Urban Exploration

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.

2023 Urban Exploration Program Details
June 11- 14, 2023

The Downtown Denver Partnership will lead approximately 150 Downtown Denver business leaders, elected officials and key City staff members on its 15th annual Urban Exploration trip to Vancouver B.C. in 2023. As Canada’s densest city and one of the most ethnically diverse, Vancouver, British Columbia will offer our delegation lessons in developing and maintaining diverse and distinctive neighborhoods, how high-rise residential and mixed-use development is a beneficial alternative to sprawl and ways in which density, design, and land use can contribute to environmental sustainability, affordability, and livability. Get excited to learn and lean into Vancouverism!

The 2023 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.

Questions? 2023 Program Website

Previously Explored Cities:

2022 – Mexico City
2021 – Denver
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.