What started as one man's effort to give neighborhood children a safe place to play has grown into one of Greeley's most meaningful community parks. 

Swanson-Kiwanis Park has recently undergone a major transformation, creating one connected 1.5-acre park that stretches from 14th Avenue to 15th Avenue Court. The improvements build on decades of investment while honoring the park's rich history. 

A Park Built for Kids 

In the summer of 1950, children near 14th Avenue and 7th Street often played in the street because they had nowhere else to go. After hearing that from local kids, Clarence "Swede" Swanson decided to take action. 

Swede turned his backyard into a playground with swings, a sandbox, teeter-totters and sports courts. He later rented the farm lot behind his house, paid for the season's corn crop and, with help from neighbors, local businesses, police officers and family, created a larger park where children could safely play. 

The space became known as the "Stars of Tomorrow" Playground and welcomed dozens of children each day. Swede believed every child should have a place to belong and even arranged transportation so children from Greeley's Spanish Colony could join in the fun. 

In September 1950, the Kiwanis Club helped purchase the land and donated it to the City of Greeley, making the park a permanent part of the neighborhood.

Continuing the Vision 

Renamed Swanson-Kiwanis Park in 2007, the park has continued to grow over the years. The City expanded the property by purchasing surrounding properties and adding new amenities for the community. 

The latest improvements include: 

  • New and relocated post-tension concrete basketball court  

  • New art installation  

  • New trees and sod throughout the park  

  • New furnishings and boulders  

  • Irrigation system updates  

These updates build on previous investments, including the playground replacement in 2019 and the removal of the final house on the property in 2024, creating one connected park for the neighborhood to enjoy.

Looking Ahead 

More than 75 years after Swede first opened his backyard to neighborhood children, Swanson-Kiwanis Park continues to bring people together. 

The renovated park reflects the same purpose it was built for in 1950: providing a welcoming place where children can play, families can gather and neighbors can connect. 

Because one person cared enough to create a safe place for kids, generations of Greeley residents have had a park to call their own. Today, that legacy continues for the next generation.