Denver natives, especially those from Northeast Denver and the surrounding neighborhoods have fond memories of City Park. It was our own little oasis, and multi-generational activities from PAL Football to the weekend “cruise” to meet up with friends were mainstays. It was a place to connect. And as the lyrics in “Summertime” by Will Smith, we would dress cute, shine up the car, and see and be seen before the evening activities. Picnics, reunions, many activities for young and old. Many a romance was birthed with a nighttime walk around Ferrill Lake with the synchronized lights, and wedding and graduation photos are forever immortalized within the lush, green beauty of City Park.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Denver Parks and Recreation closed the park completely to traffic except for a tiny area north of the lake. This past weekend, the chains came off and once again, City Park was open to all. But now @jlocantore and @BikeWalkBus want to reclose the gates permanently so more bicyclists and walking traffic can enjoy the park. But what about people who can't walk that well or require some assistance. While they state there is “ample” handicapped parking, whenever there is a special event, and on every weekend from Friday – Sunday, those spaces are filled and stay filled.

Last year my niece had a birthday party and we couldn't drive over to the picnic tables so we had to improvise just to get her food in the park. The entire southwest portion of the park half-mile distance from the “accessible” parking would become inaccessible to anyone unable to walk the near half-mile distance to enjoy the Dustin Redd playground, the Nationally renowned Dr. Martin Luther King statue and memorial, the historic Thatcher Fountain, the soccer field open space and the gardens surrounding the Bible House. Additionally, this closure is akin to redlining because those of us who remember the park before all the gentrification are the ones this most affects. Not being able to park near the picnic tables is a problem not to mention it will create even more problems with parking in the surrounding neighborhood, as seen with the parking nightmare that happens during the annual City Park Jazz series. And @jlocantore’s response? Well, we should get a shuttle for those people, and the disabled don’t drive anyway. Really?

There are over 12 miles of paved walking and multi-purpose trails through City Park, in addition to the three-quarter mile track around Ferrill Lake and the outside 3.5 – mile path that surrounds the park. That isn’t enough? There is enough room for cars AND bikes, and pedestrians, and rollerblades, and any myriad activities. How about we remember the lessons from pre-school and kindergarten. And SHARE.

Leave City Park alone.