Mark Smiley, Author at Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle

Plans In Place As Park Ranking Plunges; Promising Or Political Ploy?

by Mark Smiley | Sep 23, 2019 | General Featured

Denver Slips To 29th Place In National Park Ranking; City Pays $5.1 Million For Park Property; Pair Launches New Trust

by Glen Richardson

Denver parks have skidded to 29th place in the latest national ranking of 100 big city parks. That is for a city that hovered just beneath the top 10 at number 13 in the park hierarchy in 2015, just four years earlier.

**Useful Greenhouse:** The 0.63-acre greenhouse space on newly purchased city park site is likely to be used by Parks & Recreation to support department’s main greenhouse at City Park.

This year’s Trust for Public Land ParkScore® released May 7 reveals just how fast and far Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver Parks & Recreation Director Happy Haynes have dragged down Denver, once known as the city within a park. As the administration sells or gives away park space to developers, the amount of Denver’s city land used for parks has dwindled to 8% compared to this year’s national median of 15%.

The city’s acreage average is rated 52.5 out of 100 with investments rated slightly higher at 60 out of 100. The only thing that buoyed Denver’s ranking was the wide distribution of its 314 parks, giving the city an access score of 82.5 out of 100.

Trust, Park Purchase

**Park Rank Plunges**: Rated nation’s 13th best city for parks just four years ago, Denver has dropped to 29th place in latest national park ranking.

The dramatic drop in Denver’s city park ranking comes as the launch of a new nonprofit known as the “Denver Park Trust” was announced. It is a joint venture by Denver City Councilwoman Kendra Black and Frank Rowe, a member of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.

It joins the ranks of cities such as Portland and Minneapolis that have park foundations that help raise money and keep an eye on public parks. According to Black and Rowe the trust will have an annual budget of $250,000. The trust will provide added revenue to the funds raised by voter passage of Measure 2A that added a .25% tax increase for park projects and land acquisition. Black says even that increase can’t support Denver’s parks system. “That’s where Denver Public Trust comes in,” she explains.

Coincidently the Denver City Council has approved a resolution for the $5,100,000 purchase of property at 4301-4307 E. Iliff Ave. in Black’s district for future use as city park land using 2A funds. It is the 2.26-acre site of Groundcovers Greenhouse located two blocks south of Evans Ave. and three blocks east of Colorado Blvd. The retail-wholesale nursery-greenhouse owned by Alison Tyler and Gary Luster closed at the end of July. It is the first piece of land purchased using revenue from the 2A park sales tax.

Greenhouse Site

Nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood just east of Colorado Blvd., the property operated as a greenhouse for nearly 40 years. The city approached greenhouse owner Gary Luster with an offer. “As many of you have heard, our property is being purchased by the city of Denver and will be turned into a park within a couple of years,” he reported on Groundcovers’ website.

Luster told area news outlets he had never put the building up for sale and had vowed that he never would. In the past decade he reportedly turned down at least a dozen offers. “But we got the right offer for the right reasons,” he concluded.

Councilwoman Black and Parks & Recreation officials say they had been scouting the neighborhood for a park location for the last seven years. “Additional park access in the University Hills North neighborhood is critical to supporting an active, healthy lifestyle for the residents who live there,” says Black. The closest parks in the neighborhood are Observatory Park, Eisenhower Park, McWilliams Park and Prairie Park. All would require a 20 to 30-minute walk.

Few Year Project

While there are parks near University Hills such as Mamie D. Eisenhower Park, the goal of 2A is to have parks within walking distance of all residents. Many residents in University Hills also had to cross major streets like East Yale Ave. This is something many parents are hesitant to let their children do, according to Black.

Black says it will be a few years before a park is built. First, the city will look at logistics and clear any buildings that won’t be used. Parks & Recreation’s Gordon Robertson says the city may keep the 0.63-acre greenhouse space to support the department’s main greenhouse at City Park. Any garden equipment left behind also may be repurposed.

The new park will then go through a public process. Either late this year or early next year, the city will host an open house with residents to determine what amenities they would like on the two-acre space, which is a decent size for a typical park with a playground, according to Robertson.

Vision For Trust

According to Frank Rowe — the only staff member and executive director of the new Denver Park Trust — “Our vision is to acquire land for new parks in high-density and high-need neighborhoods. We’ll also work on providing ‘gap funding’ for projects within parks.”

Rowe says the nonprofit will focus on communities where there isn’t a park within a 10-minute walk. One of Trust’s first projects will be raising gap funding for renovation of St. Charles Park in the Cole neighborhood. Phase one is complete, but funds are lacking to begin phase two, he explains. Another early project taken on by the nonprofit is the addition of a shade structure at Lindsley Park in the Hale neighborhood.

Black believes donors feel more comfortable writing a check to a nonprofit rather than a governmental body. The Trust also aims to garner public support and awareness of the city’s parks, Rowe adds. “I think if you talk to most folks, they love their parks. And a lot of people want to get engaged in their parks, participate and give back, so we can be a conduit for that.”

Pair’s Background

**New Park Property**: City has paid $5.1 million for the 2.26-acre Groundcovers Greenhouse site on E. Iliff Ave. Denver is using voter approved 2A funds to buy the property located two blocks south of Evans and three blocks east of Colorado Blvd.

Prior to launching the trust, Rowe worked for six years at the nonprofit news outlet Chalkbeat. He was appointed to the Parks & Recreation Board by Councilwoman Black when she was first elected to city council in 2015. His wife Anne Rose represents southeast Denver on the Denver School Board, just as does Parks & Recreation Director Happy Haynes. Anne Rowe served as Vice President of the School Board from 2013 to 2015.

While pursuing a park in her district, Black has been less aggressive in support for parks and open space citywide and is considered extreme pro-development. She supported the controversial drainage project at Park Hill Golf Course and along with two other councilmembers supported some development at the golf course. Some bloggers have scolded her for voting to spend money to tear up City Park.

A study commissioned by The Park People, Greenway Foundation and Kaiser Permanente with Denver’s support, reveals city parks deliver $7.1 million of revenue to the city while increasing resident wealth by $48.7 million.

Glendale City Manager Jerry Peters Retiring After 17 Years

by Mark Smiley | Sep 20, 2019 | Main Articles

by Mark Smiley

Following a 17-year career, City Manager for the City of Glendale Jerry Peters has announced his retirement effective October 31, 2019. Peters was appointed by the Glendale City Council in 2004 after serving as Deputy City Manager under then City Manager Cliff Dodge for two years. Peters holds the record as longest tenured City Manager in Glendale history (15 years), surpassing Gary Sears (1985-1987) by three years. Peters has assisted in overseeing big changes in the landscape of the city.

Retiring: Jerry Peters, City Manager of Glendale, announced his retirement effective October 31, 2019. Peters has been with the city since 2002.

The completion of Infinity Park along with the addition of a professional rugby team; the construction and opening of the Glendale Sports Center; Glendale CitySet; the expansion of Glendale’s Super Target as well as the massive remodel in 2019; redevelopment of King Soopers; and the extraordinary beautification of Cherry Creek Drive South, are a just few of the major projects that occurred during his tenure.

“Jerry has played an important role in what I call the Vatican of Freedom,” said Glendale Mayor Mike Dunafon. “His influence in helping to build this city to what it is today is something we will be forever grateful.”

Peters has also seen tragedy under his watch. Two fires, 11 years apart, are among them. One person perished in the fire at Spanish Gate apartment complex in December 2003. The other fire was at Solana Apartments (now Amli) in 2014, which only generated minor injuries. “Jerry’s handling had a sense of calm and a steady and professional approach to both situations,” said former Glendale City Councilmember Ricky King. “He was able to deal with the media, the residents, and the business community with poise and grace.”

**BBB**: Jerry Peters cuts the ribbon for the Bed Bath and Beyond store that moved from Cherry Creek North into Glendale in 2017. Peters was witness to much change during his 15 years as City Manager of Glendale.

Peters’ relationship with current Mayor Mike Dunafon dates back to Dunafon’s high school days at Golden High School where Peters was his football coach. “I’ve known Jerry essentially my entire life,” said Dunafon. “The life lessons I learned from him while I played football for him in high school are still applicable today.” Little did Dunafon know as a high school teenager in the early ’70s, they would be working together as Mayor and City Manager decades later.

**Mayor & Manager**: Jerry Peters, pictured with Mayor Mike Dunafon, shortly after Peters became City Manager of Glendale. Peters and Dunafon’s relationship dates back to when Dunafon played football at Golden High School.

Peters’ history with Glendale predates his days as Deputy City Manager and City Manager. He helped launch the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce in 1999, operating out of the attic of the old Loews Hotel. He fondly remembers meeting with prospective members in the lobby of the hotel or in Tuscany, the restaurant off the lobby.

In addition to his duties as the first Executive Director of the Chamber, he was the production assistant for the Glendale News. “In the early days of the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle (then Glendale News), Jerry was of great help in transforming the publication from a four-page black and white limited circulation paper, to what would become the dominant voice in the Cherry Creek Valley,” said Charles Bonniwell, Publisher of the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle. “All of us will miss his steadying hand in the growth and prosperity of Glendale.”

**Chamber Executives:** Jerry Peters, right, is pictured with Mark Smiley, far left, and Jeff Allen. All three have served as executives with the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce.

Dating back further, Peters helped put together the Denver Broncos broadcasts on KOA Radio from 1978 to 2003. Peters grew up in Ogallala, Nebraska, and graduated from University of Northern Colorado in 1967. He then became a teacher and football coach at Golden High School until 1972, when he became the Director of Public Relations for Colorado School of Mines.

Peters served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam era. He was stationed at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, from the early to mid-’60s.

Linda Cassaday, who has been Deputy City Manager under Peters, was named Acting City Manager by the City Council and she will assume Peters’ duties on November 1, 2019. “Jerry has been an incredible mentor to me during my time with Glendale,” said Cassaday. “He displays compassionate leadership every day in his dealings with City employees, City Council, and the public; and he will truly be missed by us all.”

**Manager & Police Chief**: Jerry Peters hired Joe Haskins as Police Chief in 2013.

Chuck Line, who will continue his role as Deputy City Manager and Community Development Director, has worked with Peters the longest. “Jerry’s leadership over the past 15 years implementing Mayor Dunafon’s vision, has ushered in an era with Infinity Park, a thriving commercial environment, and a revitalization of our housing stock,” said Line. “His presence will be missed, but his accomplishments will not.”