Denver City Council Briefing on Mountain Parks System - October 22, 2024

This morning, the Mayor and Denver City Council received a detailed presentation from Shannon Dennison, Director of Denver Mountain Parks, on the history, operations, and future priorities of the city's mountain park system. The briefing covered the system's century-old legacy, current assets, conservation efforts, and ongoing challenges around equitable access. Council members shared announcements, asked questions, and offered feedback on indigenous plant gathering, transportation barriers, trail accessibility, and bison repatriation.

Announcements

• Councilman Watson announced a community discussion on Friday, October 25, from 5–7 p.m. at Johnson Recreation Center (4800 Race Street) regarding a proposed data center in the Globeville neighborhood.
• Council President (District 3) announced a Tennyson Halloween crawl at Fire Station 17 (4500 Tennyson Street) this Saturday, with firefighters and ballot issue discussions.
• Councilwoman Sawyer listed weekend Halloween events in District 5, including a DPD 3 Halloween carnival, Hilltop Halloween parade, and Montclair Halloween extravaganza.
• Councilman Hines announced “De los Muertos” celebration at Civic Center Park on Saturday, October 26, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Presentation: Denver Mountain Parks System

Shannon Dennison, Director of Denver Mountain Parks, presented an overview of the system, emphasizing its unique history and value. Key points:

• The Denver Mountain Parks system was created in 1912, four years before the National Park Service, making it the oldest municipal mountain park system in the U.S.
• It comprises 46 parks and conservation areas spanning 5 counties (Clear Creek, Douglas, Gilpin, Jefferson, Grand) and nearly 15,000 acres—67% of all Denver Parks and Recreation land.
• Notable parks include Genesee (first park, home to a conservation bison herd), Summit Lake Park (highest city park in the U.S., a National Natural Landmark with rare alpine plants), Red Rocks Amphitheatre (National Historic Landmark, voted best concert venue 10 times), and Echo Lake Park.
• The system manages 119 facilities, 21 miles of road, 75 miles of trails, 19 bridges, 341 cultural resources, and 76 vehicles.
• Conservation initiatives include bison herd management (117 bison returned to 5 states' tribal governments/nonprofits since 2020), reintroduction of the rainbow scarab dung beetle with Denver Zoo, forest health and wildfire mitigation, and historic preservation (e.g., Red Rocks CCC camp).
• Environmental education programs launched in 2023 attracted over 800 participants in the first year, including bison tours, toddler treks, and birding.
• A 2003 community survey found that 78% of Denver residents consider the mountain park system important.

Discussion and Questions

• Councilman Parady thanked the team and asked about indigenous access to the parks for gathering medicines. Dennison noted that Tall Bull Memorial Council members are permitted to harvest traditional plants across the system, but others are not currently allowed. Councilman Hines requested expanding access to all indigenous community members. Mayor Johnson and Director Clark committed to exploring a policy change that would require City Council approval.
• Councilman Watson praised the presentation and highlighted ongoing efforts to improve transportation access from Denver to the mountain parks, particularly Red Rocks, describing a year-long series of meetings with Jefferson County, Golden, and Morrison. He indicated a pilot proposal would be brought to Council soon and expressed interest in full partnership.
• Councilwoman Campbell shared personal connections to Genesee Park and asked about cultivating land donations. Director Clark clarified that current acquisition focus is on closing gaps in urban park access (10-minute walk), but strategic mountain park additions are considered; recent acquisitions include Axton Ranch (donated, 450 acres near Gross Reservoir) and Tobalo (connecting trails).
• Councilwoman Torres thanked the team for the bison repatriation program, recalling the urgency of moving pregnant bison during the pandemic. She noted the personal significance of free mountain access for low-income families and requested continued focus on equity.
• Councilman Hines asked about trails accessible for people with disabilities. Dennison confirmed no such list exists but agreed it is a good idea. He noted Visit Denver is developing marketing materials for travelers with disabilities and invited collaboration.
• Mayor Johnson concluded by expressing the administration's long-term vision for equitable access to the mountain parks, calling it a “unique historic opportunity.” Director Clark emphasized the importance of consistent Denver park signage to help residents feel welcome and know the parks are theirs.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken.
• Director Clark and Mayor Johnson will work with Councilman Hines and Visit Denver to create a list of accessible trails and features in the mountain parks.
• The City will explore expanding indigenous plant gathering policies beyond Tall Bull Memorial Council members, requiring future City Council action.
• Transportation access proposals, including a pilot for Red Rocks, will be developed and presented to City Council in the coming months.
• The bison repatriation program will continue; future donation events will be communicated to Council members.
• A ribbon-cutting for the new medicine wheel garden at Daniels Park is planned for spring 2025.
• Environmental education programs will expand with continued support from partners like Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance and Denver Mountain Parks Foundation.