After the Marshall fire’s destruction, a project to rebuild three parks in Superior was chosen as a winner in the Colorado Lottery’s Starburst Awards.

In the 2021 Marshall fire, more than 1,000 structures were destroyed — and three neighborhood parks near the northwestern edges of Superior burned.

“All three parks were essentially destroyed,” said Leslie Clark, Superior’s director of parks, recreation and open space, in an email. “With the exception of some concrete that remained usable, the fire damaged or destroyed nearly everything, including playground equipment, park benches, shade structures, safety surfacing, irrigation and landscaping.”

The three parks include Little Sagamore Park at 350 Cherokee Ave., Big Sagamore Park at 322 Cherokee Ave. and Children’s Park at 400 Second Ave., according to a town document.

Some of the funding used to rebuild the parks was grant funding from Great Outdoors Colorado, which helps distribute Colorado Lottery proceeds to “preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers and open spaces,” according to its website.

According to Clark, the town received a $660,000 grant from the organization, covering about a third of the total cost to rebuild all three parks. The remainder of the funding was obtained from insurance or paid for by the town, according to Clark. Superior has submitted to Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, for reimbursement, Clark said.

The Starburst Awards celebrate excellence in the use of lottery funds for community projects, according to the Colorado Lottery website. Winners are chosen based on multiple factors, including impact to the community.

“Rebuilding these parks was about more than replacing what was lost,” Clark said. “We reimagined them for the residents returning to these neighborhoods and for the Superior families who deserve safe, welcoming places to play again. We’re grateful to GOCO and the Colorado Lottery for helping make that possible.”

Colorado Lottery’s website lists 17 other winners of the 2026 award, including the revitalization of Enclave and Sunflower parks in Louisville that were also affected by the Marshall fire.

“These parks are more than playgrounds and open space. They are places where neighbors gather, kids play, families reconnect and our community continues to heal,” Superior Mayor Mark Lacis said in a social media post about the award in late June. “Bringing them back has been an important part of our recovery, resilience and return to everyday life.”