DENVER (KDVR) — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon to usher in the new Park Hill Park.
The park was formerly Park Hill Golf Course, and closed in 2018.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, along with members of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Department, were part of the ceremony.
“Today has been years in the making, and we are only here because of the tireless efforts of community advocates and city staff who want to see this land transformed into Denver’s next great park,” Johnston said in a statement to the city. “But the work is far from over. I am grateful to the City Council for including Park Hill Park in Denver’s vibrant bond package for voters to consider on next week’s ballot.”
Earlier in the year, the city acquired 155 acres of land at East 35th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, versus 165 acres near Denver International Airport.
Depending on funding, the park could eventually include trails, a dog park and sports fields.
“Voters have made it clear they want to preserve green spaces in the Park Hill neighborhood,” Councilwoman Shontel M. Lewis said in the city’s announcement. “As we move forward with the design and construction of this regional park, my goal is to ensure that the final design is driven by the surrounding community. Additionally, through the Neighborhood Planning Initiative, I am focused on ensuring that long-time residents are protected from displacement and supported with the resources they need to stay where they are. We have seen what happens when communities are left out of this process, and I am committed to ensuring that is not the case.”
Denver Parks and Recreation is asking for feedback from residents about their vision for the park. The park will be a “living representation of our city’s love of the outdoors,” Jolon Clark, executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation, said in a city statement.
FOX31’s Heather Willard contributed to this report.