Mayor Hancock, City Officials and Partners Celebrate New Bond-funded City Park Playground
With $2M funded by the voter approved Elevate Denver Bond Program, the project includes replacement of the playground, enhanced picnic sites and walking areas
Denver Parks & Recreation
Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Happy Haynes, Executive Director of Parks and Recreation and community partners celebrated the completion of the new City Park Playground and surrounding amenities, a community-supported 2017 Elevate Denver Bond project.
“Because voters said yes to the Elevate Denver bonds, we get to celebrate this new playground at City Park that will support new generations of kids’ imagination for years to come,” Mayor Hancock said. “Our neighborhoods, communities and families here in Denver thrive because of thoughtful and strategic infrastructure investments in everything from new facilities to new playgrounds, providing everything our residents and kids need to have a great quality of life here in Denver today and well into the future.”
The original wooden playground, constructed in 1996, was beyond its useful life, showing signs of wear, safety concerns and increased operational demands which warranted a complete replacement. As part of the Elevate Denver bond program approved by voters in 2017, the entire playground was replaced and new amenities were added. Denver Parks & Recreation added additional funds to the project to enhance the picnic sites and walking areas surrounding the playground and a LuBird Light fundraiser provided $60,000 to add the inclusive swing and whirl.
Community input defined the design of the playground which includes open air pavilions and picnic areas, dragon and castle climbing structure and slide, towers and rope bridge, under 5 play area, wavy walk, spinners, accessible swing and spinner merry-go-round. The new playground fulfills the vision identified in the recently completed Denver Parks & Recreation City Park Master Plan and Game Plan for a Healthy City.
“The City Park Playground project delivers on the community investment promise we made to residents in the Elevate Denver Bond Program and is a creative and fun way to enjoy one of the many amenities within City Park,” said Happy Haynes, executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation. “The playground design and play elements encourage children and families of all ages and abilities to engage in active and physically healthy activities.”
Established in 1882, City Park is Denver’s largest urban park, occupying nearly 320 acres between East Seventeenth and East Twenty-Third Avenues from York Street to Colorado Boulevard. The park provides stimulating activities and discovery opportunities for all ages and abilities to. The new playground is located on the west side of City Park near Duck Lake and Ferril Lake and the new play features and spaces fit well within the existing trees and vegetation of the adjacent meadow.
More information on the project can be found here: www.denvergov.org/parkprojects.