In 1878, the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad arrived in the valley, placing Alamosa on the map. The name Alamosa translates from Spanish to “Poplar Cottonwood tree groves,” a nod to the shady trees that still line the riverbank where the park is located today. Before Alamosa became the gateway for visitors heading to the Great Sand Dunes, Mayor Everett Cole was leading the community in the late 1930s and early 1940s. He was so dedicated to the town that he used his own money to help secure land for the original airport and worked to build the local hospital. In honor of his public service, the town named this scenic riverfront park after him, providing stunning views of Mount Blanca and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
A notable feature along the river is the Cole Park Skatepark, which officially opened in 2012. The park builders at Spohn Ranch collaborated with local youth to design a 5,000 sq.ft. concrete facility that seamlessly integrates transition flow with technical street elements. The layout centers around a four-foot mini-ramp transition section that connects smoothly to bank ramps, hubba ledges, flat ledges, a bump-to-rail, and open flat ground space. Situated at over 7,500 feet of elevation, this free public park offers local skateboarders, BMX riders, and inline skaters a fast, high-altitude place to ride.
