News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
Developing a long-term vision for recreation, wellness, and community connection
Denver’s recreation centers and outdoor pools are more than places to exercise or cool off during the summer. They serve as gathering spaces, community anchors, and critical public assets that support health, wellness, youth development, and social connection across the city.
To ensure these facilities continue meeting community needs for decades to come, Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) partnered with B&D to develop a comprehensive Recreation Centers and Outdoor Pools Strategic Plan. The effort will establish a long-term vision for Denver’s recreation system while identifying priorities for future investments, facility improvements, and equitable access across neighborhoods.
The planning process examines DPR’s recreation portfolio through a comprehensive lens, evaluating facility conditions, program spaces, aquatics amenities, demographics, accessibility, usage patterns, and funding strategies. The project also incorporates B&D’s Strategic Asset Value (SAV) methodology, helping align facility investments with DPR’s mission and long-term goals.
A key component of the project is community engagement. Through outreach efforts conducted throughout the planning process, the project team is gathering input from residents, stakeholders, and system users to better understand current needs, priorities, and opportunities for improvement. This feedback, combined with detailed facility and market analysis, will help shape recommendations that reflect both community aspirations and operational realities.
The analysis evaluates recreation centers and aquatic facilities through multiple performance measures, including level of service, geographic distribution, facility condition, membership accessibility, demographic trends, and program offerings. This data-driven approach will help DPR identify opportunities to improve access, optimize investments, and ensure facilities remain responsive to community needs.
“Denver’s recreation centers play an essential role in the daily lives of residents across the city,” said B&D Associate Anna Smith. “This strategic plan is about understanding what communities need today while creating a framework that allows Denver Parks & Recreation to adapt and evolve for future generations. Through meaningful community engagement and rigorous analysis, we’re helping DPR build a recreation system that is accessible, equitable, and resilient.”
As the project moves forward, the team will continue refining facility criteria, evaluating future investment scenarios, and developing short- and long-term capital improvement recommendations. The result will be a roadmap that helps DPR strengthen its recreation system while ensuring residents across Denver have access to high-quality recreational opportunities close to home.
By combining community input, data-driven analysis, and strategic planning, Denver Parks & Recreation is taking an important step toward creating a recreation system that supports health, wellness, and community connection for years to come.
