Park Hill Park nears key design phase
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Visitors view preliminary Park Hill Park designs during an open house at Smith Elementary School. Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez/Axios
The city is nearing the design phase for the new Park Hill Park after spending months amassing nearly 6,000 public comments.
Why it matters: It's the largest park project undertaken by the city in more than 100 years, parks and recreation planning supervisor Stacie West tells us.
- It will be the city's fourth-largest park once completed.
The big picture: Denver Parks and Recreation recently hosted a meeting in Northeast Park Hill with a final framework for the 155-acre space.
- While open in its current state, Park Hill Park is years away from full completion, with on-site work likely starting within two years.
State of play: Numerous people packed into Smith Elementary last week to view the outline for the park's final vision, which includes mapping the spaces, amenities and recreational and athletic facilities the park will house.
- While finite details may still change — like how many basketball or tennis courts the park will need — the basic outline presented last week will be a guiding framework moving forward, West says.
Context: The site had turned into a battleground over development, possible gentrification, and community needs, prompting elections on the former golf course's future in 2023 and on its funding source last year.
- A land swap brokered by Mayor Mike Johnston with former owners Westside Investment Partners led to the city's acquisition last year.
Between the lines: A major project will be building a large field house allowing indoor sports, like soccer and ice hockey, something the city's park system doesn't currently have.
- Funding for the project hasn't been identified yet, West says.
What they're saying: "I'm cautiously optimistic," neighborhood resident Deronn Turner tells us about whether the city can build a park fitting the community's needs.
- The park's size has allowed for an unusual feat, at least by local government standards: Staff claim it can accommodate most of what the public has sought, West says.
What's next: The city hopes to start its bidding process for a design firm in the spring.