Denver, CO
A zebra sanctuary in Park Hill? A wave pool? Denver residents weigh in with ideas for massive new city park
Many Denverites’ ideas for what should go in the city’s newest park are on the practical and predictable side: Hiking trails. A pond. A dog park. Maybe even a botanic garden.
Then, there are the wild cards.
A zebra sanctuary, a wave pool, a skijoring training area.
These suggestions, both the realistic and the ones that seem pulled straight from a 10-year-old’s imagination, are just some of the options that Denver Parks and Recreation likely will weigh as officials decide what will be built at the former Park Hill Golf Course property once it becomes a public park.
In an attempt to get a feel for what Denverites want to see in the new park, The Denver Post conducted an informal online survey this week. As of midday Friday, it had garnered 318 responses.
The 155-acre former golf course in northeast Denver has been the subject of debate and consternation for decades. After several citywide votes over whether the land should remain open space, be developed into housing and shops, or a mix of both, the decision has been announced by Mayor Mike Johnston: the full property will become a park.
When it opens this summer, the not-yet-named park will be the city’s fourth largest behind only City Park, Sloan’s Lake and Washington Park.
But the fight over the land isn’t totally over.
In the next round, city officials will weigh which amenities they should pursue for the future park. While the area will open initially as open space, Parks and Recreation plans to solicit feedback, a process that will inform how officials develop the park further.
The city has suggested it may add some lower-cost developments to the park, like picnic tables or a disc golf course, as it builds a long-term plan.
Officials will rake through input from residents near and far, consider the city’s bank account, design a park, and — almost certainly — leave some, or many, residents frustrated when their ideas lose out.
Here’s some of what The Post learned in its survey: Of 15 potential amenities listed in the survey as options, seven received more than 100 votes from the respondents (who could choose more than one).
They were, in descending order: Hiking trails, a playground, picnic tables, a pond or lake, a botanic garden, a dog park, and a performance space or stage.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents said hiking trails were an amenity they wished to see in the park.
Those who answered also had an opportunity to say which amenity they most wanted. Twenty-four people said walking trails were the amenity they dreamed of the most, while 20 said a dog park, 16 said pickleball courts, 14 said a golf course and nine said a disc golf course.
Here are some of the suggestions residents made when given a “fill in the blank” option. Answers are transcribed almost exactly as they were written:
- Dog park!
- Anything but another dog park
- SKATE PARK (CAN BE SMALL)
- Could we make part of it a zebra sanctuary?
- Skijoring training area
- Kid stuff
- TREES
- Artificial wave machine
Some of the most creative ideas:
- A city-funded vet office for wildlife so there is a place where people can bring injured wildlife
- Locking wooden stocks for public shaming
- Film at Park Hill showing movies on a big screen
- Roller rink
About 80 of the respondents said they lived in Park Hill neighborhoods.
Irene Andress, 70, has lived in the area for the last 10 years. A frequent visitor of City Park, Andress hopes the city will build a pond to bring in migratory birds to Park Hill. She would also love to see a bike loop.
“We don’t have great trail access here at Park Hill,” she said. “We just need something where you can get in your regular exercise.”

Shontel Lewis, who represents the neighborhood on the Denver City Council, said it’s early in the feedback process but, mostly, her constituents just want to be a part of the decision-making process around the park’s development.
“And that doesn’t mean that it’s not a park for everyone,” Lewis said. “The residents can have the opportunity to design what they believe the vision for that park should be, and it can be a park that is open to the public and meets the needs of the greater Denver metro area.”
The city is in the process of formally acquiring the property through a land trade deal with the owners, Westside Investment Partners. Pending council approval, Johnston has agreed to give the developers a 145-acre parcel of land the city owns near Denver International Airport.
Denver Parks and Recreation hasn’t yet started to solicit feedback, but residents can sign up to be notified once the process has begun on its website. The city plans to build upon input it has received in the past with surveys, pop-up events, public meetings and open houses, said Stephanie Figueroa, a spokesperson for the parks department.
The park’s development will be funded through a 2018 voter-approved 0.25% sales tax called the Parks Legacy Fund, which dedicates dollars for parks, trails and open space in the city.
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Denver, CO
Zane Nelson scores 22 off bench as Denver defeats Colorado State 83-81
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Zane Nelson’s 22 points off the bench helped Denver hold off Colorado State 83-81 on Friday night.
Nelson shot 6 of 10 from the field, including 3 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 7 for 8 from the foul line for the Pioneers (2-3). Carson Johnson scored 18 points while shooting 6 for 11 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Julius Rollins had 16 points.
The Rams (4-1) were led by Kyle Jorgensen, who posted 29 points and six rebounds. Carey Booth added 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, while Brandon Rechsteiner finished with 11 points.
Denver went into the half leading Colorado State 41-33. Nelson scored 14 points in the half. Denver pulled off the victory after a 7-0 second-half run erased a three-point deficit and gave them the lead at 58-54 with 10:19 left in the half. Logan Kinsey scored nine second-half points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Denver, CO
Denver ties mark Friday for second-latest date for a first snowfall
Metro Denver residents in some areas woke up to wet sidewalks, marking the first measurable moisture the area has received in 24 days. But outside of the foothills, snow still hasn’t arrived, tying 1934 for the second-latest first snowfall on record.
There was fog and a light mist at Denver International Airport, with the temperature at around 40 degrees, as of 6 a.m. There is a 50% chance of light showers in the area through around 10 a.m. before things dry up again. The skies should turn partly cloudy with a high of 49 degrees and a slight wind from the north at 3 to 5 miles per hour, according to a forecast from the National Weather Service in Boulder.
But still no snow. If there isn’t 0.1 inches of snow measured by the end of today, unlikely given where temperatures are at, then the next mark to reach will be Dec. 10, which represents the latest first snowfall ever measured locally. That record was set in 2021.
The next best chance for snow is expected on Thanksgiving morning, when temperatures will dip down into the mid-20s overnight. But the forecast calls for only a slight chance of snow and showers. The high on Thursday is forecast to reach 54 degrees. After that, Sunday, Nov. 30, offers a 50% chance of snow showers.
The weather shouldn’t interfere with the morning commute. But light snow is expected to continue through the I-70 corridor for those heading up into the mountains.
Denver, CO
Renovations begin at Denver’s Civic Center Park for the first time in 100 years
The first major renovations in Civic Center Park for the first time in 100 years began this week. The City of Denver wants to make the park more inviting for events and people while preserving the area’s history.
The park is a popular spot for concerts, protests, and festivals based on its central location in downtown Denver and also its large lawn space with flowers and concrete paths.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said the park is in need of a makeover while embracing its past.
“We are both custodians of the history of this place, and we are also caretakers of the future, which means we have to make sure that we make the investments like this to prepare this public space for the next 100 years of events,” said Johnston.
Phase one of the renovations is expected to be complete by Summer 2027.
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