Game Plan for a Healthy City

2023 Annual Report

Letter from the Executive Director

2023 was a year of change, new direction, and renewed momentum in achieving Denver Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) goals. Despite continuously evolving challenges facing our city, DPR remains committed to sustainability, partnership, and expanding service capacity. With a new mayor and administration, the department continues to support a healthy, growing city through the creation of vibrant and safe public places, participation in the revitalization of our Downtown urban core, and expansion of green space and access to recreation to improve the overall quality of life for all Denver residents.  

2023 was also a milestone that marked the fifth year since the passage of the  Parks Legacy Fund  which has allowed substantial investments in alignment with the Game Plan’s guiding principles. Since 2018, DPR has expanded the urban and mountain park system by nearly 1,000 acres; invested $78 million in aging park assets with 70% of improvements in high equity need neighborhoods; enrolled 8,000+ new participants in outdoor recreation programs; and  much more . These accomplishments expanded convenient park access to more than 5,500 new households, helping DPR improve the  ParkScore®  rating from the Trust for Public Land to #13 in the nation. As we plan for the next five years of investments in 2024, I invite you to  get involved in setting priorities for this voter-approved 0.25% sales tax 

Thanks to work on several signature projects in 2023, DPR is poised to make substantial progress in the coming year. With the  design team for the Civic Center Next 100 project in place , phase one implementation will improve the Greek Theater and Central Promenade, helping to activate the space for both special events and daily use. In addition, detailed design for phase one of the  Skyline Park Improvements project  also began which will energize downtown with state-of-the-art amenities that will improve experiences for residents, tourists, workers, students, and visitors, while also infusing life into downtown Denver. The completion of several other  visionary and strategic plans  also laid the groundwork for future projects that will have a significant impact on neighborhoods throughout Denver and beyond. 

In the 2023 Annual Report you’ll learn about numerous accomplishments that are advancing our long-term  Game Plan for a Healthy City  by helping the department adapt to a changing climate; diversify amenities and program offerings; grow the system; and connect residents with opportunities to engage in an active lifestyle. Through these efforts, we are building a more equitable and resilient parks and recreation system that adds value to the lives of all Denver residents and visitors. Thank you to everyone involved in supporting this mission. 

Sincerely, 

Jolon Clark  Executive Director, Denver Parks and Recreation 

Guiding Principles

Spurred by a call to action around issues of environmental health, human and social well-being, economic sustainability, and cultural vitality,  Game Plan for a Healthy City  focuses strategies to align with four guiding principles:

Introduction to Pillars

As the foundation for a Healthy City, the plan’s guiding principles of Every Drop, Every Person, Every Dollar and Uniquely Denver provide a focus for setting plan goals under each principle that envisions a future of progress and improvement. These goals will lead to specific actions or strategies in the Game Plan that flow from an implementation theme or “Pillar”: 

Highlights:

  • Every Drop is implemented by Adapting to the changing climate and growing population
  • Every Person is implemented by Growing the park system and recreation access, and Diversifying parks and recreation services
  • Every Dollar is implemented by Reinvesting in both Denver Parks and Recreation’s resources and its people
  • Uniquely Denver is implemented by Connecting to Denver’s nature, history, and culture 

Equity Index Map

Game Plan for a Healthy City is based on equitable access to quality parks and recreation facilities, which guides all operational and investment decisions. The Equity Index Map helps us identify which neighborhoods are most in need of improvements based on multiple factors such as park access, park investment, green space, population density, income, youth population and other health disparity indicators.

The map below highlights our 2023 progress in closing service gaps and creating a more resilient system

DPR Capital Projects 2023


Accomplishment highlights categorized by Game Plan Pillars: 

Adapt

To adapt to a changing climate and meet the needs of a growing population, Denver Parks & Recreation continues to implement operational efficiencies and land management best practices that position DPR as a local and national leader in creating a resilient city: 

Grow

Grow

A healthy, growing city needs more land, playgrounds, athletic facilities, and social gathering places to serve its increasing population. In 2023, DPR worked towards an equitable distribution of these resources to close service gaps and ensure all Denver residents can access Denver’s unique outdoor lifestyle:  

Diversify

Diversify

To support the health and wellbeing of every person in the city, Denver Parks and Recreation diversified its amenities and program offerings in 2023 to ensure equitable access to facilities and services that meet each community’s unique needs:  

Reinvest  

Reinvest

In 2023, Denver Parks and Recreation made a variety of investments in parks, recreation facilities, and employees. A variety of projects and partnerships helped ensure the department is able to provide high quality, safe, and sustainable places for all Denver residents and generations to come:  

Connect

Connect

Game Plan for a Healthy City strives to connect residents and communities to nature, recreational opportunities, and each other by celebrating diverse neighborhood cultures, art, and history. These connections were enhanced in 2023 through several projects and initiatives:

Budget Overview

Fundamental to the implementation of Game Plan for a Healthy City is identifying and leveraging resources. DPR receives funds from a variety of sources, including the city’s General Fund and Bond funds, along with the Parks Legacy Fund. DPR has inherited an extraordinary system of green space built through stewardship and multiple eras of innovative and intentional planning, design, and policy.  

Parks Legacy Fund

Denver Parks and Recreation has inherited an extraordinary system of green space built through stewardship and multiple eras of innovative and intentional planning, design, and policy.  In 2018, Denver residents voted for the greening of our city with the passage of the  Parks Legacy Fund , a 0.25% county sales tax dedicated to the expansion and improvement of Denver’s park system. With this funding opportunity, we are positioned to grow the parks and recreation system guided by a lens of equity to close service gaps, increase access to nature, and ensure our community benefits from and preserves our legacy park system. The passage of the Park Legacy Fund is instrumental in our implementation of Game Plan for a Healthy City. 

For more information on Game Plan for a Healthy City, visit  Denvergov.org/GamePlan  and follow DPR on  Facebook ,  Youtube ,  Instagram  and  Twitter .