In considering an appropriate Centennial Project, the Community Projects Committee looked around the Estes Park community to fulfill a need and for an opportunity to leave a long-lasting legacy. The Committee ended up focusing on enhancement of the Knoll-Willows conservation area by providing an overlook as the Rotary Centennial Project. The Rotary Board accepted the Committee’s recommendation and the Knoll-Willows Overlook became the Centennial Project of the Rotary Club of Estes Park.

The Knoll-Willows is a nearly twenty-acre assemblage of property in the heart of Estes Park, bordered by MacGregor Avenue on the west, Highway 34 on the north and east and mostly municipal property on the south. It was acquired over a period of about a decade. Through the combined efforts and financial resources of the Town of Estes Park, the Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority, Larimer County Open Space funding, the Knoll-Willows Conservancy and the Estes Valley Land Trust, the property is now in fee simple Town ownership, with conservation covenants. It will remain as permanent open space forever.

Upon final acquisition of all properties constituting the Knoll-Willows, a Board was appointed by the Mayor which set about to determine the appropriate conservation uses for the Knoll-Willows. The Board was a diverse group with diverse views on how much human use was appropriate. The charge was to develop a master plan. After much work, debate and agonizing; a master plan was developed, consisting of a natural trail system tying together the ruins, the Birch cabin, and a small parking area off of Highway 34. The Town Board adopted the master plan.

In keeping with the spirit of the master plan and the intent of conservation of the area and public enjoyment of this amenity, the proposed Rotary Centennial Project is an overlook of the Willows portion of the property, with views of the west side of the Knoll. The overlook extends modestly into the property from a new sidewalk on the east side of MacGregor Avenue. From the overlook, residents and visitors, both able-bodied and less mobile, will be able to reflect and view the wetlands, associated wildlife, the rugged beauty of the Knoll, the historic Birch Cabin and the stone ruins at the top of the Knoll. If one turns around and gazes southwestward, there is a magnificent view of Long’s Peak. The overlook provides maximum enjoyment of nature, history and wildlife, with minimal encroachment on the conservation area and will commemorate Rotary for generations to come. A future generation will also enjoy a time capsule, to be placed under the bronze plaque with the Rotary emblem that dedicates this gift from Rotary to Estes Park residents and visitors.

This project was made possible by the contributions of individual Rotarians and the Rotary Club of Estes Park and the generous participation of the Coleman Foundation and O.W. (Bud) Hampton, Ph.D. As the accompanying photographs will show, there was also a good deal of "sweat equity" as our Rotarians learned the subtleties of the pick and shovel.