CityLead: Urban Exploration

CityLead is offered exclusively to Downtown Denver Partnership members who are looking to make a meaningful impact on the economic vitality of Downtown Denver and the Center City. Current CityLead programs include Urban Exploration and the Downtown Denver Awards Jury Experience Stay tuned for more information on upcoming CityLead programs, events, and engagement opportunities.


It takes leadership and vision to rally a community, identify opportunities, face challenges, and solve problems. And, in order to create change we know we must be open and willing to learn from each other — that’s why we created the Urban Exploration program. 

Since 2008, we’ve been bringing together the public and private sectors. City leaders and business leaders. People from our downtown and people from theirs. We believe that the only way to continue building and growing Downtown Denver is to learn from people who are facing the same challenges we are in their respective cities. Who have already solved ‘that’ problem. Who can guide us in our pursuit to build an economically vibrant, healthy, and growing center city. 

Using the 2007 Downtown Area Plan to guide the itinerary and foundation of each trip — we focus on real issues that are facing our city; infrastructure, economic development, transit and transportation and public-private partnerships. The result is real inspiration leading to action as we build a great city.

2021 Urban Exploration Trip Details

June 17 – 18, 2021

The Downtown Denver Partnership will lead approximately 150 Downtown Denver business leaders, elected officials and key City staff members on its 13th annual Urban Exploration trip through our own hometown, Denver, Colorado. Staying in Denver will give our community an opportunity to consider our history, while exploring our shared community.

This year’s Urban Exploration trip will continue to provide an opportunity for community leaders to network and immerse themselves in an educational setting where they will learn about city building principles from civic leaders.

While the application to participate in the 2021 Urban Exploration period has closed, please reach out to Aylene McCallum (amccallum@downtowndenver.com) with any questions.

Questions?

THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 PROGRAM SPONSORS

Host Sponsors

Brookfield

Metropolitan State University of Denver

University of Colorado, Denver

 

Hospitality Sponsor

Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs

 

Program App Sponsor

Husch Blackwell

 

Lanyard Sponsor

Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell

 

Supporting Sponsors

AECOM

CRL Associates

East West

Fulenwider

JE Dunn Construction

Milender White

Otten Johnson

Shears Adkins Rockmore

Strae Advisory Services

Tryba Architects

ZGF

Zocalo

Previously Explored Cities:

2019 – Copenhagen
2018 – Los Angeles
2017 – Portland
2016 – Downtown Brooklyn
2015 – San Francisco
2014 – Seattle

2013 – Toronto
2012 – Chicago
2011 – Philadelphia
2010 – Vancouver
2009 – Washington, D.C.
2008 – Portland

Lessons from one of the world’s most bicycle-friendly cities

Piep and Jack, on the Bicycle Colorado our policy team and attendees of the Downtown Denver Partnership’s Denver Urban Exploration trip, spent June 11-14 in one of the world’s most bicycle-friendly cities—Copenhagen. Read their reflections of how Copenhagen made conscious, thoughtful decisions to create one of the world’s most livable cities.

Read More

Urban Exploration Reflections