Centennial Gardens, located at Speer Boulevard and the South Platte River, combines the formality of a French garden with drought-tolerant Colorado plant species to create a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. Too bad hardly no one ever goes there.
I heard a rumor that the Denver Botanic Gardens, which built Centennial Gardens at the request of former mayor Wellington Webb and maintains the five-acre facility, is considering closing the gardens. Even though entry into Centennial Gardens is free, the lack of visitors has the Botanic Gardens thinking there may be better ways to use their resources. Hopefully, the rumor is not true. We need more, not less, parks and public spaces in the Downtown area, and it would be a travesty to let something as special as Centennial Gardens close.
Part of the visitation problem is likely due to the garden’s location. While it is surrounded by big-name attractions like Elitch Gardens, the Downtown Aquarium, REI, and the Pepsi Center, it is easy to miss from elevated Speer Boulevard and it is visible only from the stretch of Little Raven Street that functions mostly as a gateway to Elitch’s parking lots. Perhaps someday, if those parking lots are replaced with mixed-use development, the gardens will seem less isolated.
Yesterday I decided to visit Centennial Gardens and take a few photos and share them with you. It was a beautiful day and the gardens are sporting their new spring blooms. My only disappointment was that the garden’s several fountains were not functioning (I’m not sure if they are permanently turned off or if they just haven’t turned them on yet for the season). For most of my visit, I was the only person there.
I hope you’ll take the time to visit Centennial Gardens one of these days and also let the folks at the Botanic Gardens know you appreciate Centennial Gardens and how important the gardens are to Downtown Denver.
I'm surprised to find out it's a public access space. Saw it during construction and always thought it was an extension of Elitch Gardens, accessible only after paying an entry fee.
This park looks awesome from the tower at Elitch's too. I took several 'native' Coloradoans up there and they claimed they never knew this park existed.
I've been there a few times, and I've never seen anyone else there. They need to combine it with some other function to get some people in there: maybe an outdoor theater space, or community garden plots, a playground, something. I'm sure it's a considerable expense to maintain it.
My wife and I visited the Centennial Gardens a couple weeks ago (of course we were the only ones there too) and the fountains were running then, so they must have just not been turned on yesterday.
I like Centennial Gardens, and I can appreciate the contrast between the formal gardens and the natural environment along the river. Currently, though the garden does seem out of place and is not very visible. I agree that if the gardens were the centerpiece of a multi-use complex were the parking lots currently are it would give the Gardens more of purpose. I can easily see workers spending their lunch hours there and local residences strolling around on nice days. With the potential of being such a wonderful centerpiece it would be tragic to loose the Gardens prematurely.
Corey
Rode our bikes there Friday; I sometimes will walk over there during lunch when weather is nice. Lovely spot, but not-so-peaceful when Elitch's is in full swing. The construction of the gardens was a nice gesture by Webb when he was mayor; too bad it wasn't planned for a more visible location.
Like other posters I originally thought the gardens were a part of Elitches or a private space and only found out accidently that it was free public space. I think the gardens suffer more from poor location and lack of clear identification that it is a public space than from it's general appeal – if the Botanic Gardens would do something to promote them such as post a sign letting everyone strolling along the Platte know that they are not a private space, more people would visit. I loved the idea of a formal garden square here in Denver, but was initially put off by the weedy look of the drought tolerant plantings, but as it has grown and matured, I find it more and more appealing – I hope the City doesn't lose this unique garden space just because of lack of awareness.
I've never even heard of this place and I'm right down the street.
It took me a year after moving to the city to finally go there. I would always seeing riding my bike but just figured it was a pay thing. When I finally decided to "trespass" I realized it was public and have enjoyed it many times since.
Ken, if it adds to the coversation here is a link of the gardens with video. A lot of people I have talked to have never heard of these gardens so its good to get the word out and let people know about them.
http://www.vimeo.com/denvergence/page:2
The fountains where running the day I visited.
The big fence from the Elitch's side makes it look private. I did not know it was a public space.
To bad this is not in a more visible and accessible location.
Sorry to say but the thing I liked most about this park was the toilet which is a nice amenity right next to the bike path… but it has been fenced off for months now. Does anyone know if this permanent?
I don't think we should get rid of this park but its strangely out of context to the area (and all of Denver for that matter) being a formal space. My understanding is that this park was a pet project of Webb's and probably out of a back room deal it landed in this spot.
It just occurred to me that the formal parterre gardens of Centennial Gardens being adjacent to Elitch's amusement park reminds me of Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. Interestingly, nearby is the old Tivoli Brewery building. I am not sure what it all means, but I thought it was kind of a cool coincidence. Sorry for all of the spelling errors in my previous posting, I was on my lunch break and in a hurry.
Corey
Wow. In all the years I lived downtown, I had no idea it was there. This is the first time hearing of it.
one of my favorite places is this park. I am here at least five times a week. The fact it is so isolated and quiet is very appealing to me. I would hate to see it disappear.
I'd much rather see Elitch's disappear, and an urban village – compatible to the Gardens and complementary of the surroundings – appear in its place. Elitch's can relocate to another area where the land isn't as critical to revitalization.
I think Elitches (while creates a sort of void) adds an interesting touch to downtown activity..
Regarding Centennial Gardens,
My girlfriend and I tried going there on Sunday, since we were down at Confluence Park and I had read this post we said let's go check it out. But it was a short trip because the gates were padlocked shut and we couldn't get in.
Not sure if you know what's up with that or not, but thought I'd let you know.