Plan Vision

The Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) Strategic Acquisition Plan provides a clear framework for decision-making that identifies priorities, describes strategies, and explains criteria for success associated with completing and funding future acquisitions. This framework will ensure Denver’s urban and mountain parks, open spaces and recreation system will equitably meet the recreational needs of the entire community, while also ensuring that Denver remains a resilient, sustainable and healthy city.

Acquisition Focus Areas

• 10-Minute Walk or Roll
• Equity
• Facilities
• Mountain Parks
• Resilience, Habitat Restoration and Waterways
• Downtown, High-Density and Growth Areas

Plan Purpose

• Provide criteria DPR can use to evaluate acquisitions while prioritizing and balancing growth opportunities across the six acquisition focus areas
• Create a framework for how new opportunities provide value and benefit to the parks and recreation system and users
• Identify specific goals to be used as measures for success associated which each focus area
• Include a “toolbox” DPR can utilize to expand the parks and recreation system

Why and how did we launch this strategic acquisition planning process?

• 2018: Legacy Fund (2A) Ballot Measure: Parks and Open Space Sales Tax Passes
• 2019: Game Plan for a Healthy City Adopted
• 2019: Legacy Fund (2A) Five Year Plan Adopted
• 2019: NRPA 10-Minute Walk Grant Awarded
• 2020: Real Estate Acquisition + Asset Manager Hired
• 2021: Strategic Acquisition Plan approved, which will be the foundation of the DPR Acquisition Program to help grow and maintain an equitable, sustainable and resilient parks and recreation system.

The focus areas within the plan were developed as part of the Legacy Fund (2A) Five Year Plan process. Most future acquisitions will fall under one or more of these.

Acquisition Criteria

At the highest level, the acquisition criteria are informed by two lenses that are drawn from goals and strategies outlined in Game Plan and Blueprint Denver and apply to all potential acquisitions. Primary criteria are also applied to all potential acquisitions and are not specific to one focus area. And focus area criteria apply specifically to properties that align with one or of the focus areas.

Equity Lens: Existing Goals & Strategies

• Adapt recreation facilities and programming to promote active lifestyles consistent with the culture of the surrounding community. (Game Plan)
• Enhance the overall character and sense of place of neighborhoods through all stages of development and reinvestment. (Blueprint)
• Ensure all Denver residents have safe, convenient and affordable access to basic services and a variety of amenities. (Blueprint)
• Foster great urban design and the creation of authentic places that thoughtfully integrate streets, public spaces and private property. (Blueprint)
• Develop safe, high-quality mobility options that prioritize walking, rolling, biking and transit and connect people of all ages and abilities to their daily needs. (Blueprint)
• Promote a healthy community with equitable access to healthy living for all residents. (Blueprint)

Resilience Lens: Existing Goals & Strategies

• Guide growth to maintain connections to the outdoors, respond to climate change and protect our environment and natural resources. (Blueprint)
• Work with partners to expand or modify existing open space that effectively treats urban runoff and reduces flood risk. (Game Plan)
• Restore functional ecosystems emphasizing healthy waterways and lakes. (Game Plan)
• Create select park areas to incorporate climate-resilient landscape and drought tolerance while expanding our low-water and naturalized landscapes. (Game Plan)
• Protect and expand tree cover in rights-of-way, public places and areas of high urban heat. (Game Plan)
• Identify and restore vacant or underutilized urban land for open space and ecological value. (Game Plan)
• Work with regional partners to research and develop best practices for Mountain Park forest management and fire mitigation. (Game Plan)
• Make facilities more energy-saving and efficient, reducing energy use in park and recreation operations. (Game Plan)

Primary Criteria

The property:

• meets one or more of the six (6) focus areas.
• has appropriate topography, location, and visibility, and is of sufficient size and shape to accommodate parks and recreation purposes.
• provides the opportunity to expand and/or connect to existing parks, open spaces, or facilities.
• supports diverse park and recreational uses and/or includes natural resources not found in nearby parks and facilities.
• offers partnership opportunities to achieve multiple community benefits.
• supports the goals of one or more other City and County of Denver departments and/or citywide visions or plans.
• enhances the maintenance and/or operations of existing parks and open spaces and their natural or built resources.
• protects the surrounding area or immediate parcel from future development.
• allows for the creative use of the right-of-way (ROW) either through ownership or partnership.
• provides an opportunity to increase environmental education and build the next generation of stewards.
• preserves a scenic viewshed and/or has scenic or aesthetic value itself.
• serves an underrepresented population.
• creates opportunities for partnerships on the acquisition and/or the design and construction of a new park, open space, or facility.
• is a reasonable cost relative to the benefit it will provide.

Focus Area Criteria

• Developed for each of the 6 focus areas
• Advance the goal for each focus area
• Some properties may meet more than one focus area