Southside Colorado Springs residents came together at Prospect Lake in Memorial Park for a gathering centered on opposing violence and strengthening neighborhood bonds, organized by One Body ENT under its "We Are Still Neighbors" initiative. The afternoon included food, music, and activities for families, with organizers framing the event as a statement that the Southside community refuses to let violence define it.
State Sen. Tony Exum was among those who showed up to support the effort. He told those gathered that residents are determined to push back before violence becomes something the neighborhood simply accepts. "We know that it's a part of our community, but we don't want it to become the norm, and we want to be a part of doing some things that are positive, like what's happening today," Exum said.
Corey Woodard, connected to Living Proof Recovery, addressed the crowd's shared goal of making Memorial Park a place where families feel welcome and safe again. He said he understands why some residents have grown wary of the space, even as he continues taking his own children there. "I bring my kids to this park, and then when you hear about the violence at this park, no, we're better than that. Let's work on it. I mean, this park means a lot to a lot of people in this community, and we just want to restore it," Woodard said. He argued that securing peace at Prospect Lake could ripple outward across the city. "That's why we can have peace in this park, that peace can spread throughout the community, and now we will have peace in every park of the community," he said.
Community member Shawn Davis stressed that children in the area deserve a park where they are not afraid. "These kids, they shouldn't have to come out here and worry about getting harmed or injured in any way," Davis said. "It should be a safe space for all these families to come out and do exactly what they're doing right now and enjoy themselves." A lifelong Southside resident echoed that sentiment, saying the motivation for attending was straightforward: "We grew up in this neighborhood, and we just wanted to give a better outlook of it."
Whether One Body ENT plans to schedule further events under the "We Are Still Neighbors" initiative has not been announced.