Description
Spread over 165 acres and located in South Central Denver, Washington Park is one of Denver's largest parks and is over 100 years old. The park is popular among tourists and Denver locals alike, with some comparing it to Central Park in NYC. In 2012, the park was designated as one of the “Great Public Spaces in America“ by the American Planning Association due to its welcoming, unique character and atmosphere encouraging community involvement.
Center for Social Activities
Besides hosting more than 250 picnic permits per year, Washington park features a 2.6-mile jogging path, two wonderful flower gardens, and Denver's busiest recreation center with indoor pool and gym facilities. What's more are plenty of soccer fields, two playgrounds, of which one is handicap accessible, one basketball court, one roller blade court, a horseshoe court, tennis courts, a lawn bowling green as well as two lakes and one pond. Apart from its numerous features, wide-open spaces and 54 colorful flower beds dominate the landscape.
Concerts, Shopping, and Dining
Every summer, the Colorado Symphony plays in the park in June. It is a fantastic place to take in a free concert during warm summer nights. The Denver Country Club's annual fireworks do also take place in the park in July. Visitors who are interested in shopping and dining will be well served on Old South Gaylord Street and on South Pearl Street.
Historical Information
Developed in the 1890s and early 1900s, Washington Park was initially designed by the German landscape architect Reinhard Schuetze. Schuetze's original plan, much of which remains intact today, was modeled. In 1908, the park was then designed in French country style with new roads, paths and plantings by city planner George Kessler, who elaborated on Schuetze's design.
The Olmsted Brothers incorporated new pedestrian pathways and other recreational activities in the 1910s, before DeBoer, chief landscape architect of Denver, managed the park's space throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Molly Brown, survivor of the Titanic and local philanthropist took also part in the park's redesign. In 1986, the park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
How to get there
Located between Virginia ave (North) and Louisiana Ave (South) as well as Downing Street (West) and Franklin Street (East), the park is easy to get to via F Line, exit at Louisiana-Pearl. Once you reached Louisiana-Pearl, the Park is within walking distance from the station.
