The Washington Park Master Plan is completed.  It has been more than a year long process developing the plan with input from many different park user groups.  The final draft was presented at a public meeting November 18th and comments were solicited from those that attended.  The purpose of Master Plan is to identify and prioritize park improvements that will support a quality experience for park visitors.  Funding for the improvements will depend on City Budget and attracting funding sources.

The guiding principles for the master plan were:

1. •Plan for contemporary needs while preserving the historic context of the Park
   

2. •Maintain a high quality visitor experience while protecting adjacent neighborhoods’ quality of life
   

3. •Plan for improvements that implement sustainable best practices
   

4. •Resolve conflicts and provide a high quality recreation experience
   

Using these principles the Master Plan’s recommendations are organized in three sections: areas of preservation and restoration, areas of rehabilitation and areas of flexibility. 

Areas of Preservation and Restoration are those areas in the park where features shall be stabilized and maintained.  Examples would be Mt. Vernon Gardens, Evergreen Hill, The Great Meadow. 

Areas of Rehabilitation make possible new and existing compatible uses through repair, alterations and additions, while preserving the essential conditions and features that contribute to the Park’s historic significance. An example is the loop road which would continue its historic alignment but be marked to reduce conflicts. 

Areas of Flexibility are identified where significant changes have occurred over time and the historic character has been altered.  These areas provide opportunities for improving spaces and redesigning them to meet current recreation needs. Examples of these areas are the diagonal road court area, playgrounds and picnic areas.

The Master Plan was presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in Feb 2011.  The complete Washington Park Master Plan can be viewed on the Denver Gov. website under Parks and Recreation go to Denvergov.org   Information in this article was taken from the Washington Park Master Plan draft.

For additional information, contact project manager Gordon Robertson at gordon.robertson@denvergov.org or 720-913-0615.