Denver Will Acquire Park Hill Golf Course In Land Swap, Will Create New Park
The city and county of Denver plans to acquire the 155-acre Park Hill Golf Course in the city’s largest single private land transaction for a public park ever, Mayor Mike Johnston’s office announced Wednesday.
The property, which has been roiled in drama for years, will be transformed into one of Denver’s biggest urban parks. The city plans for an initial opening this summer, Johnston said.
“We believe Park Hill can be a crown jewel of Denver,” Johnston said in a press release. “This is an incredible opportunity to remake a space that has been neglected and unused for far too long.”
The acquisition, negotiated by Johnston, involves a land exchange with Park Hill owners Westside Investment Partners. Denver will trade 145 acres of undeveloped industrial land it owns in Adams County for the Park Hill site.
The deal awaits formal approval from the Denver City Council and Adams County Board of Commissioners.
The golf course, in Northeast Denver, opened at the site of an orphanage in the 1930s and closed in 2018. It has been fenced off since.
Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and community groups like Save Open Space Denver were instrumental in preserving the site for public use through a conservation easement.
Denver Parks and Recreation will oversee the redevelopment, the mayor’s office said, which will occur in three phases. These include immediate short-term use, including clearing overgrowth and creating safe access points; interim use, like adding economical amenities such as walking trails, picnic areas and a dog park; and long-term use, the result of a community discussion process.
When completed, Park Hill will be Denver’s fourth-biggest park, trailing City Park, Sloan’s Lake and Washington Park.
A Delaware-based affiliate of Westside purchased the property from Clayton Early Learning in 2019 for $24M, and the debate over developing the land has been waged ever since, including a lawsuit.
Voters in 2023 rejected redevelopment plans to include housing and commercial development on the site.
The city still plans to pursue affordable housing projects near the park to address rising living costs while maintaining the neighborhood’s character.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a new regional park in the heart of the city,” Denver Parks and Recreation Executive Director Jolon Clark said. “We look forward to engaging with the community to shape what park amenities will be built on this remarkable parcel of land.”