2024 CCASLA Merit Award for Design | Adams County Veterans Memorial

The Adams County Veterans Memorial at Riverdale Park received a 2024 Merit Award from ASLA Colorado. Recognized at the annual Colorado and Wyoming Landscape Architecture Awards, this memorial, dedicated on Memorial Day 2023, serves as a poignant tribute to veterans, featuring a battleship design inspired by the USS Colorado. 

DHM worked closely with Adams County to create a multi-generational memorial to reflect on our veterans’ service to country, family, and the liberties we have today. The goal was to develop a place where families could gather to tell their story of serving through their own eyes or through the eyes of watching their loved ones serve in the military. DHM provided conceptual work on the location and design and continued efforts for final designs and construction documentation of the Adams County Veterans Memorial/Garden located at Riverdale Regional Park. The plan included an amphitheater, interpretive site features and exhibits, seating, benches, and picnic tables. It took advantage of the natural setting, close to the water with a view of the mountains, to create areas for reflection. Accessibility was a critical factor in the design, ensuring it accommodated all abilities and provided easy access to the trail system, parking, and connectivity to other park amenities. All branches of the military were represented, including POW/MIA, Wounded Warriors, and service animals.

The design honored the USS Colorado Battleship with seating, railing, decking, shelters, and interpretive elements to reflect the character of the battleship. A grotto wall with interpretive imagery and text celebrated veterans and their contributions to our nation.