City Matters: Citywide Park Developments Get Attention

From a controversial property swap to a commercial use policy, advocates for Denver parks are closely watching several important developments. These matters are not getting the attention they deserve in the daily newspapers.

The Steering Committee for Better Denver Bonds recommends $2 million for a pavilion at Ruby Hill Park and $4.4 million to improve vehicle parking at City Park. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is considering a proposal to trade nine acres of park land in southeast Denver for a downtown office building.

Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) has selected a final design for a super playground at City Park. DPR is considering a policy governing occasional commercial use of park property, such as fitness programs. DPR is also looking at how assets are used and trying to determine if there is a possibility of cost recovery.

Ruby Hill Performance Pavilion

Led by District 7 Councilman Chris Nevitt, the newly-formed “Friends of the Levitt Pavilion” seeks $2 million in bond money for a performance pavilion at Ruby Hill Park in southwest Denver. The money would be a 50 percent matching grant. The Mortimer Levitt Foundation (http://www.levittpavilions.org/) would provide $400,000 in capital funds and the local Friends of Levitt would be obligated to raise $1.6 million.
In the application to Levitt, city officials said: “The Ruby Hill Park Amphitheater is part of a visionary network of city plans for the area along the South Platter River.”

Levitt requires 50 free concerts every year. Nevitt says the venue could also be used for closed commercial events requiring an admission fee. At Nevitt’s urging, DPR added Ruby Hill at the last minute when Parks adopted the highly contentious Admission Based Events (ABE) policy two years ago. This year, Nevitt got approval for alcoholic beverage sales at Ruby Hill.

Hentzell Park Natural Area

The city proposes to trade nine acres of city-owned natural open space for a downtown office building owned by Denver Public Schools. The office building would house administration for Mayor Michael B. Hancock’s victims’ assistance center (www.andomcenter.org/the-facility/). The park space would become the site of a new elementary school serving the Hampden Heights locality.

Opponents include park supporters, advocates for wildlife and open space, property owners, and even school bond adversaries. The proposal requires the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) to make a recommendation to the Parks Manager. Even the PRAB agrees that both Parks and the school district have presented inadequate arguments. The Board delayed a vote in November, allowing additional time for public comment (www.denvergov.org/parksandrecreation/Home/Parks/PlanningandDevelopment/HentzellPark/tabid/443753/Default.aspx).

Park advocates say the trade sets a dangerous precedent for the loss of open space in a city already severely deficient in per capita park land. Wildlife and open space supporters bemoan the destruction of habitat around a natural trail alongside Cherry Creek (www.denvernature.net). Homeowners contend building a school would destroy the open space and the reason they live at that location. School bond opponents question the need for a school and claim the school would be part of an inequitable distribution of bond funds.

The school district director of bond projects, James T. Allen, has a conflict of interest because he continues to sit on the Parks Advisory Board.

Parking Rehabilitation at City Park

The Steering Committee for bond money remaining from the 2007 Better Denver Bond approval (Questions G and H) recommends $4.4 million for improved parking for the Denver Zoo and Museum of Nature and Science at City Park.

Essentially, the five-stage plan would realign surface parking and roadways on the north side of the park and in front of the museum, while conforming to the decade old commitment to not take additional park land for car parking. Total cost would be $5 million, with each entity contributing $300,000 each.

The plan adds parking in front of the Museum with “minimal impact to existing landscaping.” A new entrance alignment on 23rd Avenue would add approximately 330 parking spaces “while maintaining the majority of existing mature trees.” Sponsors say this approach balances “the need for additional parking with the desire to preserve as many trees as possible.”

According to the bond application “these proposals align with the City Park Master Plan and the Circulation and Use Plan for Denver’s Park.”
Denver Parks and Recreation is setting up a citizen’s advisory committee. Comments can be sent to Parks Manager Lauri Dannemiller (lauri.dannemiller@denvergov.org).

Reimagine Play at City Park

After selecting an architectural firm for the “City Loop” super playground at City Park, DPR is setting up another citizen’s advisory committee. There is criticism that Parks developed the entire concept without early involvement of neighborhoods and park users.
Parks says the major funding for the $5 million two-phase project will come from private grants and contributions. www.denvergov.org/parksandrecreation/Parks/ReimaginePlay/tabid/442599/Default.aspx

Commercial Use Policy

In the past year, several commercial operations have sought park permits for profit-making ventures. Although Parks has a policy on larger events, there is no current policy for such activities as fitness programs where participants pay a fee.
The Parks Department is establishing a citizen’s committee to make recommendations. The proposal may become controversial because many park advocates contend public property should not be used for private profit. Or, if profit-making ventures are allowed, operators should not get a discounted rate for the land value.

Resources, Allocations, and Priorities Plan (RAPP)

Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) is helping Parks and Recreation examine services, actual expenses, and benefits. “In a tighter City budget, RAPP is a way to look at costs, evaluate use and vision of programs, and be better able to budget based on values, visions, and needs,” says Cindy Johnstone of INC. RAPP also looks at fee structures and balances potential cost recovery with community requirements. To comment, contact Parks Manager Lauri Dannemiller.

Contact Dave Felice at gelato321@aol.com.