One of Denver’s most hotly debated pieces of land is about to open its gates to the public. The former Park Hill Golf Course—an expansive 155-acre property steeped in history and controversy—will officially welcome visitors for limited park use starting October 28. This milestone comes just weeks after the city formally acquired the land, ending years of speculation over its future.
The road to this moment has been anything but straightforward. Back in January, Mayor Mike Johnston announced an ambitious plan: the city would trade a parcel it owned near Denver International Airport to Westside Investment Partners in exchange for the old golf course. Westside, which purchased the property for $24 million in 2019 with intentions to build housing alongside green space, saw those plans crumble when Denver voters resoundingly rejected a proposed redevelopment in 2023. Since then, the course has remained closed to the public.
Thursday’s statement from Johnston carried a mix of celebration and vision: "We invite Denver to see this park not only for what it is today, but for what it can become." He emphasized that this was more than just a land swap—it was the culmination of years of advocacy from Northeast Denver residents, who fought to preserve the property as open space. Johnston vowed to continue working until the park reflects community desires in full, hinting at big changes ahead.
Originally slated for a summer opening, the park’s debut was delayed as negotiations proved more complex than expected. When the gates finally open later this month, visitors will be restricted to daylight hours and passive activities such as walking and jogging. Officials caution that the site still requires significant upgrades, from new lighting to broader amenities. Whether those amenities materialize sooner rather than later could depend heavily on November’s ballot, when voters will decide on the Vibrant Denver bond package—a proposal that could funnel $70 million into park improvements.
Right now, what will actually be added remains undecided. Denver Parks and Recreation is gathering input and weighing options, keeping in mind that opinions have been deeply divided. Some residents have long argued that this rare expanse of undeveloped land in the city should be used to ease Denver’s housing shortage. Others—many of whom ultimately prevailed—insist it should remain untouched as a sanctuary of open space.
Whatever your stance, there’s no denying the scale of this transformation. Once renovations are complete, the site will become Denver’s fourth-largest park—a permanent fixture in the city’s landscape.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Should valuable urban land be reserved solely for recreation, or is that a luxury cities can’t afford amid housing crises? The Park Hill debate is a microcosm of a bigger fight playing out in cities everywhere. What do you think—should Denver have pursued mixed-use development, or did it make the right call in keeping this slice of green space off-limits to housing? Share your thoughts in the comments; the conversation is far from over.
