Denver Parks & Recreation has opened Bethesda Park, a two-acre neighborhood park in southeast Denver’s North University Hills neighborhood, on the site of a former greenhouse. The property became the first ever purchased through the Parks Legacy Fund, which Denver voters approved in 2018 to preserve and expand the city’s park system. With the nearest park nearly a mile away, the new site fills a gap in neighborhood access to green space.

“Every neighborhood deserves a park where families can gather, children can play and residents can enjoy the outdoors close to home,” says Denver City Council president Diana Romero Campbell. “I’m proud that we’re delivering on our commitment to expand park access in southeast Denver and I’m equally grateful to the residents who helped make this project a reality.”

“Thanks to the voters who made the Legacy Fund possible, Bethesda Park is a great example of how we’re bringing new parks to neighborhoods where access to green space has been limited,” says DPR executive director Jolon Clark. “The park was designed for and by community members from an accessible playground and shaded gathering areas to native landscaping that supports local pollinators.”

The park features an inclusive two-tiered playground, a multisport court, walking paths, picnic areas and solar-powered lighting. Sustainability elements include repurposed tree trunks and concrete pavers, native grasses and pollinator plantings across roughly one-third of the site, a bioswale and 95 newly planted trees.

A pollinator garden that residents requested will be complemented by butterfly sculptures from design team Wowhaus, anticipated for spring 2027. The project draws $5.5m from the RISE Denver GO Bond.