Room To Roam: Denver’s Park Legacy Plan

by Valley Gadfly | Dec 17, 2024 | Main Articles

City Council Approves Part Two Of Legacy Funds; Six New Neighborhood Parks Are Planned In 2025-26

by Glen Richardson

Ramble & Rove: With two formal flower gardens, tree-lined paths, and endless expanses of grass the 155-acre Wash Park is one of the city’s most popular. People run, bike, paddle boat, walk, and play year around.

The initial voter approved 0.25% Park Legacy Fund sales tax — an extra 2.5 cents on each $10 purchase — expired at the end of 2024. Before year’s end, however, Denver City Council approved a new plan covering 2025 through 2029.

As was the case during the initial five years, acquisition of acreage to enlarge city’s parks remains a priority. Park maintenance and climate resiliency are also focuses. Restoring sporting fields and courts are a particular focus in the coming year. DPR added 13 indoor pickleball courts at seven rec centers in 2024, bringing the total to 66. Plans call for adding 50 outdoor courts by the end of 2025. Staff at Parks & Rec have also announced plans to establish a permanent graffiti-response and trash-collection team this year.

The Denver parks system — ranked 13th best in the U.S. by the Trust for Public Land — is one of the largest and most unique in the country. The trust gave the city its highest score (89 out of 100) for park Access. The Mile High City scored 75 for Investment, 69 on Equity, and 62 on Amenities. Its lowest score (51) is for Acreage, something neither the city or the Parks & Rec staff can do much about. With a total of more than 280 parks and 30 recreation centers, residents and families enjoy outdoor and indoor opportu­nities city wide, including hiking, fishing, golf, and picnicking. Today an enormous 93% of the public live within a 10-minute walk to a park. Denver spends $197 per resident each year on parks, far higher than the national average.

Legacy Fund Budget

People Popular: Located in the ­Capitol Hill neighborhood, Cheesman Park draws large crowds to its 80-acre oasis with mountain vistas, green lawns, and stately trees. It’s also ideal for active recreation or quiet reflection.

Growing Green Space: This University Hills site at East Iliff Ave. and S. Bellaire is one of six new parks being built this year with Legacy Funds. The two-acre park will have a demonstration garden and event space.

About a quarter of the annual Parks & Rec budget — or in the neighborhood of $45 million yearly — comes from the Legacy Fund, according to Director Jolon Clark.

During the five-year period ending in December, the tax generated more than $267 million. Of that amount, $96 million has already been spent. Projects currently in the works have another $113 million tied up.

The daily operating cost for Denver’s City Parks — wages, supplies, and equipment — amounts to about $23.5 million a year. Another $15 is allocated to land acquisition each year. Parks & Rec also keeps an interest earning reserve fund for emergencies.

People In Parks

Under the 2018 voter approved Legacy Fund, almost 10,000 trees have been planted, plus 375 acres of turf grass converted to native landscape. Gordon Robertson, Planning, Design & Construction Director, estimates the conversion saved more than 225 million gallons of water. Moreover, he reveals, it has allowed the city to acquire more land. “With just legacy funds, we’ve obtained 25 acres of new park land.” As a result, 5,500 additional residents are within 10 minutes of a park, he adds.

City wide, DPR guesstimates that during Legacy Fund’s first five years 8,000 or more new people are now enjoying park facilities. During the first five years, Legacy greenbacks built 19 playgrounds, renovated 37 sports courts, and added 25 miles of park trails and walks.

Waterfront Park: Located at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, Confluence Park was developed in the 1980s. The 15.28-acre site has a playground, picnic shelter, benches, plus grassy expanses.

Peace In Parks: Parks provide peace and can have a positive effect on mental and physical health. Reconnect with nature to reduce stress, and anxiety at retreats such as Cheesman Park to get away from the urban hustle.

With the Legacy Fund restart, staff at city Park & Rec plan to expand the tree canopy in parks. Goals also include buying forestry equipment to speed up tree planting and maintenance work. Purchasing electric maintenance equipment and switching to LED lights are also on their latest list. Park access is open to the public year around. Furthermore, parks are open no matter the time of day, nor what week or month of the year. The Sonny Lawson and Al Alma-Lincoln Park spaces were closed for a month in 2024, however, due to drug sales and violent incidents. Portions of the parks were fenced off to curb the problem.

Six New Parks

As the new year gets underway, Denver Parks & Recreation is getting set to welcome six new parks in neighborhoods across the city. With Legacy Funds recently increasing about $5 million a year to $50 million annually, the city has earmarked funds to acquire the land and build parks.

In addition to developing new parks, Den­ver is also reinvesting in its existing parks. This includes renovating playgrounds and benches, plus upgrading irrigation systems to conserve water and improve park sustainability.

Spanning neighborhoods from ­Westwood to Green Valley Ranch, these new parks symbolize a commitment to ensuring every citizen has access to quality green spaces. Each park will be uniquely designed to cater to the needs and preferences of its local community, creating a diverse range of recreational environments across the Mile High City.

Plans For Parks

Water Basin Park: With Denver’s biggest lake, Sloan’s Lake Park’s 177 acres make it the city’s second-largest. It has playgrounds, tennis courts, athletic fields, boating, basketball, multi-use trails, and picnic areas.

The University Hills site at East Iliff Ave. and S. Bellaire was purchased back in 2019 for $5.1 million. Proposed to be named “Bethesda Park,” the former Greenhouse & Garden Center is roughly two-acres in size. Parks & Rec plans to spend $6.5 million in legacy funds to convert the property into a park. The long, skinny property will be transformed into a park with a demonstration garden and event space.

Anticipated to be named “Avion Park,” a nine-acre park prospect is located at Kitt­ridge St. and E. Bolling Drive. It will include a playground, basketball courts, fields, plus a walking loop. Denver Urban Gardens is ex­pected to manage a food forest on the site. Parks people say they are hopeful it will open this year.

Scheduled to open next year (2026), the large site at 10th Ave. & Alcott St. along the South Platte River will offer a community gathering space and gardens. Construction is expected to start this year. A new park at 47th Ave. & Telluride St. in Green Valley Ranch is also expected to open in 2026. It will have a playground, trails, a basketball court, plus a community garden with interactive water feature. Already open to the public, the Westwood Skate Park at W. Kentucky Ave. & S. Irving St. will incorporate new features. Over time the site will incorporate riverfront landscaping, and improved access to the South Platte River Trail. Denver Botanic Gardens will sponsor an off-leash dog park and gardens at the site.

Denver’s Vehicle Fleet Needs Speedy Fix

by Valley Gadfly | Nov 15, 2024 | Main Articles

New Audit Reveals 22% Of City’s Aging, Oversize, Underused Fleet Is Driven Less Than 100 Miles A Month

by Glen Richardson

Key Party: Facilities Management stockrooms — a division of General Services — has an unknown number of keys in circulation, meaning parts can be accessed by unauthorized parties.

Watchdog O’Brien: City Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien, CPA

Riddled with oversized, underused, and aging vehicles, Denver’s Fleet Man­age­ment Department is wasting limited re­sources, according to a new audit from City Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien, CPA. As a result, the city is increasingly at risk for fuel and parts theft.

“Too many older vehicles sitting idle costs taxpayers’ money,” O’Brien says. Moreover, he follows up, “Underused vehicles still require regular maintenance and storage.”

“But Fleet Management doesn’t have the authority to right-size the fleet because the vehicles are owned by other agencies,” Auditor O’Brien explains. “These issues stem from the way Fleet Management is funded, but it doesn’t help that the areas they do control are not being adequately safeguarded.”

Fueling Flaws

Transportation & Infrastructure’s Fleet Management Division maintains and provides fuel for over 2,500 vehicles and pieces of equipment belonging to 43 city agencies — not including Denver Police, Fire, and Denver International Airport.

More: It operates six fueling stations across the city and processes about 7,000 fuel transactions a month. For 2022 and 2023, that totaled about 169,000 fuel transactions worth $9 million.

The fueling stations allow authorized employees to refuel city-owned vehicles, but audit found significant flaws in how the division tracks fuel usage. Issues include abnormal transactions, access to former employees, code sharing, access to override codes, and the same person adding and authorizing fuel users.

Fleet Of Hitches: Fleet Management maintains-fuels vehicles and equipment belonging to 43 city agencies it doesn’t control, creating risk of fuel and parts theft, new city audit reveals.

Ex-Staff Tank Up

These inconsistencies could be leaving the city at risk for fuel theft, O’Brien warns. When auditors compared the city’s list of 7,180 authorized drivers with city employees, they found 1,782 — 25% of them — no longer worked for the city.

When looking closer, they found 104 fuel transactions worth about $3,500 linked to nine drivers who were former city employees. The division’s current processes may fail to detect ongoing suspicious activity, the auditors suggest.

Fleet Management does not track override transactions and does not have official procedures to identify, resolve, and document all fuel transactions. Consequently, the audit could not identify the volume, associated costs, and reasons for the city’s override transactions.

Key Keepers?

When the audit looked at how parts are managed, they found Transportation & Infrastructure faces several obstacles.

First, the unstaffed stockrooms belong to Facilities Management — a division of General Services. There are an unknown number of stockroom keys in circulation. This means parts storage could be accessed by unauthorized parties.

Second, parts are supposed to be allocated to work orders for tracking purposes, but auditors found 979 parts that were not, totaling $21,292.

Oldy-Moldy Fleet

Fleet Facility: Roslyn Campus is one of two sites where Fleet Management maintains and provides fuel for more than 2,500 city vehicles and other pieces of equipment.

Fleet Management’s biggest issue, however, is the size of the city’s fleet and how it is being used. Fleet Management’s goal is a 95% use rate, but the audit found 22% of the city’s fleet was driven fewer than 100 miles in a month.

When it comes to replacing aging vehicles, the city’s goal is to replace 10% of vehicles annually. That goal isn’t being met the audit reveals: 36% of the city’s vehicles are beyond their useful lives of 10 years. Furthermore, 6% of city vehicles are over 20 years old.

One problem is the size of the city’s fleet is still at pre-pandemic levels. The city’s needs have changed since then. A third-party report, commissioned by Fleet Management, estimated the cost to the city for maintaining, repairing, and housing underused vehicles was about $5.7 million in 2022-2023 combined.

Hamstrung By City

Auditor O’Brien suggests that Fleet Management is hamstrung in rightsizing the fleet it is charged with managing because it does not have the authority to sell or dispose of vehicles. Other city agencies make those decisions. “Fleet Management can only advise those agencies,” he asserts.

City agencies rely on Fleet Management to service vehicles and ensure they are available for operations. But because of a decision in 2015 to change the fleet’s funding structure to use the city’s General Fund — instead of using an internal service fund —city agencies do not directly experience the financial impact of maintaining the vehicles.

The previous funding structure allowed Transportation & Infrastructure to bill agencies for the services they use. But since 2015, Transportation & Infrastructure pays for those agencies’ fuel and maintenance costs, so those agencies have no incentive to monitor their spending habits.

Fix Fee Free: City agencies rely on Fleet Management to service vehicles without directly experiencing the financial impact for maintaining those vehicles.

Funding Flaw

Funding fleets through the General Fund is not a leading industry standard. When auditors looked at how other cities and counties manage their fleets, they found that of 17 similar-sized municipalities, 14 use an internal service fund. Denver ordinance still requires the fleet to be funded by an internal service fund and was never updated after the switch to using the General Fund.

“The funding change was made nearly a decade ago but there’s very little paper trail to explain why this happened,” Auditor O’Brien says. “Departments can’t just pick and choose which ordinances to follow — they’re not optional.

But Fleet Management is really being asked to do the impossible, maintain the city’s fleet without having any authority over it. “This audit will give them the tools they need to pursue solutions to getting that proper authority,” O’Brien hopefully suggests. Transportation & Infrastructure Department officials agreed with all 13 of the audit’s recommendations.

Home For The Holidays

by Valley Gadfly | Nov 15, 2024 | Main Articles

As Beloved Blockhead Charlie Brown Says, ‘Good Grief, The Holiday Season Is Here Already’

by Glen Richardson

Winter Takes All: The 1940s-era White Christmas Ball returns to Wings Over the Rockies Dec. 7. The Metropolitan and Hot Tomatoes Jazz Orchestras play.

Ho Ho Ho, ’Tis the Season: The Nutcracker is at the Ellie, ice skating is down­town, and rooftop at Cherry Creek’s Halcyon Hotel. Plus, there’s a host of Hanukkah events including Latkes & Lights at the JCC. Then New Year’s Eve brings fireworks, light displays, plus the Symphony’s an­nu­al A Night in Vienna at Boettcher Concert Hall.

The holidays will rock again in Glendale- Cherry Creek, and downtown. ’Tis time for high-spirited merriment, as we prepare for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Here are the Chronicle’s annual picks to fill your December with fun, food, and good fortune to carry you into a bright new year:

Balls

White Christmas Ball, Wings Over the Rockies, Dec. 7, 5:30-11:59 p.m. An evening of 1940s era dancing to the Metropolitan and Hot Tomatoes Jazz Orchestras. Informa­tion: 720-924-1945.

Winter Solstice Ball, El Jabel, Dec. 7, 6-11:30 p.m. Live music, DJ play hits, and local cosplayers. Information: elevateimmer sivecolorado.com.

Concerts

Santa Drone Tracker: Denver’s drone-in-the-sky with Santa will light up the sky downtown for 15 minutes from Nov. 22-Dec. 31 beginning at 7 p.m.

White Christmas Symphony, Dec. 5 —Celebrate the season as the multi-platinum Irish sensation Celtic Women entertain with the Symphony at Boettcher, 7:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.

Take 6 Christmas, Dec. 11-12 — The vocal cats perform an acapella Christmas- jazz, R&B, and pop at Lone Tree Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Information: 720-509-1000.

Holly Jolly Holiday Concert, Newman Cen­ter, Dec. 14, hour performances at 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. Seasonal music and singalongs. Information: 303-871-7720.

Chris Daniels & The Kings, Dec. 20 —Daniels entertains with horn-drenched rock and soul in Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall, 8 p.m. Information: 303-777-1725.

Home for Christmas, Dec. 21-22 — Holiday music that will fill you with joy, nostalgia, and warmth at Auraria’s King Center, 2:30 p.m. Information: 303-556-2296.

Dance

Nutcracker Dolls: Colorado Ballet’s 58th season has 26 performances at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Nov. 30 through Dec. 29.

Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum, a festive dance performance at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Dec. 7 through 21. Information: 303-295-1759.

The Nutcracker, Colorado Ballet’s 58th season has 26 performances at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Nov. 30 through Dec. 29. Information: 720-865-4220.

Dining

Lunch With Santa, a kids’ matinee at Dazzle, with piano styling by Ralph the Elf doing holiday songs-stories Nov. 30, noon. Information: 303-839-5100.

Handy to Home choices for the holidays, restaurants listed within the Glendale- Cherry Creek neighborhood by Open Table:

Del Frisco’s Grille, chophouse at 100 St. Paul St. open Dec. 24, noon-9 p.m.; 25th until 8 p.m.; Dec. 31 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Information: 303-320-8529.

Fontana Sushi, Japanese eatery specializing in sushi and sashimi in Wash Park at 534 E. Alameda Ave. Information: 303-778-8818.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ, Japanese yakiniku (grilled barbecue) dining experience at 100 Steele St. Information: 720-826-3214.

Hana Matsuri Sushi in Glendale’s City Set on the corner of Colorado Blvd. and Cherry Creek South Dr. Information: 303-600-8477.

Electrifying Neighborhoods: Neighborhoods get into the holiday season action with decked-out homes, many with LED color-changing lights set to music.

Mehak India’s Aroma, an Indian eatery in the lower level of the Promenade at 250 S. Steele St., Suite 100. Information: 720-638-9350.

Trio Of Hotel Restaurants: Hotel Restaurants open for the holidays include Local Jones in the Halcyon Hotel on Columbine St.; Narrative in The Jacquard on Milwaukee St.; plus Toro Latin Kitchen, in Hotel Clio on Clayton Lane.

Kona Grill adjacent to the front entrance of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center on East 1st Ave. Information: 720-974-1300.

SOL Mexican Cocina at 200 Columbine St. Unit 110 in Cherry Creek North serves coastal Baja cuisine. Information: 303-953-2208.

Hanukkah

Latkes & Lights, Jewish Community Cen­ter’s family gala has latke competition, games, plus live music Dec. 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Information: 303-399-2660.

Hanukkah Family Festival at Temple Emanuel on Grape St. with latkes, dreidel playing, plus crafts Dec. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information: 303-388-4013.

Denver’s North Pole: Cherry Creek’s “Winter Wanderland” has free outdoor events including a Holiday Market with dozens of vendors on Fillmore Plaza, Nov. 21-Dec. 24.

Chabad of Cherry Creek Celebration, in Cherry Creek North’s Grant Plaza. Treats, crafts, Menorah lighting Dec. 29, 2:30 to 5 p.m. Information: 303-744-9699.

Holiday Lights

Blossoms of Light, holiday light displays at Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street, Nov. 20 through Jan. 12, 4:30 -9 p.m. Information: 720-865-3500.

Zoo Lights, at the Denver Zoo, Nov. 23-Jan. 5, 5-10 p.m. An 80-acre wonderland with over a million lights. Information: 720-337-1644.

Mile High Drone Show, 40 nights, 400 drones light up the sky downtown for 15 minutes Nov. 22-Dec. 31, beginning at 7 p.m. Information: 303-892-1112.

Ice Skating

Halcyon On Ice, Halcyon Hotel’s rooftop lounge, Nov. 15 to Dec. 31, noon to 9 p.m. Music, drinks, dining, and ice skating. Information: 720-772-5000.

McGregor Skate, an outdoor plaza at McGregor Square adjacent to Coors Field (1901 Wazee), Nov. 29-Jan. 26. Information: 303-313-6090.

Markets

Cherry Creek Holiday Market, dozens of vendors on Fillmore Plaza (2nd Ave. & Fillmore) with drinks, Nov. 21-Dec. 24. Information: 303-394-2904.

Christkindlmarket, German Holiday Market with artisan gifts, treats, plus German biers in Civic Center Park, Nov. 22-Dec. 23. Information: christkindlmarketden ver.com.

Mistletoe Market, Nov. 25-Dec. 17 – New this year in the Dairy Block (1800 Wazee) with vendors, carolers, and holiday music. Information: 303-30

Home Time: Of the holidays and home Charlie Brown says, “Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.”

9-4847.

New Year’s Eve

Concerts

Greensky Bluegrass, Dec. 30-31 — Bluegrass jam band plays the Mission Ballroom, 8 p.m. on the 30th, 9 p.m. New Year’s Eve. Information: 720-577-6884.

A Night in Vienna, Dec. 31 — Colorado

Symphony plays polkas, waltzes, and marches in Boettcher Concert Hall, 6:30 p.m. to midnight. Information: 720-865-4220.

Dazzle’s New Year’s Eve Gala, Dec. 31 —The Jacob Larson Band — a funk and soul ensemble — rings in 2025 beginning at 10 p.m. Information: 303-839-5100.

Parties

Decadence, Colorado Convention Center, Dec. 30-31 — Electronic music performances on two stages, 6:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Information: 303-228-3000.

Sheraton Cocktails, Dec. 31 — Casino games, DJs, live band, toasts & confetti at the Sheraton Denver, downtown, 8 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Information: 303-893-3333.

Gatsby’s Gala, Dec. 31 — The Ritz-Carlton on Curtis St. hosts Roaring ’20s event with live band, DJs, and dancing, 8 p.m.-midnight. Information: 303-312-3800.

Denver Black Tie Party, Dec. 31 — Park Ave. West’s Asterisk has bands, DJs, plus casino games with midnight balloon drop. Information: 720-808-1114.