Several projects and planning efforts are underway in Denver's Westwood neighborhood, bringing new green space and amenities to the community. Learn more about these projects in the following sections:
Irving St. - Kentucky Ave.
This section of the Westwood Trail is part of the Via Verde Trail project which will create neighborhood connections that may integrate with other city projects, community-led efforts, and private partnerships.
Public Meeting 1
Date: Thurs. August 25, 2022
Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Kepner-Beacon Middle School: 911 S. Hazel Ct. 80219
The project team discussed the current status of Via Verde Trail, and the community provided feedback on early designs of the Irving to Kentucky section.
Kentucky & Knox Park is a pocket park located in the Westwood neighborhood. The redesign will consist of a new playground, irrigation system, and walk connectivity around the playground and picnic shelter, thanks to DPR Capital Funds.
Project Timeline:
- Spring/Summer 2022: Public Outreach & Design
- Spring 2023: Construction Start
- Fall 2023: Construction Complete
Download the project information sheet.
Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) and Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure have collaborated with community partners - Trust for Public Land, D3 Arts, Groundwork Denver, and Westwood Unidos – to turn an old Xcel Energy substation into a resident envisioned pocket park. Park amenities were prioritized by and for neighborhood youth and include: skate features, basketball, seating, shade structures, original art mural along the park boundary. When complete, the project will also bring intersection and green infrastructure improvements along the Kentucky corridor.
The 2016 Westwood Neighborhood Plan identified transformative projects such as “Create a Neighborhood Greenway” and “Strengthen Community Resources & Spaces.” Spearheaded by Cool Connected Westwood (CCW), a coalition of over 20 public agencies, non-profits, and community partners, which formed in 2015. They created a vision plan for the Westwood Via Verde. The objective of the coalition to collaborate with residents to identify and implement neighborhood-scale improvement projects that improve access to parks, improve water quality, reduce the heat island effect and allow for potential job creation can all be found in the Via Verde project. A portion of which will soon be implemented near the Irving & Kentucky Park by DPR.
Download the project information sheet(PDF, 2MB)
May 2023 Project Update
The intersection of S. Irving Street and W. Kentucky Avenue is closed to vehicles until early August and drivers should follow posted detour signs. A temporary crosswalk is in place just west of the intersection for pedestrians to cross W. Kentucky Avenue.
While the intersection is closed, crews will be building the curb line “bump outs” in the intersection. These bump outs – or wider paved and landscaped areas – are being built in each corner of the intersection to help slow down traffic and shorten the crosswalks in each direction to make crossings safer for pedestrians.
Download the travel advisory flyer(PDF, 486KB)
Detour Map:
Open detour map in a new tab
Funded by the Elevate Denver Bond Program, this new recreation center will be the first in the neighborhood, providing increased access to health and wellness opportunities. This project is currently in the planning and community engagement phase.
Learn more and get involved!