Visitors to South Platte Park will notice $1 million worth of recently completed upgrades, highlighted by a 14-foot sculpture commemorating the 1965 Littleton flood.

Other additions include an extra multiuse trail, men’s and women’s restroom facilities, picnic shelters and a paved entrance road and parking area. The bronze sculpture, which was designed by ECOS Communications out of Boulder, depicts raging waves.

“It actually duplicates the water level that the water was from the South Platte, and people are pretty amazed to see how high the water was,” Arapahoe County Commissioner Susan Beckman said.

The sculpture is also surrounded by informative panels describing the flood and what happened before and after the disaster. On June 16, 1965, severe thunderstorms created a wall of water that roared down the South Platte, causing devastation all the way to the Nebraska border.

“It was quite an event here in 1965, and we just want people to know about it,” said Dave Lorenz, executive director of South Suburban Parks and Recreation.

The South Platte Working Group comprises members from South Suburban Park and Recreation; Arapahoe County; the cities of Littleton, Englewood, Bow Mar, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Sheridan and Columbine Valley; and several other organizations.

Since its inception in 2006, the group has garnered more than $25 million in funding to improve the environment and recreational areas along the South Platte River.

During the past seven years, the group has protected more than 20,000 acres of land, conserved wildlife habitats, purchased and established open space areas, built trail connections and provided various forms of outdoor recreation.

“They should be very proud of the work they’ve done, because they’ve given a tremendous asset to the community that will be enjoyed for many, many years,” Beckman said.

The South Platte Working Group has undertaken more than 20 projects and receives funding from many sources, including a $5.25 million grant from Great Outdoors Colorado.

A fishing pier and an approach to the river, both with handicapped access, are scheduled for completion later this spring. South Platte Park remains one of the largest suburban parks in the country.