Denver Parks and Recreation

Denver is purchasing a vacant former bank building in the Civic Center neighborhood to create a 0.4-acre public park. The city aims to improve access to green space for residents within a five-minute walk, as the neighborhood's existing Civic Center Park undergoes renovation. The $3 million purchase price exceeds the appraised value by $500,000, and the deal awaits a full City Council vote.

Residents of Denver's Curtis Park neighborhood are entering another summer without a pool as the Mestizo-Curtis Park pool remains closed until 2028 due to required replacement. Community coalition members, including co-founders Aurelio Martinez and Rosalie Cisneros, highlight concerns about limited access for minority families and transportation barriers, while advocating for design changes to the pool's entrance. Denver Parks and Recreation stated the project involves community engagement and a multiyear timeline.

Sloan’s Lake in Denver has experienced toxic blue-green algae blooms that killed thousands of fish, including a 2024 die-off of at least 2,000 fish. The lake’s shallow depth and rising temperatures due to climate change contribute to algae overgrowth, which harms fish by depleting oxygen or releasing toxins. Colorado Parks and Wildlife restocked the lake with 9,500 rainbow trout after the 2024 incident.

The Montbello Recreation Center in Denver will reopen on June 8 after being closed for over two weeks following the May 21 shooting death of a 14-year-old. Denver Parks and Recreation emphasized commitments to safety, healing, and community support through programming, while discussing potential security measures like metal detectors and increased staffing.