City Park is Denver's largest urban park. At more than 300 acres, it offers a variety of amenities including tennis courts and athletic fields, a network of paths, an event venue, and cultural institutions such as the Denver Zoo and Denver Museum of Nature & Science. At any given time, multiple projects may be underway in City Park. Explore the following sections to learn more about current and recent projects.
Denver Parks and Recreation is planning to improve safety within City Park by redesigning the roadways on the west side of the park. This proposed project will restripe and reorganize the roadways in City Park to simplify vehicle circulation and create new pedestrian and bicycle space on the roadways to help people walk and bike around and through the park. The project would include new striping for the roadways, signage to provide clarity to drivers about circulation and destinations and may include new physical barriers between the vehicle space and the pedestrian/bicycle space. Implementation is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2026. If you have questions or comments, please email parksandrecreation@denvergov.org.
View automobile circulation map(PDF, 3MB)
View loop trail and road circulation map(PDF, 3MB)
Beginning May 2025:
Denver Parks and Recreation will be implementing improvements to the waterway channel in City Park. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of summer 2025. Due to this construction, a section of the Mile High Loop Trail within the park will be temporarily closed. The Nature Play playground will remain open throughout construction. The map below outlines the areas impacted. Please use caution when present in the general area.
View the construction and closure map(PDF, 1MB)
This project will celebrate and educate visitors about environmental resiliency and the native and indigenous people, animals, and land of Denver. This project will include:
- South Meadow: convert turf grass to a more naturalized native meadow that reflects the region's historic landscape
- Lily Pond: establish native and traditional plantings, utilizing means and methods suggested by Native and Indigenous community members
- Former East Playground: create a gathering and picnic space that celebrates the Native and Indigenous community and may be reserved on occasion
Download the project information sheet(PDF, 458KB)
Project Schedule:
- Spring-Summer 2025: Public Outreach
- 2025: Design
- 2026: Construction (south meadow)
Community Outreach:
Informational Meeting: April 23, 2025
Join Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) for updates on the following projects:
- Living Land
- City Park Roadway Improvements
- Lily Pond Historicorps, Phase 2
- Nature Play
- DMNS East Plaza
- DMNS Gems & Minerals Renovation
WHEN: Wednesday, April 23, 2025 | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science | West Atrium | 2001 N. Colorado Blvd, Denver 80205
Download and print the meeting flyer(PDF, 452KB)
Spanish language interpretation will be available. It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please reach out to parksandrecreation@denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.
October 2024 Update:
Efforts are underway to restore cormorant habitat on the island located within Duck Lake in City Park. These efforts will include the removal of listed noxious weeds, new tree plantings, bracing existing trees, and installation of habitat poles and floating wetlands. Earlier this year a new aeration system was installed to assist with water quality. Restoration efforts are expected to conclude late 2024.
Complete as of fall 2024:
In partnership with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Complete as of summer 2024:
As the recipient of Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Fishing is Fun grant, DPR restored the banks of the pond, creating crusher-fine trail access, and planting wetland species to enhance water quality and habitat. Native shrubs and vegetation were also planted to help stabilize slopes leading to the water's edge.
Complete as of fall 2023:
Read the press release
