Year-Round Upgrades Planned for Skyline Park Block 2
DENVER, CO – Skyline Park is getting ready for a transformation aimed at turning it into a year-round destination for residents, workers, students, and visitors alike. While the three-block park has long served as an urban green space between 15th and 18th streets, its central block (Block 2), stretching from the 16th to 17th Street, is set to undergo the most significant changes in decades.
Photos Sourced From City of Denver Skyline Park Improvements Public Update Meeting for Block 2
A New Vision for the Park
The redesign of Block 2 is part of a broader effort to reimagine public spaces downtown and attract more people back to the city’s core. Plans call for a new flexible event plaza that can host concerts, markets, and seasonal activities. The current stage area will be upgraded into a more functional concert pavilion, paired with a new year-round food and beverage space to activate the park throughout the day and evening.
The project will also retain the seasonal ice-skating loop that has become a popular winter attraction, but in warmer months, the loop will transform into an interactive water play area designed for families and children.
The existing Halprin-designed sculpture, a signature element of the park, will remain in place. Under the new plan, it will be reimagined as an educational garden, blending art, history, and urban ecology to create an engaging experience for visitors.
Funding and Timeline
The first phase of improvements for Block 2 is expected to cost $2.5 million, funded primarily through the 2017 Elevate Denver Bond Program. Additional contributions are coming from Denver Parks & Recreation and private partners. More recently, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) approved further support for the project. The DDA’s role is to reinvest a portion of downtown’s property and sales tax revenue into projects within its boundaries, with the goal of enhancing public spaces and driving economic activity.
Construction is expected to begin in late 2025, with substantial completion targeted for early 2027.
Photos Sourced From City of Denver Skyline Park Improvements Public Update Meeting for Block 2
Part of a Larger Downtown Strategy
The Skyline Park redesign aligns with broader efforts to revitalize downtown Denver following years of challenges brought on by the pandemic, ongoing construction disruptions, and changes in commuter and visitor patterns. By enhancing public spaces, the city aims to create more inviting destinations that can support local businesses and boost downtown foot traffic year-round.
Community Input Shaping the Design
The vision for Block 2 has been shaped by years of public engagement. The concept design process began in 2021, incorporating feedback from more than 2,300 survey responses and community meetings. Public outreach has focused on making the park more accessible, inclusive, and connected to surrounding streets and pedestrian corridors.
By retaining well-loved features like the skating loop and Halprin sculpture, while introducing new amenities that cater to a variety of uses, the city and its partners hope the reimagined Block 2 will serve as a dynamic public gathering place for decades to come.
Photos Sourced From City of Denver Skyline Park Improvements Public Update Meeting for Block 2
Development Team
Development Team
Owner: City and County of Denver (DPR and DOTI)
Associated with: Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP)
Landscape Architecture, Architecture, and Experience Design: RIOS
Lighting Design: Clanton & Associates
Horticulture: Denver Botanic Gardens
Water Feature Design: Fluidity
General Contractor: Fransen Pittman Construction
Structural Engineering: HCL
Fire, Life Safety, Code: Jensen Hughes
Civil Engineering: Kimley-Horn
A/V, IT, Access Security: King Systems
Historic Architecture Consulting: Modern Ruins
Community Outreach: OV Consulting
Food Service Consulting: Ricca Design Studios
MEP Engineering: RJA
Waterproofing Consulting: Rooftech
Permitting: Service First Permits
Ice Rink Design: Stantec
Cost Estimating: Sunland
Geotechnical Consulting: TRIAX
Irrigation & Landscape Consulting: Valerian LLC
All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
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All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
4 min read • Skyline Park is getting ready for a transformation aimed at turning it into a year-round destination for residents, workers, students, and visitors alike.