Denver, CO
Your Guide To Secret Parks in and Around Denver – 303 Magazine
Welcome to a world beyond Cheesman, City Park, and Wash Park! While these iconic spots are fantastic, Denver boasts over 200 other hidden gems waiting to be explored. If you find your usual spots a bit too crowded, why not venture into the lesser-known green spaces scattered throughout the Mile High City? 303 Magazine has scoured the city to bring you a curated list of secret parks in Denver and its surrounding areas that are just waiting to be discovered. Your very own hidden oasis could be right in your backyard – so why not embark on a journey of exploration and uncover the beauty that Denver’s lesser-known parks have to offer?
Observatory Park
Where: 2100 S. Fillmore St., Denver
The Lowdown: Denver University students have probably heard of this one, but if you live or work near this gorgeous campus, you must check out Observatory Park. This little oasis hidden in a nice woodsy neighborhood offers some great reading spots underneath the trees. The park is named for the Chamberlin Observatory, DU’s very own astronomy tower that’s located in it. You can watch the stars or a full moon here and you don’t have to be an astronomy student. Check the Observatory’s schedule here to see available times.
Belleview Park
Where: 5001 S. Inca Dr., Englewood
The Lowdown: If you don’t spend a lot of time in Englewood, maybe you should because Belleview Park has everything. More like a small amusement park than simple city green space, Belleview’s got a miniature train you can ride at $2 per person (children two and under are free), a farm where you can pet animals and a water park called Pirates Cove. If that sounds all sounds like it’s for kids, then you might just prefer the bike paths and the creek. And if it doesn’t, well you better catch that train. For more info on attractions, please click here.
Olympic Park
Where: 15501 E. Yale Ave., Aurora
The Lowdown: If you love sports, this park in Aurora has all the amenities. Featuring volleyball courts, baseball diamonds and soccer fields, Olympic Park is for athletes to train or anyone looking for a pick-up game. Inside the park, you can also find another park called Wheel Park, a facility that includes a skateboarding bowl, roller-hockey rink and BMX bike track. This park is like its own recreation center.
Zuni and 51st Park
Where: 5050 Zuni St., Denver
The Lowdown: North of the Sunnyside neighborhood nearby Regis University, you’ll find Zuni and 51st park — the park we know you definitely haven’t been to. Google Maps doesn’t even have a description or real address for it. If you want to appreciate Denver from a distance, the hill in this quiet neighborhood park has the perfect bench to sit on and look at the skyline. Better hurry before someone else steals the spot.
George M. Wallace Park
Where: 4700 DTC Blvd., Denver
The Lowdown: In terms of landscaping, the George M. Wallace Park near the Denver Tech Center might be the most lovely on our list. Named in memoriam of the Tech Center’s founder, Wallace Park is picturesque rolling hills, trees and sidewalks that stretch alongside the tall business buildings. The park also has constructed obstacles and hurdles that runners can use to make sure they’re toning those muscles. You must make the drive south for this one.
Alamo Placita Park
Where: 300 N. Emerson St., Denver
The Lowdown: It used to be called “Little Place of the Cottonwoods” for the trees that grew naturally here, but now the small garden sanctuary — now named for the Alamo Placita neighborhood — is home to even more plants and flowers. If you drive on Speer, you most often miss it, but this little piece of heaven is the ideal place to catch your breath and drown out the traffic when you need a break.
Ruby Hill Park
Where: 1505 W. Jewell Ave., Denver
The Lowdown: This hilly park south of downtown is so fun locals use it for skiing and snowboarding. During the winter, the park features obstacles to practice all your shredding tricks and in the warmer months, visitors can play on the playgrounds or use the baseball diamonds and mountain bike park. There are even sweet views of the skyline.
Babi Yar Memorial Park
Where: 10451 E. Yale Ave., Denver
The Lowdown: This 27-acre park in the shape of the Star of David is actually a living Holocaust memorial. With an amphitheater, grove, ravine and two inscribed black granite monoliths that pave the entrance, this park was designed to commemorate those who lost their lives at the 1941 through 1943 Nazi massacre of Jewish peojhple and others in Kiev, Ukraine. As a place for reflection and remembrance, the Babi Yar Memorial Park is a great spot to find peace and quiet.
Great Lawn Park
Where: 101 Yosemite St., Denver
The Lowdown: In the Lowry neighborhood bordering Aurora, the Great Lawn Park is only a short drive east of the city and definitely worth checking out. Public green space is everywhere you look and you will even see mountains without any trees to block your view. With baseball diamonds, a creek, playgrounds, and a cool sundial monument, Great Lawn Park might be your new favorite spot.
Huston Lake Park
Where: 850 S. Bryant St., Denver
The Lowdown: With lots of shady places to relax and a lake to fish in, Huston Lake is the tranquil oasis you won’t find in the downtown hustle and bustle. Featuring a paved trail and beautiful views of the Front Range, this secret park is definitely worth escaping to.
Grant Frontier Park
Where: 2300 S. Platte River Dr., Denver
The Lowdown: Bicyclists rejoice. There is a park just for you along the South Platte River Trail. This hidden park just south of Evans Avenue and South Huron Street offers the calming sounds of the rushing South Platte River, a scenic walking bridge, playgrounds and beautiful paths for walking or riding. Grant Frontier Park is a favorite on our list.
Ketring Park
Where: 6000 S. Gallup St., Littleton
The Lowdown: If you enjoy running around the lake in Wash Park but are tired of crowds, Ketring Park has you covered. Featuring a small lake with a 0.92-mile loop path, this scenic park hidden within quiet neighborhoods of Littleton is ready for your workout or relaxation. Ketring might be the most tranquil on our list.
Belmar Park
Where: 801 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood
The Lowdown: If you love trees, Belmar Park has places to hide. With hiking and biking paths, stone sculptures and playgrounds, Belmar Park offers the same picturesque scenery as Cheesman or City Park, but is more nature-centric. A trip to this crown jewel in Lakewood promises views of wildlife and some much-deserved peace and quiet.
Inspiration Point Park
Where: 4901 Sheridan Blvd., Denver
The Lowdown: This secret park definitely earns its name. Not all parks in the city offer views of the Rockies, but Inspiration Point Park near Arvada does. The park features a gorgeous bluff lookout that oversees the Clear Creek Valley and makes for a nice walk and refuge from your daily stress. This one should be at the top of your list (it’s on ours for one of best places to see the sunset).
READ: Best Places to See the Sun Rise and Set in and Around Denver
Centennial Center Park
Where: 13050 E. Peakview Ave., Centennial
The Lowdown: This park is fun for the whole family. As playground heaven for the little ones and the young at heart, Centennial Center Park always has something exciting going on. With its very own water playground, nature area and amphitheater that hosts concerts and shows, this secret park is the ideal weekend afternoon retreat.
Central Park
Where: 8801 MLK Jr. Blvd., Denver
The Lowdown: With a Dr. Seuss-inspired playground, this family-fun park in Stapleton is the secret park parents should know about. Bouncy purple mounds, whimsical trees and tubes to climb through are fun for all ages. As the third largest park in Denver, Central Park is an astounding 80 acres — and has everything — picnic/grill areas, a pond, sport fields and drop-dead gorgeous scenery of the Front Range.
James A. Bible Park
Where: 6802 E. Yale Ave., Denver
The Lowdown: This large green space near Cherry Creek State Park often goes unnoticed, but is a great place to play or relax. Jogging trails, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and a playground with a sandbox are some of the many highlights of James A. Bible Park, but the best part is really the space all to yourself.
Redstone Park
Where: 3280 Redstone Park Circle, Littleton
The Lowdown: Catch a fish or play a pick-up game at Redstone Park, Highland Ranch’s favorite park. With baseball diamonds, a skate park, an amphitheater, a playground with a wooden castle and moat, a fishing pond and much more, Redstone has everything and then some. Our favorite spot in the gazebo, the highest point in the park where you can score mountain views.
Ralston-Central Park
Where: 5850 Garrison St., Arvada
The Lowdown: If you don’t want to drive to Centennial Center Park and live in the north, check out Ralston-Central Park — the year-old park that has playgrounds galore. With a splash pad (water playground) and picnic pavilion, this secret park is fun for the whole family and makes for an exciting day when you want to enjoy the sunnier weather.
Downtown Denver’s 16th Street FreeRide service is a staple. In fact, more than 2 million people hop on every year. Now, the service could be in jeopardy as RTD tries to figure out ways to fix its $200 million budget deficit.
“The demand for the FreeRide is at the highest level it’s been since the pandemic, and it’s the cheapest service that we run in terms of per passenger cost,” RTD board member Chris Nicholson said.
Nicholson was shocked when staff made budget suggestions that would end the FreeRide service, one of the highest ridership lines in the system.
Not to mention, 70% of RTD’s budget comes from sales tax, and downtown Denver is one of the biggest economic engines in the district.
“We are so caught up in the conversation about cuts across the entire region that that opportunity for conversation with the downtown community really didn’t get the chance to happen, and a lot of people were surprised to see that in there,” Nicholson added.
For him, the proposal is personal. Nicholson says he uses the service daily.
“When I need to go up to Union Station, when I need to go to meet somebody for coffee, when I need to get groceries,” Nicholson said.
CBS Colorado took a trip using FreeRide to hear from passengers.
“Gone out drinking, out eating, back and forth from the hotels,” said one passenger visiting downtown for a work conference. “So yeah, it’s been useful for that.”
While some riders use it for leisure, others say they depend on it.
“I use it for transportation to Union Station to get to and from doctor’s appointments to and from work is actually one of the reasons why I chose to live downtown,” downtown resident Jovelle Brown said.
And with millions of riders, the numbers speak for themselves.
“I’ll be at City Hall fighting against the proposal,” Brown added.
“We need to look at this from the perspective of the communities we operate in, and I think that those communities made their voices heard on this one,” Nicholson said.
A spokesperson for Mayor Mike Johnston’s office told CBS Colorado, “We are deeply sympathetic to RTD’s budget situation, but cutting a popular service used hundreds of thousands of times a month and millions of times a year isn’t the answer. As RTD itself noted recently, the 16th Street FreeRide is vital to supporting downtown and fills a crucial need in helping people navigate between Civic Center Station and Union Station at no cost. It’s the kind of thing we need more of if we want people to use public transportation, not less.
“We know RTD shares in our affection for this service as well as our belief that Denverites and visitors alike deserve cost-efficient and safe public transportation, and we look forward to working together as this process unfolds.”
Denver police arrested two boys on suspicion of first-degree murder after detectives said they shot and killed a 33-year-old man in Sunnyside.
Investigators believe Christopher Nabors confronted the boys, who are 12 and 14 years old, after he found them either breaking into or trying to steal his vehicle in the 4300 block of North Pecos Street on June 30.
The boys, who have not been publicly identified because they are juveniles, were arrested by Denver Police Department officers on July 1 after police spotted them in a stolen vehicle and they fled when officers tried to pull them over.
Denver police also accused the 14-year-old of being involved with a shooting about 15 minutes before the Sunnyside shooting, when the teen and two other juveniles shot a fourth juvenile near Park Avenue and East 20th Avenue. The juvenile victim was injured but survived, agency officials said.
Detectives are still investigating a homicide that happened under the same circumstances in the 15000 block of East Olmsted Drive in the early hours of June 24.
Jacob Lopez, 19, was killed in that shooting, according to the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner.
Following the deaths of Nabors and Lopez, Denver police warned the public against confronting would-be car thieves.
“We offer this warning, in no way to shame the victims for their attempts to protect their vehicles, but to bring awareness to this disturbing trend and to encourage everyone to call 911 if they see something suspicious or a crime in progress,” Chief Ron Thomas said in a statement on July 2. “The brazen actions of these suspects go against the fiber of our community, and our investigations teams are working to identify and arrest them.”
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.
DENVER — Dr. Justina Ford’s name adorns plaques and statues across Denver, where she delivered more than 7,000 babies as the city’s first licensed Black woman physician. Now, an affordable housing building in Five Points, the neighborhood where she lived and worked for 50 years, bears her name.
The newly christened Justina at Five Points, formerly Brunetti Lofts, offers a rare commodity in Denver’s housing market: family-sized affordable housing units.The 23-unit building, built in 2005, has 19 three-bedroom units. Rents range from $840 to $1,893 per month. Residents must make between 30% and 60% of Denver’s area median income, and specific income requirements vary depending on the unit.
“I do believe that in the last, five, ten years, maybe a little longer, housing here in Colorado has just gone crazy. I mean, I have a little two-bedroom townhouse, and I can’t afford to move back in the neighborhood I grew up in because of the pricing. And it’s just crazy,” said Daphne Rice-Allen, chair of the board at the Black American West Museum and Heritage Center, which is housed in Ford’s historic home in Five Points.
Rice-Allen grew up in Clayton, which is northeast of Five Points. This cluster of neighborhoods in north Denver — Five Points, Cole, Whittier and Clayton — were among the areas deemed “hazardous” and “definitely declining” on the city’s 1938 “Residential Security Map,” which redlined neighborhoods with Black, Mexican and lower-income residents.
At that time, Five Points flourished as a cultural and entertainment hub, known as “the Harlem of the West” and serving as “the seat of Denver’s African American community.” Black social clubs, such as the Owl Club, emerged. And Ford, who arrived in Denver in 1902 and was not allowed to work in a hospital, continued to provide medical care out of her house and deliver babies at her patients’ homes.
“This was a family neighborhood, Rice-Allen said about Five Points during that period.
“There were a lot of families that lived in the area and lived in the neighborhood.”
But Five Points’ demographics have changed a lot since Ford died in 1952. About 30% of households in the neighborhood were families in 2020. By 2024, that percentage dropped to about 20%.
The neighborhood experienced a drastic shift in racial demographics as well. In 2000, about 27% of the residents were white, 26% Black and 43% Hispanic. The 2020 census told a different story: 64% white, 10% Black and 17% Hispanic.
What was once a Black cultural hub is now a majority-white neighborhood, which raises concerns about gentrification and displacement of long-time residents. Despite the large supply of affordable housing units in the area — 2,796 in 2024 — about half of renters in Five Points are cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than 30% of their income on housing.
-
Health4 minutes agoGame-changing cholesterol pill wins FDA approval after cutting LDL nearly 60%
-
Sports10 minutes ago2026 AL, NL MVP Odds: Ohtani Favored; Alvarez Holding Off Challengers
-
Technology16 minutes agoTesla helped save a driver. Is your car ready?
-
Business22 minutes agoSpaceX stock erases all its gains and slides below IPO price in intraday trading
-
Entertainment28 minutes agoContributor: Hollywood will stop fueling racism when audiences demand better
-
Politics40 minutes agoTrump seeks prime-time spotlight for election claims, sparking concerns he’ll intervene
-
Science46 minutes agoCalifornia employer health premiums will cost as much as a new car in 2027
-
Sports52 minutes agoHow Spain ‘recaptured the spirit of 2010’ in its run to the World Cup final
