Those residents in Dinosaur who said the town needed to take pride in itself are getting their wish.

One month ago, Dinosaur resident Dean Kline said he was frustrated with the community’s lack of civic pride. Now the town has the money to do something about it.

Dinosaur was awarded an $88,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant, which will be used to construct a 280-by-180-foot community park.

The area, right along U.S. Highway 40, will be landscaped and boast a covered picnic shelter and new playground equipment.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us,” Mayor Wendy Petersen said. “It’s a good step forward and shows we do care and we can do something.”

Petersen said volunteers are what will make the project possible. She estimates 10 to 15 people have promised labor for the project. That donation counted as an in-kind match for the grant. Petersen expects work to begin after the July 4 holiday weekend.

“It depends on when volunteers can get in,” she said. “Most of the labor is voluntary. That’s a good thing when you have that many — it helps bring a community together.”

Petersen said she hopes the grant allows the town to take the first step in bringing the town together. “The reality is that until Dinosaur takes some pride in itself and cleans up, there’s not much you can do,” Petersen said. “All our input is telling us (the town’s) got to be visually appealing.”

A study funded by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs indicated exactly that.

“We have to buy into the community before anyone else will,” she said.

Christina M. Currie can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 210 or e-mail ccurrie@craigdailypress.com