People came to celebrate Primos Park’s name, Saturday, by enjoying Aztec dancers, music and lots of bubbles.

Ali Rhodes, the director for Boulder Parks and Recreation, spoke at the celebration about the impact of community and inclusion. She said Primos Park, the 9-acre site along Violet Avenue between Broadway and 19th Street, embodies these values by bringing many different communities together in one place.

Some residents said that the park’s thoughtful design and inclusive approach makes everyone feel at home.

“We drive five minutes to go to the park, and now we have a park in this neighborhood. So it will be easy for us to walk or bike,” said Ashwin Ibarra, a community resident.

The combination of the Spanish word “primos,” meaning “cousins,” and the English word “park” resonated with community members’ multilingual experiences. And speakers at the celebration made remarks in both English and Spanish.

“I like the name. I think it’s a really good name for the park,” said Alejandra Desantiago Ramirez, a community resident.

“The word ‘primos’ to me is huge because you don’t have to be blood-related, you can be from all different backgrounds,” said Bernardo Padilla, a person involved in bringing community members together to come up with the new name.

The park’s plan calls for an amphitheater and an outdoor pavilion, promising a diverse space for many community events and activities.

During the naming process, city workers collaborated with specific people in the community, such as Padilla, who helped play a role in naming the park.

These people organized workshops and led discussions with neighborhood youth to gather ideas and feedback.

The efforts were meant to facilitate conversation among community members, giving them a sense of ownership and pride for their new park, Padilla and other residents said.

Some residents involved with the naming who were at the celebration said they could help ensure that the park’s name and design truly resonated with the experiences and aspirations of those who lived in the neighborhood.

Sara Malin, a participant, said the new park will have a positive impact on the surrounding community because of its easy accessibility and welcoming nature.

“I think it will be a good place where people can come and people can feel welcome and hopefully it will be fully accessible for everybody,” Malin said. She said the park is designed to offer accessibility for everyone, including those in wheelchairs or on crutches.

The name “Primos Park” reflects the community’s hopes of gathering with friends and family in the future park, residents said.

It is expected to be completed in 2026 with a budget of about $270,000 so far from grant funds and money in the Parks and Recreation budget, according to a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board packet from May 2024.