denver to see bond-funded park improvements

A visionary effort to redesign a popular park on the west side of Denver is receiving funding to the tune of $6.5 million.

The Paco Sanchez Park at W. 13th Street and Knox Court was named in honor of the late Denver legend Francisco “Paco” Sanchez, a well-known radio broadcaster and member of the Colorado State Legislature.

The City of Denver launched what it called a “re-imagining” of the park last year that included, as a singular tribute to Sanchez, the construction of a play structure resembling a large microphone.

Now city officials have announced that phase two of the re-imagining project has been approved for funding, to come out of the $937 million General Obligation Bond passed by Denver voters last November.

That phase two work will include the construction of a community plaza intended as a gathering space for arts and craft fairs, farmers markets, and other community events.

The project will also see the completion of a fitness loop, a quarter-mile path for walking and jogging, and kiosk building with restrooms, that will be used for checking out recreation equipment.

The bond will also fund updates at the Harvey Park, on the southwest side of the city, at the intersection of S. Tennyson Way and W. Evans Avenue; as well as the Pferdesteller Park on the northwest side of the city at 4815 W. Moncrieff Place.

The design and construction work for both parks will cost a combined $1.8 million.

Some $300,000 in bond funds will additionally go for the new design of the Skyline Park at 1601 Arapahoe Street.

Surrounded by skyscrapers, the Skyline Park is a three-block long green oasis in downtown Denver that is frequented by city residents and visitors for its skating rink in the winter and beer garden in the summer.

Ultimately, the project designed to extensively revamp that space is expected to cost $2.5 million. According to city documents, the Skyline Park’s upgrading will be designed to “foster everyday activities and engage more people year-around.” 

By Garry Boulard

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