City Council - Jeanne Robb, District 10

Many of you were involved in the Cheesman Park Master Planning process begun in 2006, and many of you have sent me comments since then.  I am delighted to announce that the Cheesman Park Master Plan is done and can be downloaded by clicking here.  Thank you so very much to Denver Parks and Recreation for their tremendous commitment to this project and the many Cheesman Park lovers that provided valuable input during the process.

Cheesman Park lies in the center of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.  Its national significance as a public space has been recognized by the park’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places as part of Denver’s historic park and parkway system.  Denver Parks and Recreation received a grant from the State Historical Fund to do a historic assessment of Cheesman Park and a subsequent master plan.

The comprehensive planning process to assess the historic character and development of Cheesman Park provided a vision for future park restoration efforts, park management decisions and park use.  A master plan has never before been completed for this park.

Cheesman Park was designed in 1898 by Denver’s landscape architect Reinhard Schuetze and constructed between 1900 and 1910.  However, the park site has served a civic function from Denver’s earliest days as the City’s first cemetery.  Initially called Congress Park following its dedication as parkland by an 1892 act of the United States Congress, this public ground was renamed Cheesman Park by Denver City Council in 1907 to commemorate the $100,000 donation from the Walter Cheesman family for construction of the Cheesman Memorial.

The Planning Process

Throughout the spring and early summer of 2006, critical information about Cheesman Park was gathered and evaluated using the following methods:

• Historic Landscape Assessment.  Existing historical accounts of the park as well as original plans and park records were examined in order to document the historical development and changes that have occurred in Cheesman Park and the Cheesman Esplanade since its construction over a hundred years ago.
• User Intercept Survey.  A web-based, statistically significant park user intercept survey was conducted to assess park visitation and user preferences.
• Transportation Activity Plan.  A comprehensive overview of transportation issues in Cheesman Park was completed.  Data on vehicular traffic counts, traffic speeds, parking availability and utilization, RTD, bicycles and pedestrians was collected and evaluated.
• Assessment of Existing Park Conditions.  The consultant team made additional visits to Cheesman Park for recording and evaluating existing park conditions.
• Public Process.  Four public meetings and two meetings for park stakeholders were conducted to provide an opportunity for citizen input and information at key stages of the planning process. These sessions included an historical overview of park development and presentation of alternative strategies for park restoration and management.