Welcome - Denver Parks and Recreation Welcome to Denver, Colorado where our parks and recreation facilities are unrivaled in the Rocky Mountain West. Denver enjoys one of the most diverse, expansive, and historic parks and recreation systems in the nation.     Mission: As stewards of Denver's legacy, the Department of Parks and Recreation is dedicated to customer satisfaction and enhancing lives by providing innovative programs and safe, beautiful, sustainable places. Vision: To be a nationally recognized leader providing model programs and dynamic public spaces.   What's New at Denver Parks and Recreation Want to know what's happening at your local recreation center or keep on top of events at your neighborhood park?  Sign up for Denver Parks and Recreation's free eNewsletter.

News and Events ENJOY A SATURDAY @ THE PARK Volunteers Needed to Begin Work on Mile High Loop   Denver Parks & Recreation and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) will begin work on the highly anticipated “Mile High Loop” in Denver City Park on Saturday, October 18 as part of a daylong celebration, Saturday @ the Park. Read More   DENVER MOUNTAIN PARKS MASTER PLAN We Want to Hear from You Did you know that Denver residents use the Denver Mountain Parks in heavy numbers, between 300-400,000 people a year.  And that over 2.5 million people visit the Denver Mountain Parks each year from all over the world.  Our mountain parks make Denver an unique and a national leader in open space protection. To review the master plan in it's entirety and comment via web blog go to www.denvermountainparks.org  Comments are also being taken until 9/19/08 and can be sent to the department, via susan.baird@ci.denver.co.us or S. Baird at Parks and Recreation, 201 West Colfax, Dept. 605, Denver 80202.     Future of Denver Recreation Centers Public Meetings The National Civic League will conduct, facilitate and co-host a series of community outreach meetings along with GreenPlay LLC and Denver Parks and Recreation that will offer the opportunity for the community to provide input into the development into a long term strategic plan that addresses the “Future of Recreation Centers” in Denver.  A pair of public meetings will be held in each of eight communities that will provide Denver citizens, recreation users and non-users an opportunity to provide suggestions and ideas for the future vision of a recreation center system in an objectionable and equitable way.  Discussions will include the purpose and role in providing programs and services along with community partners that supports residents of all ages as well as the consideration of location, size amenities and fees for our recreation centers and programs.  Please note that Spanish- speaking translators will be present at all meetings.  Sign language interpreter and/or CART is provided upon request with a three business day request notice to Lorrie Kosinski, 720-913-8487 or lorrie.kosinski@denvergov.org  Written comments and suggestions relating to the community meeting discussions can also be submitted to www.denvergov.org/recreation in the suggestion box section.  Any questions regarding the community meetings can be directed to Recreation Administration at davis.talley@denvergov.org .  All community meetings will be held from 6:00pm-8:00 with light refreshments served.      For a list of  Recreation Center Task Force Members, click here.   Public meetings materials - Community outreach presentation Date Center Address Phone July 30/ August 13 Eisenhower Recreation Center 4300 E. Dartmouth Ave. (303)692-5650 July31/August 14 Martin Luther King Recreation Center 3880 Newport St. (303)331-4034 August 5/August 19 Four Mile Historic Park 715 S. Forest St. (720)865-0800 August 6/August 20 Quigg Newton Community Center 4440 Navajo St. (720)865-0100 August 7/August 21 Rude Recreation Center 2855 W. Holden Pl. (303)572-4795 September 2/September 16 Montbello Recreation Center 15555 E. 53rd Ave. (303)373-8708 September 3/September 17 Bruce Randolph School 3955 Steele St. (720)913-0689 September 4/ September 18 Harvey Park Recreation Center 2121 S. Tennyson St. (303)937-4650     PUBLIC MEETING: RIVER NORTH GREENWAY MASTER PLAN Denver Parks and Recreation invites the public to learn about ideas for the proposed River North Greenway Master Plan.  The plan is building on input received to date. Meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at Muñeca’s (south of Washington Street and I-70 interchange).  For more information, contact: Devon Buckels, 720-913-0616 or devon.buckels@denvergov.org   The purpose of the River North Greenway Master Plan: To set a vision for the South Platt River between 20th and Riverside Cemetery and to implement the vision by continuing the success already realized in the Central Platte Valley on the river.   Major Goals of the Master Plan Coordinate the River North Greenway master planning effort with other concurrent plans within the project study boundaries.  Identify opportunties to increase and connect open space along the river.  Improve recreation access and experience. Improve transportation and trail connections. Improve water quality and the overall health of the South Platte River. Identify policy and regulatroy recommendations for the river.  Identify potential funding partner and sources. Develop an implementation plan with timeline, resources and responsible parties.  Public meeting flyer English Spanish     Civic Center Design Guidelines Denver Parks and Recreation is seeking citizen input for the draft Park Design Guidelines for Civic Center.  An advisory committee and several public meetings held since February, 2008 helped to develop the draft guidelines based on 2005 Civic Center Park Master Plan.  These guidelines will direct the implementation of $9.5 million of the Better Denver Bond funding to restore the Greek Theater, Voorhies Memorial, Broadway Terrace, park walkways and balustrades.  The guidelines will also become a basis for other park improvement projects that may be funded in the future.   Tina Bishop, Mundus Bishop Design, has been contracted to prepare the guidelines.  The guidelines will provide parameters for materials, park structures such as kiosks, benches and signage, mass and scale for new features, guidance on level of restoration of historic features and other improvements so these are consistent with the historic character and experience of the park landscape.  The objective is to finalize the guidelines to be formally adopted by Denver Parks and Recreation, the Landmark Preservation Commission and City Council in the Fall, 2008.   Cover and Table of Contents Chapters 1-3 Chapter 4 Chapters 5-10 Back Cover The guidelines will be on review for a period of 60 days from June 30 through August 28, 2008. Please send comments to: Mark.Bernstein@denvergov.org For questions, please call Mark Bernstein at (720) 913-0632.   Submissions Sought for Buffalo Bill Museum RFQ “The Buffalo Bill Gravesite and Museum and Pahaska Tepee (the historic lodge that formerly housed the museum) are key attractions within the Denver Mountain Park system, located on Lookout Mountain. No historical figure, both in fact and in perception, has captured the allure, the realities, the ironies, and the mythology of the American West as Buffalo Bill Cody.  Denver Parks and Recreation seeks a consultant to help the city-owned and managed Buffalo Bill Museum transition to a more independent cultural institution, with its own Board of Directors. We’re publishing this Request for Qualifications to select a consultant to help the Buffalo Bill Museum and Denver Parks and Recreation with: Recommendation of the best governance model for Buffalo Bill Museum within the City structure. Increased community awareness of and advocacy for Buffalo Bill Museum A preliminary Board of Trustees identified, recruited, and trained. Submissions will be taken until July 31, 2008.  Click here, or the RFQ . For information, call Museum Director, Steve Friesen, at 303.526.0744 or steve.friesen@denvergov.org. Game On!- Denver Waives Youth Rec Center Fees for Summer Mayor John Hickenlooper and Denver Parks and Recreation Acting Manager Scott Robson today announced that Denver youth age 17 and younger may use City recreation centers, including swimming pools, for free this summer.  Free admission begins Monday, June 2 - the day City swimming pools open - and will run thorugh Saturday, August 16.  Standard fees will continue to apply for programs and activities that typically are offered at an additional charge.  read more     Ruby Hill Park Master Plan Following the 2004 completion of the baseline for the Ruby Hill Park Master Plan, Denver Parks & Recreation intends to stimulate dialogue and generate feedback. With the assistance of an Advisory Committee made up of neighborhood leaders and advocates, a more detailed draft schematic design was created to include new program elements. This draft schematic plan aims to pursue a holistic approach, creating and following a steady direction, and embracing a sound theme that will prevail until completion of the project.  To view the final park design for Ruby Hill, click here.  Please send comments to: gordon.robertson@denvergov.org