Rio Grande ARTway — Carbondale Arts

Rio Grande ARTway, also known as The ARTway, is a creative placemaking project stretching along a one-mile paved, non-motorized trail through downtown Carbondale. Developed as a collaboration between Carbondale Arts and the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, the Rio Grande ARTway weaves together public art installations and three distinct community spaces, each built around its own concept and character.

The first of these spaces, DeRail Park, sits at the convergence of the Rio Grande Trail, the Crystal Valley Trail, and Highway 133, functioning as the primary entrance to the ARTway. The park incorporates sculpture, shaded picnic areas, railway artifacts, landscaping, and references to local bicycle culture. The second space, El Jardín de Arte Latino Folklórico, or the Latino Folk Art Garden, is shaped by an active group of Latino stakeholders and includes gardens, gathering areas, mosaics, and hammocks. The park will also house the Latino History Story Sculpture, documenting the contributions and presence of the Latinx community in the Roaring Fork Valley.

The third space, Youth Art Park, uses locally sourced materials to create an interactive environment designed for play and creative exploration. The site is treated as a living work of art, with a mural project initiated by artist Gabriela Mejia and local high school students continuing to grow over time. Carbondale Arts, the nonprofit behind the Rio Grande ARTway, has been building community through the arts since 1971 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021. The organization also stewards the Carbondale Creative District, produces the annual Mountain Fair, and operates Rosybelle, a retrofitted 1991 school bus serving as a mobile arts education classroom throughout the Roaring Fork Valley.

Services: Public Art Installations, Community Park Spaces, Creative Placemaking, Arts Education, Mobile Maker Space