Parks, Art and Culture Committee Meeting – May 5, 2026

On May 5, 2026, at 10:30 AM, the Parks, Art and Culture Committee of Denver City Council held a meeting to receive briefings from the Denver Public Library and Denver Parks and Recreation. Chair Flor Alvidrez presided. Members present: Chris Hinds, Shontel Lewis, Sarah Parady, Diana Romero Campbell, and Flor Alvidrez. Members absent: Amanda Sandoval and Darrell Watson. The committee also approved a consent item.

Consent Calendar

• Approved an on-call contract with Matrix Design Group, Inc. for $2,500,000.00 with a four-year term and a one-year option to extend, for landscape architecture, planning, design and related services, citywide (PARKS-202683509).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made during the meeting.

Discussion Items

Denver Public Library Overview Presentation (26-0605)

City Librarian Nicolle Davies presented an overview of recent library accomplishments and challenges. Key highlights:

• 2025 Operations: 2.7 million visits across 28 locations; nearly 73,000 storytime attendees (in-person and virtual); over 12,000 participants in Phone-a-Story (four languages); nearly 2,500 bookmobile stops; 850+ personalized reading lists issued.
• New Branch: The Lena Archuleta Branch opened as the 28th location, serving the Westwood community. Construction began at the Globeville location (expected occupancy end of 2027, opening Q1 2028).
• Programs: Relaunched One Book One Denver with over 5,500 participants; over 600 staff attended a staff day; Narcan overdose training – 80 staff trained in Q1 2026; 21 Narcan administrations in 2025, 5 in Q1 2026.
• Bond Projects: Several branches are closed for renovation due to 2017 and 2021 bond funds. Challenges include deferred maintenance and inflation eroding 2017 funding. Closures have led to over 60 days of facility closures in 2025 and 29 days in 2026 (year-to-date). The library is supplementing with DPL Fund and Friends Foundation contributions (e.g., $750,000 for a branch renovation).
• Southeast Denver Closures: Five branches in Southeast Denver are closed simultaneously. Timelines for reopenings: Schlessman – January 2027; Hampden – Q1 2027; Ross-Broadway – Q3 2027; Ross-University Hills – Q3 2027; Eugene Field – Q3/Q4 2027. Two new bookmobiles will launch in late May 2026 to serve the Southeast area, operating five to six days a week. A community survey will help determine stops.
• DPL Fund: Established by 68% voter approval in 2022, the fund supplements general fund dollars. Examples: New York Times access (over 270,000 uses), streaming music, restroom upgrades, EV charging stations, and deferred maintenance.
• ADA Compliance: Over 1,000 physical ADA barriers identified; 600+ remediated, ~400 remain. Director Davies noted that accessibility includes digital access as well.
• Unionization: The library is navigating the city’s new collective bargaining ordinance. Staff union (CWA) has filed a petition with the American Arbitration Association (AAA). The Library Commission will determine next steps after AAA processes the petition. Councilmember Parady clarified that the library is not delaying; the process is ongoing.

Denver Parks and Recreation Annual Workplan (26-0606)

Executive Director Jolon Clark presented the 2026 workplan, organized around the Game Plan for a Healthy City framework (Adapt, Diversify & Grow, Reinvest, Connect). Key points:

• Scale & Scope: 348 miles of trails and park walks, 2.76 million recreation users, 23 million park visitors, 110 active capital projects, 30 rec centers (soon to be 31), 14,000 acres of mountain parks.
• Adapt: Drought management – Denver Parks is Denver Water’s largest customer, with over 1,000 accounts. Water savings of 20% are required; outdoor pools will be filled. Landscape transformation projects (e.g., City Park, City & County Building lawn) are using water-efficient plants. Tree watering is prioritized for young trees; residents are encouraged to water by hand (10-20 gallons per inch of caliper weekly). Emerald ash borer management continues. A new Fires (Focused Indigenous Restoration and Ecological Stewardship) pilot program in mountain parks employs youth for fire mitigation.
• Diversify & Grow: New amenities include Heron Pond/Carpio Sanguinetti Regional Park, Bethesda Park (under construction), pickleball courts at Lowry and Rosemont, Swansea Indoor Pool (ribbon cutting late May 2026), Westwood Recreation Center (on schedule). Strategic planning for recreation centers, Park Hill Park, Garfield Park pathway, Kennedy Golf Course, and mountain parks.
• Reinvest: All 17 Vibrant Denver bond projects will be initiated in 2026. Active construction: Civic Center Park, Skyline Park, La Raza Park, Ruby Hill Adventure Hub, CCC Camp mess hall. Consolidation of permitting (indoor/outdoor) into one system. Trash collection automation and data-driven portalet placement (using cell phone data) to improve equity. Vandalism of portalets and backflow preventers (scrap metal theft) remains a challenge; plastic backflows are being installed.
• Connect: Mount Blue Sky reopening later May 2026; bison herd expansion at Highlands Ranch; pilot shuttle connecting Denver Mountain Parks, Jefferson County Open Space, and cultural destinations. Activation of downtown parks (e.g., Common Spark pilot). Food and beverage activations planned at Skyline Park and Sloan’s Lake Boathouse (RFP to come). Adaptive golf program hired full-time coordinator. Volunteer hours are up.
• Q&A: Councilmember Romero Campbell raised older adult exercise equipment along trails; Parks confirmed three pilot areas being considered. Councilmember Lewis asked about impacts of cuts to park rangers and maintenance staff; Parks agreed to follow up. Councilmember Hinds asked about the financial model for park concessions; Clark stated the goal is user experience, not profit, but to cover costs and potentially generate revenue. Councilmember Parady asked about swim lesson registration equity; Parks noted they added 164 slots by pausing private rentals, and 10% of slots are set aside for walk-ins. Councilmember Parady also confirmed all outdoor pools will be filled despite drought. Councilmember Alvidrez asked about bond projects for rec centers (Eisenhower, Montbello); Parks said work will be done off-season and won’t close facilities. Councilmember Romero Campbell also asked about scrap metal theft; Parks reported moving to plastic backflows. Councilmember Alvidrez asked about tree protection from anticipated snow; city forester advised shaking young trees and reporting damage via 311. Flower beds will be planted as usual.

Key Outcomes

• The consent item (26-0600) was approved by consent.
• Both briefings (26-0605 and 26-0606) were heard and informational; no votes were taken.
• Next steps: The library will launch bookmobiles and a construction dashboard in late May 2026. Parks will continue to implement the 2026 workplan, including bond projects, drought response, and park activations. The committee will receive follow-up information on deferred maintenance, park ranger cuts, and recreation registration equity.