The Colorado Springs Police Department announced the completion of a project to improve safety at Memorial Park after multiple fatal shootings and other incidents.

The project installed 19 gates at each access point in the park to keep out vehicles at night along with 24-hour surveillance from 10 wireless cameras and a new light system. According to the CSPD, the work was done through a $1,726,331 grant through a Colorado Division of Criminal Justice program.

The new gate closures go into effect at 10 p.m Friday.

The CSPD worked with Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services and Colorado Springs Utilities. The Hillside Advisory Team, a community organization, identified lighting, vandalism and criminal activity as the biggest issues to address with the project.

Memorial Park is a longtime landmark of east of downtown Colorado Springs with sports facilities, playgrounds and trails. Prospect Lake is a popular fishing destination in the summer, while Sertich Ice Center houses an all-year ice rink.

The park has been the scene of several shootings in past years, including the 2021 death of a boy and his cousin at the skate park and the 2015 shooting death of another boy.

According to CSPD data, more that 300 crimes were reported at the park between 2020 and 2022, including major acts of vandalism on the Peace Officers and Veterans memorials.

“I am grateful for the completion of this project and the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) it implements at Memorial Park,” said Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez in a statement.