The City Park neighborhood, including City Park South and City Park West, is named for the 320-acre park modeled after New York’s Central Park.
Work on City Park began in the 1870s and serves as an important example of Denver’s City Beautiful movement. The 1913 addition of the golf course just north of 23rd Avenue expanded the park to 480 acres. The park not only includes the Denver Zoo and the Museum of Nature and Science, but also welcomes visitors to the lake, playgrounds, and walking paths. A free jazz concert series is held every summer.
Residential development started to take place early on to the south and west of City Park (with the Park Hill neighborhood immediately to the east). Many of the old Denver Squares and bungalows built in the late 1890s and early 1900s remain, including the elegant Frank Smith mansion at 18th and York.
The southern border of City Park is Colfax Avenue, Denver’s longest avenue and home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops, galleries and businesses. Home buyers seeking a good deal may find it in this neighborhood, though Colfax Avenue’s ongoing revitalization and introduction of hip new hangouts may make those deals disappear. The renowned and beloved Tattered Cover bookstore recently opened its Colfax store in a refurbished theater.
The neighborhood’s rare combination of expansive park space and excellent proximity to downtown make it a popular choice for Denver residents.
Location:
- between 23rd, Colfax, Colorado and York.
- City Park South: Detroit to Harrison, Colfax to 17th Avenue
- City Park West or Uptown: Logan to York, Colfax to 23rd Avenue
Eateries:
- Mezcal (Mexican)
- Stuebens (American)
- Strings (Contemporary)
Things to do:
- Check out the Denver Zoo and Predator Ridge.
- Play a round of golf at the very scenic City Park Golf Course.
- Or, visit the Nature and Science Museum and the much talked about Gates Planetarium or the latest exhibits.