Bethesda Park (New Park at Iliff & Bellaire)

aerial rendering of park area in University Hills neighborhood

With funding from the 2018 voter-approved Parks Legacy Fund, Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) purchased the former Groundcovers Greenhouse site, located in southeast Denver at E. Iliff Avenue and S. Bellaire Street, in 2019. The nearly two-acre site fulfills the goals of DPR's Strategic Acquisition Plan to provide equitable access to park space in historically underserved neighborhoods and create green space within a 10-minute walk for nearby neighbors. A vision planning and community engagement process launched summer 2022, which will lead to the design and construction of a new neighborhood park in future years.

Download the project information sheet(PDF, 507KB)

Community Meeting | February 27, 2025

Come design your new park! Denver Parks and Recreation needs your help to finalize the design of the new 2-acre park in the University Hills neighborhood, Bethesda Park. Building on the vision plan created with the community, this meeting will help determine what will be in the park. Drop in any time!

  • When: Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
  • Where: Denver Academy, Johnson Commons Room, 4400 E. Iliff Ave. 80222

Spanish language interpretation services will be provided at this meeting. It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact parksandrecreation@denvergov.org with three (3) business days’ notice.

Naming Update | May 2024

The new park coming to Iliff and Bellaire is officially named Bethesda Park! Thanks to a community committee, this name was approved at City Council on March 26, 2024. The next step for getting this park built is transitioning theVision Plan(PDF, 31MB)into specific designs that can be used for construction.

 


Timeline:

  • 2022- 2023: Vision Plan Public Outreach 
  • Winter 2024 - Spring 2025: Final Design Engagement
  • Fall 2025: Final Design Compete
  • Early 2026: Construction Start
  • Spring 2027: Project Complete

Vision Planning

After several years of working with the community, the vision plan for Bethesda Park was completed in 2023. The vision plan consists of a neighborhood-level playground and play area, axial walks, lighting, a shaded structure for picnicking, seating, 1/2 basketball courts, a pollinator prairie space, and open green space. The vision planning process included community and stakeholder outreach to help inform a vision plan document for the future park that includes recommendations for amenities that meet community needs.

Download the vision plan(PDF, 949KB)

Community Outreach

Public Meeting #3 | February 15, 2023

At the final public meeting on Feb. 15, 2023, the concept plan for the new park at Iliff and Bellaire was presented: 

Public Meeting #2 | November 16, 2022

Survey #1 | Closed October 15, 2022

CLOSED October 15, 2022

Phase 1 Engagement Summary

Aug. - Oct. 2022

DPR launched a master planning and community engagement process in summer 2022, which will lead to the design and construction of a new neighborhood park in southeast Denver at E. Iliff Avenue and S. Bellaire Street. The first phase of community engagement sought to determine neighbors' priorities for the new park and included a virtual meeting, in-person "pop-up" event and survey. 

Review the Phase 1 Community Engagement Summary(PDF, 635KB)

       

Location

E Iliff Ave & S Bellaire St, Denver 80222  View Map

Google Map