While the Department of Parks and Recreation is doing everything it can to keep up, Denver's growth is placing more demands on these facilities every day. Parks and Recreation facilities represent a large variety of amenities. It is a complex system which includes trails, walks, playgrounds, restrooms, irrigation systems, roads, parking lots, park structures, and greenhouse operations.
Most recreation centers include indoor and outdoor pools, weight rooms, and gymnasiums. The Better Denver Program will ensure that they are safe, serviceable, clean, and efficient.
1E bond funding will target improvements to the historic Civic Center Park, and make improvements in many other parks by replacing outdated irrigation systems and attending to overdue park maintenance projects. Bond funding will also help to build new recreation centers in communities that need them.
Progress Reports
Hampden Heights Playground Completed!
In late August 2010, Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann hosted a neighborhood ice cream social in conjunction with a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the newly completed Hampden Heights Park playground improvements. Representatives of Denver Parks and Recreation, the Mayor’s Office, and other offices participated in the ceremony. The Bond program budgeted $230,000 for the expansion, new design and renovation of the park playground and adjacent landscaping. The effort transformed the old playground into a beautiful new play-space… MORE
Improvements Underway for City Park Duck Lake
Major work at City Park Duck Lake is underway and will be on-going all summer and fall (2010).
The work will preserve a significant bird habitat and improve the lake’s water quality which is very poor. The project will also enhance visitors’ experience at the lake by providing wildlife observation platforms, a boardwalk and environmental education signage. The Better Denver Bond Program is providing funds for this work.
The lake has been drained to allow a major renovation of the lake edges and the island. The lake will begin to be refilled starting in November and will be full again in time for the birds’ 2011 spring arrival. ... Read more
City of Axum Park Improvements Groundbreaking
Event Guest, Mayor Hagos, Councilwoman Madison, Mayor Hickenlooper
Axum Improvements
Map & Partners |
The voter-approved Better Denver Bonds are funding improvements to the City of Axum Park, one of Denver's Sister City Parks. Mayor Hickenlooper and Mayor Hagos of Axum, Ethiopia stood shoulder-to-shoulder to break ground on the improvements with Councilwoman Carla Madison and other community representatives who have played a hand in helping to plan or fund the improvements.
Bond funds are providing a new playground and landscaping centered around a theme of cultural connection to Axum, Ethiopia. Bond funds are also upgrading the park irrigation system to be more efficient.
Park Hill Thriving Communities, Denver Environmental Health, LiveWell Colorado and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado have also partnered with Denver Parks & Recreation on other Axum Park improvements, some of which have been completed and others of which are now underway.
Elmendorf Park - New Playground
In May, 2010, Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) officials joined leaders from Denver Public Schools (DPS), along with students, teachers and parents from Amesse Elementary in order to celebrate a collaborative project improving the playgrounds at
Elmendorf Park and Amesse Elementary. The Better Denver Bond Program funded the
Elmendorf Park playground redevelopment. A ribbon cutting was held on May 18
th to celebrate the completion of the playground improvements at both the park and the school which are adjacent properties. Kevin Patterson, Parks and Recreation Manager joined DPS representatives in speaking to the crowd and cutting the ribbon to commemorate the opening of the new facilities. Students presented the colors and the school choir performed. DPS speakers included Joyce Simmons, Principal of Amesse, Amy Freidman, DPS Chief of Staff, Robert Woodson, Instructional Superintendent, and Troy Gardner, DPS Project Manager.
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Land Acquired for Future Central Denver Rec Center
In March 2010, the City of Denver acquired approximately 2.5 acres of land located at 1530 Josephine Street, near Denver’s East High School, to serve as the site for a future recreation center, and may also allow for additional retail possibilities. Construction of the recreation center will not occur until a future time when funding is secured. In 2007, voters specifically approved $11 million in bond funding for land purchase, planning and design of a new recreation center in central Denver. A portion of the bond funds remaining after the land acquisition will be used toward demolition of an existing building on the site (Church in the City) and planning of the new center. Separate funds must be raised for construction of the new recreation facility.
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Central Park Recreation Center at Stapleton
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(April 2010)
Construction of the new Central Park Recreation Center at Stapleton is well underway! The new 57,000 square foot facility is targeted to be complete and open later in the fall of this year (2010).
The regional recreation center will offer a gym, aquatic center, lap pool, fitness and strength center, community meeting rooms, and space for aerobics/dance, child care and multipurpose uses. An environmentally sustainable approach is being used in the design and construction of the facility in order to achieve LEED Silver certification. The entire project budget is $19 million, of which approximately $14 million is for construction.
The project is a collaborative effort between the City and County of Denver and the Park Creek Metro District. Funding is provided by Better Denver Bond money as well as Park Creek Metro District funds. The Metro District is also providing significant project management.
Civic Center Park Restoration of Greek Amphitheater & Voorhies Memorial Complete
(Summer 2010)
Civic Center Park Restoration |
Restoration of the historic structures at Civic Center Park which began in January 2010 involving the Greek Amphitheater and Voorhies Memorial were completed at the end of June 2010, in time for the Biennial of the Americas events as originally planned. Work on the balustrade will begin in the fall of 2010. The restoration of the Greek Amphitheater and Voorhies Memorial was done within the amount budgeted for the projects. This $9.5 million dollar project, funded through the Better Denver Bond Program, will ensure the integrity of these special places for years to come. The restoration has been done in a way that respects the historic legacy of these facilities. The structures will remain the same, only stronger and fresher.
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Cheesman Park Schematic
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Cheesman Park Trails Schematic Design Is Complete
(Summer 2010)
Better Denver Bond-funded work at Cheesman Park is improving the irrigation system, upgrading the tail/pedestrian walkways, and refurbishing the park's historic pavilion.
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Barnum Splash Pad Concept
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Construction Underway for Barnum Splash Pad
(Summer 2010)
A new, fun splash pad is currently being constructed at the Barnum Outdoor Pool. The preliminary design concepts were shared at a public open house earlier this year, and now many of those same features are being constructed. The completion and opening of the new splash pad is anticipated in late in July or August (2010). (Click on image for a graphic of the splash pad concept).
City Park Bandstand Rehab is Complete!
City Park Bandstand
Photo courtesy of Mark Upshaw, Denver Parks & Recreation |
(April 2009)
The Rehabilitation of the City Park Bandstand was competed in mid- April. This work, which was done with a budget of approximately $100,000, was financed by the Better Denver Bond Program. The old wood deck floor was replaced with a new, more durable Trex deck flooring. Additionally, the face stone foundation piers were repaired, and the structure was patched, repaired, reinforced and painted. The design and look of the structure remained the same, but the work made the structure fresher. The renovation was done ahead of schedule, and well in advance of the high use season for the facility.
Washington Park Irrigation Upgrades Completed
Better Denver Bond-funded upgrades to the Washington Park irrigation system were completed in summer 2009. The improvements help to achieve water conservation, reduced costs to maintain irrigation equipment, and condensed watering times. Much of the water used to irrigate the landscape in Washington Park is drawn from Smith Lake. This project replaced an old existing pumping system that was undersized and outdated with a new pump and filtration system that better meet the needs for all irrigation water in the Park.