3-Corner Park Renovation Moves Forward Through Community-Led Effort
June 23, 2026
A forgotten neighborhood park on the north side of Colby will soon receive a facelift thanks to a community-led renovation effort focused on making the space more usable for children, families and nearby residents.
3-Corner Park is located on the north edge of Colby and is easily missed on the drive to the city’s ball diamonds. Soon, however, it will offer a new opportunity for neighborhood residents. While the city has continued maintaining the property, the park has seen little use over the years as its equipment aged and deteriorated.
Things started to change when neighborhood resident Jessica Stephens took an interest in improving the park. Stephens, who has a young son and lives near 3-Corner Park, began working with the City of Colby to explore practical upgrades that could make the space more functional.
“This project was inspired by a desire to create something positive and lasting for kids and families in our community,” Stephens said. “I saw an opportunity to improve an underutilized space and turn it into something that encourages outdoor activity, connection, and fun.”
The original plan centered on improving the basketball court area, which featured a small, aging concrete pad and a rusted basketball goal. After securing additional partners and resources, Stephens and her supporters expanded the project to include a new basketball goal and a larger concrete pad with the ability to incorporate other activities such as pickleball, tennis or badminton. The exact layout is still being finalized with the city.
City Manager Ron Alexander said Stephens’ willingness to organize support helped move the project from an idea into action.
“What I love about Jessica is, again, somebody else in the community is like, you know, we should,” Alexander said. “And again, I’m like, we don’t have the funding for that. What can you do to help us out with it? She goes and gets donations for the brand-new basketball goal.”
Alexander said the city is often limited in how quickly it can take on smaller park projects because of broader budget demands. With more than 170 acres of city park property, including 147 acres of city-maintained parks, lower-use areas like 3-Corner Park can be difficult to prioritize when larger needs are also competing for funding.
However, Stephens’ efforts helped create a path forward. Alexander said local partners have stepped up to assist, including donated labor and reduced material costs. Stephens Construction has been willing to help with work on the project, and Astro Ready Mix has been willing to provide concrete at cost.
“Because of her efforts, we’re willing to consider all of this,” Alexander said.
Stephens described the vision as a simple, neighborhood-focused improvement rather than a large redevelopment project.
“The vision is to create a simple, welcoming, and functional space where kids, families, and neighbors can gather and be active,” Stephens said. “It’s not about overbuilding—it’s about making practical improvements that increase how usable the space is while keeping it accessible and community-focused.”
The existing layout of the park is likely to change, with many of those decisions dependent on the final location of the new basketball court. Alexander said one set of horse-style swings appeared damaged and may come out, while the north-south swing set is more likely to stay. The teeter-totters are still being evaluated as the city considers the best location for the new pad.
The city is also looking at placing the court in a way that keeps children safer and reduces the chance of balls rolling directly into traffic. Alexander said the goal is to place the court closer to the alley area rather than directly next to the street.
Future possibilities for the park could also include a small batting practice area or backstop on the west side of the property, which could give younger children a place to practice when field space is limited.
For Stephens, the project is about making better use of a space that already exists.
“It provides a safe, local place for kids to play and for families to spend time together without having to travel across town,” Stephens said. “For the northeast part of Colby especially, it adds value to the neighborhood and creates a stronger sense of community.”
“This has involved coordination with the city along with support through a combination of grant funding, donations, local contributions, and assistance with materials and planning,” Stephens said. “It has been a collaborative effort in terms of support and resources, which has allowed the project to move forward without placing a heavy burden on any single source.”
The exact completion date will depend on materials, scheduling, and final installation work, but Stephens said progress is already moving in the right direction.
“The goal is to have the main components completed in the near future, with installation happening as soon as materials and scheduling allow,” Stephens said. “We’ve already made good progress, and the timeline will continue to depend on coordination with the city and final steps of installation.”
For a park that was once discussed as a possible property to sell because of limited use, the renovation represents a renewed community investment in the neighborhood.
For a park that was once discussed as a possible property to sell because of its limited use, the renovation represents a renewed investment in both the neighborhood and the families who call it home.
“It’s a simple project, but it makes the space more usable—and that’s what really matters for the kids and families who are out there every day,” Stephens said.