Denver Parks & Recreation Celebrates Opening of New Bethesda Park

Denver Parks & Recreation Celebrates Opening of New Bethesda Park

Published on October 23, 2026

A former greenhouse site in southeast Denver is now a neighborhood park. Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR), City Council President and District 4 representative Diana Romero Campbell, the honorable Kendra Black, and project partners and community members celebrated the opening of Bethesda Park, a new two-acre neighborhood park in the North University Hills neighborhood in southeast Denver.

The property was the first-ever purchased through the Parks Legacy Fund, approved by Denver voters in 2018 to help preserve and expand the city's park system. The acquisition advances Denver's goal of ensuring every resident has access to quality park space within a 10-minute walk or roll. With the nearest park nearly a mile away, Bethesda Park fills a significant gap in neighborhood access to outdoor recreation and green space.

"Every neighborhood deserves a park where families can gather, children can play and residents can enjoy the outdoors close to home," said Denver City Council President Diana Romero Campbell. "I'm proud that we're delivering on our commitment to expand park access in southeast Denver and I'm equally grateful to the residents who helped make this project a reality."

"Thanks to the voters who made the Legacy Fund possible, Bethesda Park is a great example of how we're bringing new parks to neighborhoods where access to green space has been limited," said DPR Executive Director Jolon Clark. "The park was designed for and by community members from an accessible playground and shaded gathering areas to native landscaping that supports local pollinators."

DPR has worked on the Bethesda Park project since 2019. Following extensive community engagement, a vision plan was completed in 2023, with the park's name selected through a community-led process. The resulting design reflects residents' vision for an Urban Wild - a sustainable, inclusive public space that brings people and nature together.

The name of the park "Bethesda" was identified through a community-led process.

Bethesda Park features an inclusive, two-tiered playground, a multisport court, walking paths, open green space, picnic areas, seating and solar-powered lighting. Two plazas with picnic tables and shade structures provide gathering places for neighbors, while a small outdoor classroom in the forest grove creates opportunities for informal learning and exploration.

The playground encourages children of all abilities to explore, move and engage their senses. A first-of-its-kind play tower anchors the upper terrace, complemented by an at-grade slide, sensory features, locally harvested boulders and repurposed tree trunks. Recycled rubber surfacing and PFAS-free synthetic turf support accessible movement throughout the play areas.

Sustainability is integrated throughout the park's design. The Office of the City Forester salvaged and refurbished fallen tree trunks for use throughout the site, while concrete pavers from the property's previous use were repurposed for a forest grove pathway. Native grasses and pollinator-friendly perennials will cover approximately one-third of the park, reducing long-term water needs once established while providing valuable habitat for insects and birds.

The park also features 95 newly planted trees to expand the urban tree canopy, provide shade and support wildlife. A native grass bioswale helps filter water in the forest grove, demonstrating how sustainable landscaping can contribute to a healthier urban environment.

A dedicated pollinator garden was one of the primary features requested by residents during the community engagement process and reflects the Urban Wild vision for the park. Featuring flowering plants and seeded perennials, the garden will provide seasonal color and resources for local pollinators. Pollinator hotels, birdhouses and bat houses further support biodiversity and create opportunities for visitors to experience urban wildlife up close.

Public art will add another distinctive element to the garden. A commission by design team Wowhaus will feature two butterfly sculptures made of steel and dichroic, aviation-grade glass. Designed to interact with light and color, the sculptures will celebrate the relationship between people and nature. Installation is anticipated in spring 2027.

Bethesda Park is supported by $5.5 million from the RISE Denver GO Bond, a voter-approved initiative passed in 2021 to support economic recovery and invest in city infrastructure.

More than a new park, Bethesda Park represents a long-term investment in community health, inclusive recreation and environmental resilience. By creating a welcoming neighborhood gathering place while incorporating sustainable design and urban habitat, the project demonstrates how public spaces can benefit both people and the natural world.

About Denver Parks and Recreation
As stewards of a legacy park system, Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) is dedicated to customer service and enhancing the health of residents and the environment through innovative programs and safe, beautiful, and sustainable places. The DPR system includes 30 recreation centers and over 20,000 acres of urban and mountain parkland including off-street trails, parkways, and natural areas.

About Denver GO Bonds
General obligation (GO) bonds are a long-term debt instrument issued by state or local governments to fund public capital improvement projects such as roads, bridges, bikeways, public facilities and parks. This includes restoring, replacing and expanding existing capital assets. Local GO Bond Programs are authorized by Denver voters every 4-10 years and repaid through property taxes. Elevate Denver is a 10-year, $937 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2017 to execute nearly 500 projects. RISE Denver is a 10-year, $260 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2021 to execute more than 80 projects.

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