*Sorry for being lazy and posting a press release, but it’s time for bed and I have to get up and drive to Copper to cover the US Freeskiing Open.

Winter Park Resort in partnership with Denver Parks and Recreation is proud to announce the grand opening of the first-ever skier and rider urban rail yard, Ruby Hill Rail Yard, set for Saturday, January 20 from noon - 4 p.m. Demonstrations by Winter Park athletes will help kick off the event with free snowboard equipment made available for local youth interested in trying a new sport or fine tuning already learned techniques.

Snowmaking equipment has pumped out over 750,000 gallons of water since last Saturday creating over an acre of manmade snow sitting three feet deep on Ruby Hill’s natural bowl-like terrain. A temporary addition to Ruby Hill Park, the Ruby Hill Rail Yard is expected to last until the end of February, weather permitting.

A pilot project between the City and County of Denver Parks and Recreation Department and Winter Park Resort, Ruby Hill Rail Yard is designed to fit into the city’s urban recreation needs as well as Winter Park Resort’s multicultural youth initiatives. Given the unique relationship/ownership of Winter Park Resort by the city, Ruby Hill Rail Yard will serve as a free rail park to the city’s diverse youth as well as a future site for freeride events.

“Ruby Hill Rail Yard provides Winter Park Resort and the City and County of Denver with a tremendous opportunity to reach out to the city’s multicultural youth and provide them with a completely new and innovative play-ground,” said Bob Holme, Youth Marketing for Winter Park Resort. “No other city in the nation has worked with a ski resort to provide its youth with an urban rail yard such as the City and County of Denver has and we hope Ruby Hill Rail Yard inspires others to be as innovative.”

Saturday’s opening of Ruby Hill Rail Yard will feature six rails of varying configurations and levels of advancement as well as the latest equipment from Burton, Never Summer and Vans. Denver youth are encouraged to participate; minors 17 years and younger interested in testing equipment must be accompanied by an adult. Guest speakers for Saturday’s festivities will include Denver City Councilwoman Kathleen MacKenzie, Mike Barney, Director of Recreation for the Department of Recreation at the City and County of Denver and Bob Holme, Youth Marketing Manager for Winter Park Resort. Ruby Hill Park is located between West Florida and Jewell Avenues and between South Platte River Drive and Quivas Street. Those interested in attending Saturday’s grand opening event can access Ruby Hill Rail Yard from the park’s entrances on West Florida Avenue. Following Saturday’s opening, Ruby Hill Rail Yard will be open from 5 a.m. - 11 p.m

For more information on Winter Park Resort visit www.winterparkresort.com or call (970) 726-1564.