Denver Releases Updated Vibrant Denver Bond Project List
Published on July 18, 2025
List reflects City Council additions, discussions to continue in coming weeks
DENVER, CO — The City and County of Denver today shared an updated and revised Vibrant Denver Bond package. The updated project list incorporates many of the Executive Committee’s recommendations and now also includes additional input from members of Denver City Council. Mayor Mike Johnston and Council will continue to work together to ensure the bond is tackling the city’s top priorities and spread equitably throughout Denver.
Infrastructure Projects that Meet Basic Needs
This bond represents $935 million in direct investment into infrastructure across Denver and will not result in a tax increase. The largest category of funding – about 46% or $427 million – will go toward transportation and mobility, meaning streets, bridges, and traffic/pedestrian safety improvements.
The next largest category of funding – about 25% or $237 million – will go toward improvements at city facilities residents use every day, like libraries, community centers, the animal shelter, and more, as well as places that help make Denver an enjoyable place to live and visit, like Red Rocks, the Botanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, and more.
Improving and expanding parks and recreation infrastructure, including city parks, pools, safer trails, and children’s play areas, is approximately 19% or $175 million in the bond.
Approximately 7% or $64 million of this bond will make ADA improvements to housing and shelter facilities and add new affordable housing. An additional 3% or $30 million will expand a family health clinic and build a children’s advocacy center.
See the full list of projects here
“We’re continuing to work on perfecting this bond package and making sure that what we refer to voters matches what residents have told us is most important,” said City Council Pro Tem Diana Romero Campbell. “This week, we’ve added several important projects across the city, including a future recreation hub and skate park in Southeast Denver.”
“The Vibrant Denver Bond is more than a list of projects, it’s a promise to our residents,” said Council President Amanda P. Sandoval. “It’s a commitment to safer streets, stronger neighborhoods, and a future where Denver can thrive. Every compromise was driven by one belief: Denver deserves our very best.”
“This is a nuts-and-bolts bond to fix aging and dangerous infrastructure. If approved by voters, it will deliver significant improvements citywide and in District 9, including a major project in Globeville as well as a long-overdue renovation of the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library that honors the legacy of Five Points,” said Councilman Darrell Watson. “I’m proud to work with Mayor Johnston and my fellow members of Council in advancing this bond and immediately strengthening our city in both the short and long-term.”
“Every few years we come together as a city to set our shared priorities—like making neighborhoods safer, more connected, and more vibrant,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “This package delivers on those goals by repairing the roads we drive on, fixing the bridges we cross, improving the parks and rec centers our families use, and investing in libraries that serve as community hubs. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who helped shape this effort, and excited to bring these improvements to every corner of Denver.”
Critical Local Investment Without Raising Taxes
Bonds are how cities across the U.S., including Denver, pay for infrastructure. While General Obligation bonds are funded by property taxes, the 2025 Vibrant Denver bond won’t raise the property tax rate. Over the past six months, the public, committee member volunteers, and city staff have worked to narrow 1,100 project ideas into a list of the 59 most critical infrastructure projects needed in Denver today – all of which can be completed within the city’s existing bond capacity since previous bond programs are nearing completion.
If approved by Denver City Council before August 25, registered voters will see questions about the bond on their November 4, 2025, ballot.
The city maintains records of all community input, subcommittee meetings, and executive committee meetings online at denvergov.org/vibrantbond.
About Denver GO Bonds
General obligation (GO) bonds are a long-term debt instrument issued by state or local governments to fund public capital improvement projects such as roads, bridges, bikeways, public facilities and parks. This includes restoring, replacing and expanding existing capital assets. Local GO bond programs are authorized by Denver voters every 4-10 years and repaid through property taxes. Denver’s previous bond programs include Elevate Denver, a 10-year, $937 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2017, and RISE Denver, a five-year, $260 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2021. For more information, visit denvergov.org/gobonds.
About the Denver Department of Finance
Committed to being the best financially managed city and county in the nation, the Department of Finance (DOF) unifies the financial and accounting functions of the City and County of Denver and provides residents easy access to key financial data through Transparent Denver. DOF is divided into the Office of the CFO and seven divisions, including the Assessor’s Office, Controller’s Office, Budget and Management Office, Capital Planning and Real Estate, Cash and Capital Funding, Risk Management and Worker’s Compensation, and Treasury. For more information, visit Denvergov.org/finance.
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