By the G.E.S. Gazette staff
The Denver Park Trust (DPT) wants equitable access to parks in Denver, said DPT Executive Director Frank Rowe, including a park within a 10-minute walk or roll from every resident in Denver. And it is preparing to make its biggest investment since its founding in 2019 to do just that in Globeville.
On Nov. 27, City Council approved a Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) request to purchase two parcels of land to expand the northern perimeter of an existing city-owned property at 4400 Pearl St. The 0.45-acre parcel, also called Pocket Park, was designated a park by City Council in June 2023.
The additional parcels at 4458 N. Pearl St. and 4441 N. Washington St. bring the planned park to nearly an acre.
The $1.2 million land purchase for the future park will be funded by the city’s Parks Legacy Fund as well as by a $25,000 grant from the Denver Park Trust. DPT pledged an additional $25,000 for design and construction of the park.
According to the DPR proposal, “Acquisition of 4458 North Pearl Street and 4441 North Washington Street will significantly reduce the 10-Minute Walk or Roll gap in one of DPR’s acquisition priority areas, which are areas where high equity neighborhoods, based on DPR’s Neighborhood Equity Index, overlap with 10-Minute Walk or Roll gaps in predominantly residential communities.”
Residents who live in the immediate vicinity of this area have limited access to park space due to barriers created by the South Platte River, the BNSF railyard and tracks, Washington Street, I-25 and I-70.
DPR estimated that the new park in this location will serve approximately 1,700 residents (including 500 youth) who are not currently within a 10-minute walk or roll to a park.
Denver Park Trust is committed to designing a park with the interests of neighbors in the immediate area in mind. They can be reached at denverparktrust.org.
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