Petition to the Advisory Board of Denver Parks & Recreation

In accordance with the procedure established by the Denver Board of Parks & Recreation, the undersigned hereby petition the Board to recommend the naming of a small triangle Park cornered between 17th and Park Ave West, “Bella Joy Garden’s”. In support of this petition, each of the undersigned affirms and states:

1. That He/She is lives in the City and County of Denver (at time of signature).
2. That He/She is at least 21 years of age and is a registered voter at time of signature count.
3. That the reasons for the proposed name are as follows:

Bella Joy Gardens is a small park located in the heart of Denver, CO.

It was established in memory of Isabella Joy Thallas, who was tragically killed in downtown Denver while walking with her boyfriend, Darian Simon, and his dog on June 10, 2020. Isabella, known as Bella, was only 21 years old when she was taken from us in her hometown. Her loss deeply impacted the community, as she touched many hearts with her natural beauty, kindness, gentle temperament, loving nature, and forgiving character. Despite a difficult childhood marked by trauma, Bella lived her life in faith and tried to navigate through the darkness that surrounded her.

The mural at the park was painted by Detour (Thomas Evans), Hiero Vega, and Hillary Powers as a tribute to Bella following her passing. Her mother, Ana Thallas, took the initiative to propose dedicating the park to Bella and all those affected by gun violence to the Denver City Council.

Every June 10, Ana hosts Peace in the City and other events at the park to support victims of gun violence and domestic violence, providing food, fun, and live music to the community.

Now is the time to officially establish Bella Joy Gardens as a permanent fixture in our city. We are seeking your support to add this small park to our beautiful city, transforming a tragic event into a place of refuge, healing, beauty, peace, and love - all qualities that Bella embodied. #BellaJoyGardens

That there is community support for the proposed name as illustrated by the signatures below.