 2022
The Town of Avon, Colorado, (“Town”) requests proposals from multiple artists for the Art Around Avon
Program to promote the display of visual art throughout the Town of Avon community for the benefit of
residents and visitors. This is a project of the Avon Town Council and the Cultural, Arts & Special Events
(“CASE”) Committee.
The enhancement of public places by integrating the creative work of artists improves the pedestrian
experience and promotes vibrancy, creativity, and livelihood in the community. The presence of and access to
public art enlivens public areas and their grounds and makes them more welcoming. It creates a deeper
interaction with the places where we live, work, and visit. Public art illuminates the diversity and history of a
community, and points to its aspirations for the future.
Overview: The Art Around Avon is a new program with the goal of selecting up to twenty-six (26) visual art
pieces for installation in pre-determined outdoor spaces in early June 2022. Selected artists will be engaged
by the Town and paid a $900 stipend except for the artist selected for location #1 – see below; the stipend for
this selection is $2,000. The selected artist’s work will be on exhibition in an outdoor location for up to twelve
(12) months during which time the artist may make the work available for sale. The Town shall produce and
distribute materials regarding the work for marketing purposes, including photographs of the work for publicity
or study. The Town shall retain 20% of the gross sale price of the selected artist work on exhibition in the
Town through the Art Around Avon program. If an artist’s work is sold during the exhibition period, the work
shall be removed after the decommission date.
Project Intent: To further establish the Art Around Avon Program to become an annual, year-long exhibition
showcasing outdoor sculptures in visible places around the Town.
Project Budget: Selected artists shall be paid a $900 stipend per piece of work selected except for the artist
selected for location #1 – see below; the stipend for this selection is $2,000. The artist shall perform all
services and furnish all supplies, material, and equipment as necessary for the design, execution and
fabrication of the work including transportation of the work to and from the installation site.
Site Description: Various visible outdoor locations in highly trafficked areas in the Town along main
roadways, Main Street Mall, Nottingham Park, and playgrounds. Of high significance and priority is
location #1 on Avon Road, round-about #4, at the conjunction of E. Benchmark Road and W.
Benchmark Road. This location is considered the “Town Center” and will demand a more prominent
work with the ability to be seen by pedestrians from across Avon Road. Proposed work for this
location must be a minimum of 12’ tall and a maximum of 20’ tall on a concrete circular pedestal
measuring 13’ in diameter.
The ground level base or platform, and/or raised pedestal for the work is provided by the Town and will be
either reinforced concrete or cut stone with or without a steel plate; and, based off location of the installation.
Attachment A provides the type of material for the base/platform, pedestal, etc., space size, size restrictions
and/or requirements for work, and imagery or links to imagery.
EXHIBIT D
Artist Call Out / Request for Proposal
Art Around Avon Project 2022 Page 2 of 3
Eligibility:
1. The Request for Proposals is open to all artists and artist teams residing and working in Colorado.
2. All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and have all necessary documentation and permits to
work in the United States at the time of submittal. 3. Applicants must be able to complete and transport work on June 9th or 10th, 2022.
4. Applicants must be able to pick up work between May 29th and June 5th, 2023.
5. Applicants must provide a statement regarding any conflicts of interest and listing of any litigation
involving the artist in the past five (5) years and lawsuit dismissal and/or termination outcomes.
Requirements of Work:
1. Safe for pedestrians.
2. Of appropriate scale for street display. 3. Able to withstand high winds and/or substantial temperature changes.
4. Easy to maintain in an outdoor mountain environment.
5. Freestanding but attachable to cut stone pedestal, steel mounting plate, or reinforced concrete
pedestal (provided by the Town) for exhibit purposes.
Application & Selection Process: The Town uses the web-based service, CallforEntry.orgTM, also known
as CaFETM, to manage artist application and selection processes for the Art Around Avon program.
Application shall include:
1. Artist and/or Artist Team Contact: Upload complete and accurate contact information.
2. Proposal:
a. Include two (2) to five (5) digital images for each piece of work being proposed.
b. Project statement describing your approach and intention for the work.
c. Special display and installation requirements for each piece of proposed work.
3. References & Past Work: Three (3) relevant project references to include the following for each
project:
a. Main contact: Name, Organization, Email and Phone Number.
b. Scope and description of project.
c. Project budget.
d. Project timeline.
e. Project location.
f. Minimum of one (1) digital image and maximum of three (3) digital images for each
referenced work.
4. All selected artists must execute a copy of the Art Around Avon Agreement – See Attachment B.
Artist Call Out / Request for Proposal
Art Around Avon Project 2022 Page 3 of 3
Anticipated Timeline:
• Artist Call for entry: February 14, 2022
• Deadline for entry: March 28, 2022
• Proposed selection notification: April 29, 2022
• Installation of work: June 9 through June 10, 2022
• Exhibition period for work: June 10, 2022, through May 29, 2023
• Art Around Avon Walk: June 10, 2022
• Decommission and removal of work: May 29 through May 31, 2023
• Disposal deadline: June 5, 2023
The Town is not responsible for any expense for the preparation or submittal of the Request for Proposals.
The Town has no obligation to select or use the services of any consultant submitting a Request for
Proposals. The Town retains all rights to solicit and enter into agreements with consultants for services or
projects deemed necessary by the Town. Any questions may be directed to Danita Dempsey at
ddempsey@avon.org, (970) 748-4065.
Art Around Avon | Site Descriptions
February 14, 2022
Art Around Avon
Attachment A: Site Descriptions
February 14, 2022
Danita Dempsey | Cultural, Arts &
Special Events Manager
Art Around Avon: Site Descriptions
February 14, 2022
#1 Avon Road | Center of RAB #4 #3 Avon Road | RAB #3 NW Corner
Google Map Image Google Map Image
#2 Avon Road | RAB #3 SW Corner
Google Map Image
Location #
| Priority Location Description Base / Pedestal Material
Base/Pedestal
Size
Steel Plate Size
at Widest Point
Approx.
Exhibition
Space Size
Weight
Capacity
1
Avon Road - Center of Round-About
(RAB) #4 Reinforced concrete circular pedestal 13' Diameter N/A 13' Diameter Up to 6,500 lbs.
2 Avon Road - RAB #3 SW Corner Cut stone pedestal w/ steel plate set on
brick pavers 12" Tall 35" D, 37" W 10' D x 17' W Up to 150 lbs.
3 Avon Road -RAB #3B NW Corner Cut stone pedestal w/ steel plate set on
reinforced red sandstone 21" Tall 32" D, 41" W 10' D x 11' W Up to 1,400 lbs.
Art Around Avon Program
Art Around Avon: Site Descriptions
February 14, 2022
#4 Avon Road | RAB #4 SE Corner
Raised Platform
#5 E. Benchmark Road & Beaver
Creek Place NE Corner
#6 E. Benchmark Road City Market
Bus Stop
Google Map Image Google Map Image Google Map Image
Location #
| Priority Location Description Base / Pedestal Material
Base/Pedestal
Size
Steel Plate Size
at Widest Point
Approx.
Exhibition
Space Size
Weight
Capacity
4
Avon Road - RAB #4 SE Corner
Raised Platform Reinforced concrete platform N/A N/A 14' D x 14' W Up to 600 lbs.
5
E. Benchmark Road & Beaver
Creek Place / NE Corner
Cut stone pedestal w/ steel plate set on
brick pavers 8" Tall 53" D, 47" W 9.5 D' x 16' W Up to 150 lbs.
6
E. Benchmark Road @ City Market
Bus Stop Cut stone pedestal 12" Tall N/A 6' D x 6' W Up to 150 lbs.
Art Around Avon Program
Art Around Avon: Site Descriptions
February 14, 2022
#8 E. Benchmark Road | Bus Stop
Google Map Image
#9 Avon Road | RAB #4 NE Corner
Google Map Image
#7 Avon Road | RAB #4 SW Corner
Google Map Image
Location #
| Priority Location Description Base / Pedestal Material
Base/Pedestal
Size
Steel Plate Size
at Widest Point
Approx.
Exhibition
Space Size
Weight
Capacity
7 Avon Road - RAB #4 SW Corner Cut stone pedestal w/ steel plate set on
brick pavers 10" Tall 36" D, 45" W 9' D x 16'.5" W Up to 150 lbs.
8 E. Benchmark Road / Bus Stop Cut stone pedestal w/ steel plate set on
brick pavers 10" Tall 64" D, 51" W 14' D x 22' 5" W Up to 150 lbs.
9 Avon Road - RAB #4 NE Corner Cut stone pedestal w/ steel plate set on
brick pavers 14" Tall 37" D, 50" W TBD Up to 150 lbs.
Art Around Avon Program
Art Around Avon: Site Descriptions
February 14, 2022
#11 W. Benchmark Road
Google Map Image
#12 W. Benchmark Road
Google Map Image
#10 W. Benchmark Road
Google Map Image
#13 W. Benchmark Road
Google Map Image
Location #
| Priority Location Description Base / Pedestal Material
Base/Pedestal
Size
Steel Plate Size
at Widest Point
Approx.
Exhibition
Space Size
Weight
Capacity
10
W. Benchmark Rd. East End A -
Slifer Smith Frampton Building Circular concrete pedestal
40" Diameter, 26"
Tall N/A N/A Up to 150 lbs.
11
W. Benchmark Rd. East End B -
Slifer Smith Frampton Building Circular concrete pedestal
40" Diameter, 26"
Tall N/A N/A Up to 150 lbs.
12
W. Benchmark Rd. West End A -
Slifer Smith Frampton Building Circular concrete pedestal
40" Diameter, 26"
Tall N/A N/A Up to 150 lbs.
13
W. Benchmark Rd. West End B -
Slifer Smith Frampton Building Circular concrete pedestal
40" Diameter, 26"
Tall N/A N/A Up to 150 lbs.
Art Around Avon Program
Art Around Avon: Site Descriptions
February 14, 2022
#15 Junction W.
Google Map Image
#16 Junction Lot
Google Map Image
#14 Junction N.
Google Map Image
#17 Christie Sports
Google Map Image
Location #
| Priority Location Description Base / Pedestal Material
Base/Pedestal
Size
Steel Plate Size
at Widest Point
Approx.
Exhibition
Space Size
Weight
Capacity
14
Junction North - E. Beaver Creek
Blvd.Cut stone 40" Diameter N/A 40" Diameter TBD
15
Junction West - E. Beaver Creek
Blvd.
Square stone veneer pedestal w/ nuetral
sandstone top
36" D X 32" W; 34"
Tall N/A
36" D X 32" W;
34" Tall TBD
16
Junction Parking Lot - E. Benchmark
Rd.
Circular stone veneer pedestal w/ red
sandstone top
60" Diameter; 42"
Tall N/A
60" Diameter; 42"
Tall TBD
17 Christie Sports West - Parking Lot
Circular stone veneer pedestal w/ red
sandstone top
60" Diameter; 42"
Tall N/A
60" Diameter; 42"
Tall TBD
Art Around Avon Program
Art Around Avon: Site Descriptions
February 14, 2022
#20 E. Benchmark
Google Map Image
#21 Chapel Square
Google Map Image
#19 E. Benchmark
Google Map Image
#18 Annex Lot
Google Map Image
Location #
| Priority Location Description Base / Pedestal Material
Base/Pedestal
Size
Steel Plate Size
at Widest Point
Approx.
Exhibition
Space Size
Weight
Capacity
18
The Annex Parking Lot - E.
Benchmark Rd.
Square stone veneer pedestal w/ nuetral
sandstone top
35" D x 35" W; 32"
Tall N/A
35" D x 35" W;
32" Tall TBD
19
Christie Sports East - E. Benchmark
Rd.
Circular stone veneer pedestal w/ red
sandstone top
60" Diameter; 42"
Tall N/A
60" Diameter; 42"
Tall TBD
20
The Annex Parking Lot - E.
Benchmark Rd./ Beaver Creek
Place Square ground level concrete slab 40" Diameter N/A 40" Diameter TBD
21 Chapel Square Parking Lot - Center
Square stone veneer pedestal w/ red
sandstone top
111" D x 111" W;
42" Tall N/A
111" D x 111" W;
42" Tall TBD
Art Around Avon Program
Art Around Avon: Site Descriptions
February 14, 2022
#25 Chapel Square
Google Map Image
#24 Chapel Square
Google Map ImageGoogle Map Image
#22 Chapel Square
Google Map Image
Location #
| Priority Location Description Base / Pedestal Material
Base/Pedestal
Size
Steel Plate Size
at Widest Point
Approx.
Exhibition
Space Size
Weight
Capacity
22
Chapel Square Parking Lot / Urgent
Care
Circular stone veneer pedestal w/ red
sandstone top
48" Diameter; 42"
Tall N/A
48" Diameter; 42"
Tall TBD
23 Chapel Square Sidewalk / Nozawa
Circular stone veneer pedestal w/ red
sandstone top
55" Diameter; 26"
Tall N/A
55" Diameter; 26"
Tall TBD
24 Chapel Square Sidewalk / Fiesta's
Circular stone veneer pedestal w/ red
sandstone top
52" Diameter; 40"
Tall N/A
52" Diameter; 40"
Tall TBD
25 Chapel Square Sidewalk / CoHabit Cut stone 40" Diameter N/A 40" Diameter TBD
Art Around Avon Program
Cultural, Arts & Special
Events: Strategic Plan
February 4, 2022: V4
December 6, 2021: V2
April 16, 2020: V1
December 27, 2021: V3
EXHIBIT E
Easily accessible from Intertate-70 and Highway 6
Vail Valley BrewFest in Avon
XTERRA Mountain Championship Race
Avon looking at Beaver Creek
Purpose & Vision
1.Purpose: To create a vibrant
mountain community.
2.Vision: Develop an environment
for healthy connection.
Flavors of Colorado
Flavors of Colorado
Avon Snapshot
•Located in heart of the Vail Valley
•Eagle River runs through Town
•Easy access to I-70 and Hwy 6 which both run through Town
•Abundant outdoor recreation
•Pedestrian friendly
Goal: Community
Develop a portfolio of experiences which build
vibrant and healthy community connections with
residents and visitors using these four
cornerstones to guide us:
1.Placemaking:tapping into what members of
the community love (and can imagine) about
the place they live, work and play.
2.Creativity:engaging our creative selves,
actively seek involvement with the creative and
art communities and enhance the visibility and
awareness of culture, arts and events.
3.Historic Preservation: through storytelling,
sharing of cultures and traditions and enhancing
the visibility and awareness of our heritage.
4.Stewardship: fostering a culture of waste
mitigation and energy conservation minimizing
the negative impacts to our collective
environment and community for the long term.
Avon Snapshot
•Located in heart of the Vail Valley
•Eagle River runs through Town
•Easy access to I-70 and Hwy 6 which both run through Town
•Abundant outdoor recreation
•Pedestrian friendly
Cornerstone: Placemaking
Near Term: 2022-2023
1.Investment in East Nottingham Park: Restroom / Concession Bldg.
2.Investment in West Nottingham Park: Restrooms at Beach, landscaping
improvements, creating gathering spaces and sport courts resurfacing
3.Continued investment in Performance Pavilion upgrades and timely
maintenance
4.Growth of Summer’s End brand and attendance over LDW
5.Increase revenue stream and efficiencies related to concessions
6.Develop summer SUP racing program
7.Develop two new signature events in June (Best of the West) and Sept.
(Heart & Soul)
Long Term: 2024-2032
1.Utilizing Urban Renewal Authority (URA) to plan for future of old Avon
Fire Station location
2.URA for plan for future of Metcalf Cabin
3.URA for plan for connection of Main Street Mall and Nottingham Park
4.Continued investment in Performance Pavilion upgrades and timely
maintenance
5.Develop a winter event that makes a “splash” as well as programming
(i.e., Après Avon! Holiday Tree Lighting, Ice Skating, Ice Sculptures)
6.Ticketed single and/or multiday concerts at Avon Performance Pavilion
(Terrace)
7.Expand SunsetLIVE!: 25-40/summer
8.Expand AvonLIVE!: 12/summer
9.Multiple summer and/or winter events have a positive return on
investment through accommodation and sales tax revenue
Avon Snapshot
•Located in heart of the Vail Valley
•Eagle River runs through Town
•Easy access to I-70 and Hwy 6 which both run through Town
•Abundant outdoor recreation
•Pedestrian friendly
Cornerstone: Creativity
Near Term: 2022-2023
1.Expansion of Art Around Avon temporary installations; up to 25 total w/
keystone piece at RAB#4 on Avon Road
2.Installation of six (6) Storm Drain Education Art Decals + expansion
3.Purchase one (1) new sculpture for permanent collection
4.Continue to develop a signature Weekly Art Expo
5.Continue to drive awareness of the arts in Avon (i.e., digital and printed
Walking map, engaging with creative community, etc.)
6.Create new plaques for Avon’s permanent sculpture collection
Long Term: 2024-2032
1.Host two or three multiday art festivals in summer
2.Develop winter event programming (i.e., Après Avon! Holiday Tree
Lighting, Ice Skating, Ice Sculptures)
3.Develop program to decorate trash/recycle containers
4.Expand Playable Musical Instruments program
5.Expand Painted Bench program
6.Develop immersive art experience or residence program
7.Incorporating art into new and existing development
Avon Snapshot
•Located in heart of the Vail Valley
•Eagle River runs through Town
•Easy access to I-70 and Hwy 6 which both run through Town
•Abundant outdoor recreation
•Pedestrian friendly
Cornerstone: Heritage
Preservation
Near Term: 2022-2023
1.Installation of nine (9) Historical Markers
2.Expanding Historical Markers with addition of two (2) more locations
Long Term: 2024-2032
1.Storytelling activations at key historical locations
2.Incorporating heritage into new and existing development
Cornerstone: Stewardship
Near Term: 2022-2023
1.Diversion rate in the 90’s percentile at events
2.Development and installation of six storm drain education works
Long Term: 2024-2032
1.100% Renewable Energy Goal Achieved
2.Reuse of old or used materials for art installation
Public Investment
in quality Infrastructu
re & Special Events
Accomplishments
In the most recent ten years Avon has made a few major advances in support of culture, arts and special events. To include but
not limited:
1.Successful development and deployment of multi-day and single-day event brands
2.Established funding mechanism and retainment strategy for third-party event producers
3.Construction of the Avon Performance Pavilion, Main Street Mall and concessions space
4.Relocation of bronze sculptures to the Mall
5.2015 FIS and Enjoy Life! Murals
6.Playhouse, Benches and Art Around Avon temporary art installation projects
7.Beautification of electrical boxes and park benches around Town
8.Preservation of the Water Wheel and connection to Avon’s heritage through Historical Marker project
Thank you!
Danita Dempsey
ddempsey@avon.org
DRAFT 10 YEAR VISION DOCUMENT FOR CASE – JANUARY 24, 2022
Page 1 of 6
A 10 YEAR VISION FOR
CULTURE, ARTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
IN AVON IN 10 YEARS (2032)
[NOTE: This document describes the status of events in 10 years, i.e., 2032, to provide a vision of
the character and scale of special events with continuous support over the next 10 years.]
INTRODUCTION: By 2031 an additional 500 hotel rooms and 300 condominiums available for short term
rental have been constructed, increasing the Town’s bed base from 1,200 to 2,000. Alcohol sales are a
significant revenue source for each event and are not projected in this draft. Improvements to East
Nottingham Park will be complete by end of 2022 season and have public restrooms that can routinely
accommodate 2,000-2,500 person events. The Old Town Hall site has been redeveloped with public
restrooms, art installations, concession space and storage for event assets (alcohol, tents, tables, chairs,
signage, etc.). The rock retaining wall, entire main athletic field and Avon Performance Avon Performance
Pavilion has cohesive design and appears as an “event venue”. The Metcalf Cabin has either been removed
and that site redeveloped, or it’s been remodeled to create a second green room with a shower that can be
used for summer camp, community meeting space, or additional support space for private events on the
Terrace and some storage space to serve events. The west end of the Main Street Mall is developed and
has established a focal point and natural gateway to the east end of Nottingham Park. There is little, if any,
change to the parking lot or Parks garage area because both facilities are needed to serve the park.
Signature Event: Defined as a reoccurring yearly event or event series with strong association with Avon
(brand recognition and brand equity) and typically with attendance of more than 3,000. The Avon community,
Avon staff, and main athletic field can accommodate/tolerate a large signature event once every three to four
weeks during the summer (defined as 3,000+ attendees). Below is a list of those events that are (1) already
identified as signature, or (2) being developed for Town production in the next two to five years.
Early/Mid-June: Pride in the Park - This single-day free event attracts over 2,500 residents and
visitors who come to Avon specifically to support the diversity and inclusion that
Pride in the Park represents. The events primary focus is driving visibility, equity,
and inclusion to the LBGTQ community. The event includes a fashion show, DRAG
show, parade, yoga in the park, renowned speakers and live music featuring local
talent.
Mid-June: Best of the West – Multi-day festival environment featuring a Friday evening
opening talent at the Avon Performance Pavilion, all day Saturday and Sunday,
multiple stages on Town owned property and at stakeholder properties (i.e., Westin
Riverfront Resort Plaza, Ein Prosit/Loaded Joe’s Parking lot), evening performances
at multiple bars and restaurants, focused on original up-and-coming Colorado-
based talent. In addition to live music, this event includes unique experiences such
as song writing workshops and musician workshops supporting a strong opportunity
for musician camaraderie and collaboration.
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The talent mix will offer opportunities for up-and-coming Colorado-based bands
along with cameo guest appearances by national talent with Colorado connections
(Motet, String Cheese, Lettuce – it’s a long list). Attendance is 5,000 to 8,000 per
day.
Avon “owns” this weekend in the Vail Valley and Best of the West is the primary
attraction for Eagle County Residents as well as visitors to Avon, Beaver Creek and
Vail. This Festival is free for attendees. The budget is $150,000 with a minimum of
$100,000 allocated to support talent.
The ROI is high by filling Avon accommodations and providing a strong retail
weekend for restaurants and other retail establishments early in the summer. Best
of the West is unique with musician focused elements and activations which is not
typical of a concert festival and affords an inherently strong Colorado focus. Theme
elements of culinary creations, craft beer and ciders, spirits and Colorado made
goods (i.e., “Taste of Colorado”) are incorporated throughout with numerous
opportunities for Colorado vendors. Best of the West is trademarked so that the
name/title cannot be used by any other music festival.
July 3: Salute to the USA – Avon’s premier family-focused signature event held July 3rd
for over 35 years in celebration of our nations Independence. A typical year sees
between 20,000 and 25,000 in attendance. Expense budget is $275,000 (up from
$200,000 to account for inflation) Avon is known for its impressive fireworks, drone,
and/or lasers display which is the key element of Salute to the USA and attending
the event has become tradition for residents and visitors alike. Hundreds of families
and friends gather in the park early to enjoy a day at Nottingham Park arriving early
to reserve their “seats”. The free event features festival-style food offered by over
30 food trucks/vendors, kid-friendly activities, multiple town operated alcohol
concession locations, live performance artists (buskers, acrobats, live painting,
sculpting, etc.) and a well-known national touring artist (i.e., Ziggy Marley, Markus
King Band, Los Lonely Boys, etc.)
Mid-June
through August: AvonLIVE! – AvonLIVE! is a 12-day free concert series that “owns” Wednesday
nights in Eagle County. The series begins the second Wednesday in June and
culminates the Wednesday prior to Labor Day Weekend. The talent line-up features
five national travelling acts ($5-$10k talent budget per act); five mid-tier national acts
($15-$25K talent budget per act) and two well-known national acts ($40-$60k talent
budget per act). Concerts are free to attend and include numerous food
trucks/vendors, art and local goods, and kid friendly activities. Expense budget is
$300,000 ($237,000 talent, $5,000 per show for support - $60,000).
Late-July: Avon Arts Celebration – A weekend long art festival attracting over 100 artists
from around the United States which has solidified Avon as a “art community”. The
three-day festival is free to attend and attracts second homeowners, primary
residents, and visitors alike. The multi-day festival features fine art, crafted culinary
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oils, sauces and spices, and string musicians. The Town subsidizes the event with
in-kind support and cash support.
Early/Late-
August: TBD – There is capacity to add one or two signature events from early to late
August. Avon’s success with the Heart and Soul Festival has generated competitive
interest from Private Producers to create one or two signature events in this
timeframe. Private producers have established and executed successful signature
event(s) during this timeframe window. Town’s budget is $150,000 to $300,000
annually to support one or two signature events during this timeframe. ROI is
modest because accommodations would be filled for these weekends without the
event. Attendance is projected to be 5,000+ per day. These signature events are
destination events that attract visitors who stay in Avon, Beaver Creek and Vail.
Early-August: Dancing in the Park - The collaboration between the Town of Avon and the Vail
Dance Festival (production of Vail Valley Foundation) enabled both entities to grow
their footprint in the dance and art communities. Dancing in the Park expanded to
include an artist in residence program, summer dance-camp for local youth and bi-
monthly free performances at the Avon Performance Pavilion by regional dance
teams.
Mid-August: Colorado Circus – The Colorado Circus event is unique to Avon and a local-
community favorite. Families look forward to relishing in the excitement of seeing
the big top go up, the smell of popcorn and the circus-style sounds. The event sells
out at an affordable price to all members of the community with multiple
performances each day. The Circus collaborates closely with the Recreation
Department youth programs and offers an opportunity for kids to participate in
“Circus Camp”. The Town supports Circus Colorado with in-kind support and a cash
support.
Labor Day
Weekend: Summer’s End: Nottingham Lake is a two day “best beach party in the Rocky’s”
event involving water activities, cardboard regatta, SUP races, multiple bands
playing on the Terrace (SunsetLIVE!), and multiple children’s activities. Well known
regional talent at the Avon Performance Pavilion, vendors on the main athletic field
and artist displays, close out the weekend long, family-friendly, event that is the “go
to” summer finale celebration for Eagle County residents and visitors. Attendance is
2,500 to 5,000. Expense budget is $50,000.
Mid-September: Heart and Soul Festival: Avon’s bookend and namesake multiday festival begins
on Friday evening and runs through Sunday evening. Headline music performances
at the Avon Performance Pavilion with complimentary evening performances
coordinated at bar venues in Avon. Attendance is 7,000 to 10,000 over the course
of the weekend. Well known national touring acts that have an established Colorado
fan base and appropriate for Avon headline the festival. In addition to Eagle County
residents, the festival targets festival goers of all ages as well as front range college
students who are ready for a weekend mountain road-trip 4-5 weeks into their fall
semester.
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This ticketed multiday event sells out in advance and a “must do” for locals and
visitors alike. Single day tickets are $100 or more and multi-day festival tickets are
$200 or more. Expense budget is $1,300,000 with $900,000 to $1,000,000 available
for talent. This festival operates in the black between ticket sales and alcohol sales.
ROI is very strong by filling Avon’s accommodations for a long weekend in mid-
September as well as creating another “super-retail” weekend for Avon restaurants
and businesses. Heart and Soul Festival has national recognition and is a
destination event for visitors.
Early-October: Man of the Cliff: Man of the Cliff is a multi-day event that draws 5,000+ attendance
over the course of the weekend and closes out the summer event season in Avon.
Man of the Cliff is an inclusive, recreation, timber sports competition open to people
of all ability levels. The event begins with a Friday evening kick-off charity dinner
followed by a full day of robust, cheerful, and entertaining lumberjack style
competitions. The Town supports Man of the Cliff with in-kind support and a cash
support.
Activation Events: Defined as other reoccurring events and activations that are well-established and
provide a variety of culture, activities and attractions for the Avon community and
Avon visitors, including local live music on Lettuce Shed Lane on Saturdays.
July-August:
Fridays: Lakeside Cinema: Family friendly films are shown in Nottingham Park on selected
Friday evenings in July and August. Local bands are set-up on a portable riser stage
in front of screen. Attendance is 1,000. This is a free event and a BYOB event. A
small selection of food and specialty vendors are available.
June-August:
Sundays: SunsetLIVE!: This event which regularly occurred on Sunday evenings has
expanded to include Saturday evenings when not in conflict with other events. The
series runs from Memorial weekend through Labor Day weekend. Talent is a mixture
of local and regional performers. The premise area is Terrace and the adjacent
southern lawn area. There are typically up to 26 SunsetLIVE! performances during
the summer. Expense budget is $52,000.
June-Mid-Sept.: Terrace Shows: A series of six to ten ticketed shows are held on the Terrace during
the summer, primarily on Thursday or Saturday evenings. Seated capacity is 250-
300. The Terrace is ideally suited for intimate performances of jazz shows and
talented singer/performers. The Terrace Shows have a strong relationship with Vail
Jazz and Vilar as an alternate venue option. Ticket pricing is $35-$60 and talent
budget is $9,000 to $12,000. Terrace Shows are held on Thursday or Saturday
nights to fit opportunities to book talent and properly market these shows.
Early-June: Art Around Avon & Walking Tour – Avon’s temporary art program is a pinnacle in
the regional art community with 30 locations which on a yearly basis rotate in/out.
Artist from all over the State of Colorado submit their works to be selected in Avon’s
renown program. The program includes outdoor and indoor exhibitions featuring
multiple mediums such as sculpture, photography, painting, etc. and Avon’s
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collection of playable musical instruments, 10 historical markers driving awareness
to Avon’s heritage, and four large scale murals. Each year the Walking Tour attracts
several hundred residents and visitors who come to appreciate Avon’s temporary
and permanent collections.
June-August: Weekly Art Expo - The Weekly Art Expo which began in 2020 is on the Main Street
Mall one-day each week in June, July, and August. The Weekly Art expo has
expanded to include the entire length of the mall, the Westin “terrace”, and Lake
Street regularly attracting 30-50 artists and vendors. It has become a feeder event
for the Avon Arts Celebration and further identified Avon as an art community.
Early-Sept.
through October: Storytelling at Lettuce Shed Lane - Gathering around the firepit, sipping on
something warm, and sharing Avon and Eagle County’s history is a local favorite.
Hosted bi-monthly at Lettuce Shed Lane on the Main Street Mall in the early evening
and featuring members of the Eagle County Historical Society and well-known
storytellers the activation entertains 20-40 people.
WINTER: [NOTE: Winter events need to be added. This event season is new, needs
some brain work as well as input from our accommodations industry.]
November: Thanksgiving: [There is a potential music performance event that would be during
Thanksgiving week which we might be able to institute in 2022. This would occur
annually and would like draw 2,000 to 3,000 people. This event could serve as
destination event to draw visitors during opening week at Beaver Creek]
Pre-Holiday: Holiday Tree (aka Christmas Tree) Lighting Event. Avon Community Shopping
Night.
New Years Eve: TBD
Holidays &
January Sat.: Ice Skating on Nottingham Lake can be reinforced with live music on the Terrace
on Saturday evenings.
Winter Event: There should be some kind of winter event – such as ice sculptures on the Main
Street Mall because it is in the shade and can last for several weeks.
Spring Break: In ten years we should have something in scale and quality as WinterWonder Grass,
but different weekend than WWG in Steamboat and probably not blue grass theme.
End of Season: Après Avon in April (?): A mid-tier national act performs at Possibility Plaza during
the Après Ski timeframe from 4 to 6pm on the last 2 or 3 Saturdays of the Beaver
Creek ski season. Attendance is 2,000. Budget is $75,000 ($25,000 per
performance). ROI is strong and event draws destination visitors to Avon for these
weekends which otherwise have reduced occupancy rates.
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[NOTE: This only includes music events and performances on the Avon Pavilion Stage, Terrace and Possibility Plaza and does not include a variety of recreational events that also occupy the calendar
from June through September.]