~ 250 Guests Gather to Celebrate Completion of Community”s $66.5 Million Makeover ~

On a sunny and warm late July afternoon, approximately 250 Clermont Park Retirement Community residents, staff and community leaders gathered to celebrate the grand reopening of their community and the completion of a $66.5 million makeover and expansion that began five years ago.

Located in southeast Denver, near Yale Ave. and Colorado Blvd., Clermont’s, “Party at the Park” was a celebration of the community’s new chapter of providing a full continuum of high quality care for  residents while recognizing its 40-year history.

One of the festive residents in attendance was Phyllis Dye, who was in charge of gathering dreams and well-wishes for Clermont Park”s tree planting ceremony.  Party guests were asked to jot down any dreams or messages they had on biodegradable paper. The messages were then placed at the base of a tree being planted near the community entrance.  “Any dreams are welcome including dreams of love, prosperity and hope and if you have trouble coming up with one, I have about ten I can share with you,” said Ms. Dye.

Guests stayed cool by sipping on “Parkitos,” a signature drink created just for the party comprised of fresh cucumber and mint, muddled over ice, with a dash of simple syrup and a jigger of rum. The Parkito is finished off with club soda and fresh lime.

“Our founders would approve of the expansion of services and levels of care we now provide to Clermont Park residents,” said Russ DenBraber, Christian Living Communities president and chief executive officer. “The fact that we came in under budget and on time to provide a full continuum of high quality care speaks to the hard work by our staff, contracting partners and residents.”

The health care and living options at Clermont Park now include:

• 74 new retirement living apartment homes utilizing tablet technology to connect residents to community life.
• Renovation of 92 existing retirement living apartment homes.
• A new 63-suite skilled nursing community.
• 15 new assisted living and 17 memory support apartments.
• State of the art fitness center and rehabilitation gym with Alter-G© NASA created therapy system.
• A new Town Center.
• A new Adult Day Services.
• An onsite Centura physician”s clinic.

Clermont Park’s upgrades also include the installation of solar panels to provide electricity for the expanded community. Nearly 500 solar modules, capable of generating 327 watts each, were installed this spring. This translates into a reduction 509,522 pounds of CO2 emissions annually. Installer Namaste Solar was at the grand reopening to explain improved efficiencies and reduction of the community”s carbon footprint.

Party participants toured the new Adult Day Service located in a newly built house that matches the charm and character of the quaint neighborhood that surrounds Clermont Park.  Tours of the community”s Town Center which includes an on-site Centura physician”s clinic were also provided.

To celebrate the community’s art programs, guests were encouraged to participate in “Painting in the Park” art demonstrations, where a painting of a tree was being created using the thumb prints of party goers as the tree”s leaves.

“Our grand reopening celebrates the fact that we are now able to offer residents state-of-the-art senior care and provide a variety of residential, health care and amenity options under one roof,” said Clermont Park executive director Jill Vitale-Aussem.

Since l972, Christian Living Communities (CLC) has been providing quality senior care in the south Denver metropolitan area. CLC is a Denver-based not-for-profit that owns and operates the Clermont Park Retirement Community in Denver and the Holly Creek and The Johnson Center/The Village Retirement Communities in Centennial as well as providing two Adult Day Services and Home Care Services.  Each day CLC touches the lives of more than 1,000 seniors. For more information on Clermont Park, visit www.clermontpark.org or call 720-974-3800.