2026 City Scout Montreal: A Focus on Play as a Driver of Downtown Vitality

City Scout is an unparalleled opportunity to be at the forefront of urban development in Denver and influence tangible projects that will shape the future of Downtown Denver for generations to come.

This year’s program will bring 75 Denver decision makers and community stakeholders to Montreal, a globally renowned destination for public space design, placemaking and cultural innovation. From September 9 to 11, this cohort will study world-class examples of play in urban contexts, meet with subject matter experts, and learn how investing in play and a cultural ecosystem of artists, fabricators, performers and community members can create a solid foundation for downtown vibrancy. Upon return to Denver, this group will help progress momentum for near-term activations and long-term strategy for public art and performance in Downtown Denver.

Prior City Scout programs have learned from the Indianapolis Cultural Trail in Indianapolis (2023) and innovative programs supporting adaptive reuse and downtown planning in Calgary (2024). This year’s program focus on play is directly aligned with the recently adopted Downtown Area Plan, a 20-year visionary strategy outlining major priorities for Downtown investments.

In addition to announcing the continuation of the City Scout program, the Partnership is thrilled to announce the program’s Title Sponsor, Sasaki.

Sasaki is proud to support the Partnership as the Title Sponsor for this year’s City Scout Program. As an integrated design practice that offers architecture, landscape architecture, and planning services across the country and the globe, Sasaki is proud to be deeply rooted in Downtown Denver. Building on the firm’s recent work on the 2025 Downtown Area Plan, they will help shape the conversation and welcome a broad and diverse group of applicants. “This is a pivotal moment in Downtown Denver and the decisions we make as a City now will shape our future for years to come,” says Joshua Brooks, a Principal with Sasaki. “Creating the Downtown Area Plan with the Partnership and the City and being involved in many pivotal projects in and around the urban core, we are immensely passionate about ensuring a vibrant future for Downtown Denver. We are thrilled to support the City Scout program to ensure these important conversations continue.”

Interested applicants can apply through May 1. Sponsorship opportunities are still available! More information on the program, application process, and available partnerships can be found at www.denvercityscout.com or by contacting program managers Ellen F. Dalton, efdalton@downtowndenver.com, and Sarah Fritzinger, sfritzinger@downtowndenver.com.