Rickenbaugh Park - Children's Hospital Sculpture Garden

The area around the intersection of Colfax and Interstate 225 in Aurora is a bit of a medical hub. Actually, that's an understatement. It's a HUGE medical hub. Several hospitals and medical training facilities are located in the space of just a few blocks. One of the largest facilities in the area is Children's Hospital. Since it's no fun being in the hospital, and it's even less fun having a kid in the hospital, Children's has a very welcoming feel. Among the features is a sculpture garden in the front of the facility known as Rickenbaugh Park. It is worth a visit even when you don't have a loved one spending time at the hospital.

Let's take a look at some of the pieces you'll find.

Harlequin by Craig Ponzio
This piece is visible from Colfax as you drive by the hospital

La Dolce by James Vilona

Eclipse by Jesus Moroles

Star Catcher by John King

Bench by Jesus Moroles

Name and artist unknown

The Classics by George Lundeen

Tres Osos by Dan Ostermiller

Fat Happy by Barrett DeBusk

The adjacent hospital parking structure also features some unique artwork that appears to have been created by some of Aurora's youngest citizens.

Children's Hospital is located at 13123 E 16th Ave in Aurora. That address can be a bit misleading, though. Think of it this way, it's one block west of I-225 off Colfax. 

Ghost Trolley

I grew up in the Chicago area, where trains are a big part of life. My father took the train into the city every day, and such was the case for many of my friends' parents, as well. When I came to Denver in the early 90's, however, trains were not a part of the public transportation system. That was soon to change, though, as the Light Rail came to town shortly after I did, and has been growing ever since. Denver does have a history with train transport, though, that goes back way before the 90's. Back in the late 1800's, trolleys took travelers across the city and surrounding area. That history is celebrated with a sculpture called Ghost Trolley.

The very slender sculpture sits in a unique location; in a median strip on Colfax in Aurora. Colfax is, of course, Denver's most notable thoroughfare, linking the city with Lakewood to the west and Aurora to the east. Trolleys were a regular fixture along Colfax until Denver's trolley system was taken out of service in the mid 1950's. This "ghost trolley" certainly lives up to its name.  When lit at night it does give off a bit of an eerie vibe.

The sculpture has been on display since 2007. You probably don't want to try and get too close to it. The median strip where it sits is not meant for pedestrians and cars zoom pretty fast down Colfax. You can view the piece safely from the sidewalk in front of Aurora's Martin Luther King Jr Library.