Town Pursues Grant to Launch Public Safety and Smart Lighting Pilot Project at O’Brien Park

The Town of Parker is applying for a Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA) grant, in partnership with nureal.ai, to pilot a three-year Public Safety and Smart Lighting Program at O’Brien Park. If awarded and approved by Town Council, this grant would fully fund the project, bringing new tools to help protect one of our community’s most-loved spaces.

O’Brien Park has experienced 28 vandalism incidents between March 2023 and August 2025, resulting in more than $18,000 in repairs. In one case, damage to the new playground, just two months after opening cost over $6,000 to fix.

This project is designed to help prevent similar incidents, protect public investments, and keep the park safe and welcoming for families.

The pilot would combine enhanced smart lighting with a modern camera system that identifies unusual activity patterns in real time. This allows Town staff and Parker Police to respond more quickly to potential issues, helping stop damage before it happens or escalates.

What to know:

• This project will only move forward if grant funding is awarded and approved, no Town funds are currently committed.
• The technology is designed to detect activity patterns (such as after-hours presence or vandalism-related behavior), NOT to identify or track individuals. 
• It DOES NOT use facial recognition, DOES NOT collect demographic information, and will NOT monitor private or sensitive areas of the park (restrooms or changing areas). 
• Video is only reviewed when needed for a specific incident and is managed in accordance with Town privacy standards. 
• This is a pilot program focused solely on O’Brien Park. Any future use would require additional evaluation and public discussion.

This effort reflects Parker’s commitment to maintaining safe, accessible, and well-cared-for public spaces. By combining thoughtful technology with responsible oversight, the Town aims to reduce vandalism, improve response times, and ensure O’Brien Park remains a place the community can enjoy with confidence.