The Outdoor Downtown Plan: The Future of Downtown Denver’s Parks and Public Spaces

The Downtown Denver Partnership joined Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Denver Parks and Recreation and other City and community partners to launch The Outdoor Downtown Plan in October 2017, a 20-year master plan that provides visionary and actionable policies, programs and projects that will enrich Downtown parks and public spaces.

We know that the most sustainable way to build our economy is to create a place that attracts people and companies – and keeps them here – and vibrant parks and public spaces are a key component of that strategy.

In 2015, the Partnership’s Management Group Board of Directors proposed the creation of a comprehensive parks plan for our center city, which led to the creation of The Outdoor Downtown Plan in partnership with the City. Now, for the first time, we have a master plan that addresses the unique opportunities and challenges related to managing and activating public spaces in the urban core, and that supports our parks and public spaces serving as positive social gathering places that are managed in a sustainable manner.

Thank you to Partnership Board Member Wendy Williams of Vector Property Services for serving as co-chair of the executive committee for the Plan, and to all of the Partnership staff, Members and community stakeholders for contributing to this exciting next step in creating vibrant public spaces in the center city.

We are already actively engaged in implementing recommendations of the Plan. The Partnership’s 5280 Loop is identified as one of the Plan’s four iconic projects. The Square on 21st, a pop-up park created in partnership with the City over the summer, is another recent example that showcases the Plan’s vision.

Click here to view the plan.