Denver, CO
La Alma-Lincoln Park in Denver to get new roller loop, expanded skate park in makeover
Six months after city officials fenced off part of La Alma-Lincoln Park because of drug use and violence, it’s getting a makeover.
The Denver City Council approved a two-year, $1.3 million contract Monday that will pay for architectural and engineering design for changes planned at the park, located southwest of downtown along Mariposa Street between west 13th and 11th avenues. It passed in a block vote.
The redesigned green space will include a new walking loop, expanded skate and playground areas, a new roller loop, a “rhythm skate plaza” and added picnic groves, according to city documents. The project will also relocate the basketball and tennis courts.
In a description of their planned services, Livable Cities Studio, the company that will design the project, said the park “holds many significant neighborhood memories for the community.”
“The conditions of the existing features at the park are severely deteriorated and the available programming is not meeting current recreational desires,” according to the document.
The planned redesign comes after the city solicited community feedback and created a vision plan for the 15-acre park in July 2023.
“This is good timing, I think, for this neighborhood and this community,” said Councilwoman Jamie Torres, who represents District 3, where the park is located. “It’s a really good opportunity for the community to reimagine what the park will look like for the future.”
Last August, the city closed parts of the park as officials attempted to curb rising drug sales, violence and vandalism in the area. Parkgoers and a nearby charter school complained about human waste, syringes and physical fights in the park.
The park was also closed for periods in 2021 and 2022 after several shootings, including a fatal one in which Gary Arellano, 63, was killed while trying to break up a fight in the park.
Last year, Torres said the influx of drug use was related to Mayor Mike Johnston’s All in Mile High homelessness initiative, which closed off portions of downtown known for homeless encampments.
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Denver, CO
Denver officers cited for separate incidents, 1 fired
DENVER (KDVR) — Two officers, one now formerly of the Denver Police Department, face multiple charges relating to separate incidents in the past two months.
According to a release, now-former Denver Police Officer Gabriel Lucero was issued a citation for third-degree assault, official misconduct and false reporting, while Officer Javon Leach was cited for reckless driving and eluding.
The incident involving Lucero reportedly occurred on May 22 just before 1 a.m. in the 500 block of 16th Street. According to a release, Lucero was involved in an assault at a business, as he allegedly assaulted a person and walked away as others continued to assault the victim.
Security guards and an off-duty officer escorted him and the group out; however, Lucero reportedly identified himself as a Denver police officer and attempted to re-enter by using his police badge.
Lucero reportedly provided a false name without any other information, and further investigation verified Lucero as the person involved. Lucero was hired in 2025 and, due to his current probationary status, was fired as of Wednesday.
The incident involving Leach occurred around 1:41 a.m. on June 21, when Leach was reportedly pulling out of a parking lot on Larimer Street, attempting to drive against traffic.
Leach reportedly refused commands to stop as he left the area. Officials said he was found just seven minutes later, traveling at high speeds northbound on Park Avenue West.
He reportedly fled a traffic stop and continued to drive away, and officials deemed Leach to be the suspect following an investigation. He was placed in an off-line assignment while the case progresses, as they are considered misdemeanors.
“The Denver Police Department’s administrative review of Leach’s incident will begin once the criminal case is adjudicated, and that process includes the Denver Department of Safety and the Office of the Independent Monitor, a civilian oversight agency,” the release said.
Denver, CO
Peyton Watson landing spots: Could Nuggets star actually leave Denver?
Denver Nuggets standout forward Peyton Watson could find himself on another team before you know it.
With the Nuggets reportedly open to a sign-and-trade of Watson, could Denver really lose a core piece to their rotation?
It’s hard to imagine many teams being able to shoulder the financial weight of a Watson contract at this point because of the aprons and such, but he’s absolutely an asset to any contending team.
We’ve gone through and identified a few teams that make sense for Watson in the fall… including the one he’s already on at the moment. Hey, he might stay home, you never know!
The Clippers have been linked to Watson as a possible destination; he could help them immensely.
The Pistons have also been linked to Watson, which would help them a lot to contend for an NBA title.
Look, HYPOTHETICALLY, the Nets could move around some cap space with some player trades and such and get a deal done. They are one of the only teams in the NBA right now not in the negative with cap space.
The Grizzlies are the team with the least amount of negative cap space right now, per Spotrac. If they really wanted to pull off a Watson sign-and-trade… it would be hypothetically possible from a money standpoint.
Denver Nuggts
Look, it’s very possible Watson just stays in Denver on a brand-new deal. Who knows at this point?
Denver, CO
City of Denver says images of piling waste a case of illegal dumping
DENVER (KDVR) – A Denver Park Hill Resident says trash in her alley hasn’t been picked up by city-run waste collection in more than 2 months.
“It’s starting to be frustrating because that pile has been there 2.5 months, and I’m not kidding about that,” Andrea Sanders-Childs said.
A spokesperson for Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) says they did receive a call about the address on Krameria in mid-June and are investigating the case as ‘illegal dumping’ versus ‘missed collection.’
The DOTI spokesperson says more information will be available when the inspector assigned to the area returns on Wednesday.
Sanders-Childs said that the people who live in the home closest to the mess had actually rented a dumpster; however, it was eventually picked up and towed away.
In the meantime, for Denver residents, DOTI provided FOX31 with the following reminders:
- Carts that are overfilled, stuffed or too heavy cannot be emptied
- All trash must be inside the cart, and overflow trash cannot be collected
- To report illegal dumping, call 311
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