With its abundance of sunshine, Denver is a gardener’s paradise. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the son of the famed designer of New York’s Central Park, helped design Washington Park (known locally as Wash Park), which is consistently picked by residents as their favorite.
The long, rectangular park has two lakes, paddle boat rentals, bike rentals, shade trees, a two-mile jogging path, mountain views and a huge area for volleyball tournaments, but it's the gardens that people like the best. Dogs on leashes are welcome and on most days, there are almost as many canines as humans.
Lush Gardens and Beautiful Lakes
The north garden is a formal affair near circular Smith Lake, with geometric crushed gravel paths winding through two dozen flowerbeds filled with roses, geraniums, petunias, begonias and impatiens. The shallow lake is more of a reflecting pool, and on still evenings, it's the place to watch a sunset over the mountains as the lake reflects everything in the brilliant sky. Look for hundreds of Canada geese, and even bald eagles in the trees.
The south garden on the shore of Lake Windemere is a replica of Martha Washington’s garden at Mount Vernon, with the same bursts of color in a smaller area. It’s a lovely two-mile paved walk to circle the two lakes and the gardens (from the eastern shores, there are views of snowcapped Mount Blue Sky).
The lakes are filled by the City Ditch, which is considered the "oldest working thing" in the city. While most of it is now piped and hidden, an open section, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, remains in Washington Park. A monument on the northeast side of the park honors ditch builder John W. Smith and the workers who dug the City Ditch by hand.
Outdoor Fun in Washington Park
Washington Park is perfect for walking, running and cycling year-round with a roughly 2.3-mile inner paved loop and 2.6-mile outer dirt path. During the warmer months, Smith Lake offers fishing access and paddle boat rentals. There are several playing fields, two playgrounds and tons of picnic spots.
The park is also a great place for birdwatching with lots of waterfowl and bald eagle sightings.
Things to Do Near Washington Park
Afterward, if you’ve built up an appetite, head to South Pearl Street, a few blocks to the west, for a wonderful neighborhood of coffee shops, taverns, breweries and restaurants. South Pearl was originally a stop on Denver’s horse-drawn trolley system. Today, many of the old buildings now house restaurants and shops, including the Denver Folklore Center, one of the oldest and most renowned acoustic music shops in Denver.
On Sundays, May-November, the street is closed and becomes one of Denver’s favorite farmers markets with dozens of booths with fresh farm goods, innovative crafts, whiskey and wine tastings, plus a food-truck roundup. South Pearl is closed at certain times of the year for annual food, drink and music festivals.
Just four blocks west of Wash Park, check out Historic South Gaylord Street, one of the oldest shopping and dining districts in the city. Many of the shops, restaurants, and bars were converted from late-19th-century houses that make up the neighborhood.
More City Parks to Explore in Denver
Of course, Washington Park is only the beginning of exploring Denver's vast green spaces. The city has nearly 20,000 acres of parkland, more than 250 individual urban city parks and about 850 miles of paved and off-street bike trails. Plus, Denver has gorgeous mountain parks in the nearby foothills. And for something a little quieter and off-the-beaten-path, also check out these lesser-known, hidden-gem parks.
Photos by Rich Grant