Purpose and Approach

The City of Denver and The Trust for Public Land (TPL) identified the River North (RiNo) district near Downtown Denver as an area in need of green space. TPL acquired a 2-acre vehicle service site fronting the South Platte River and conveyed it to the Denver Parks and Recreation Department. That parcel, combined with adjacent donated public properties and a decommissioned industrial road, is now the 6.6-acre Arkins Park & Promenade (The Project).

The city envisioned the park as a direct reflection of the up-and-coming, trendy arts district: intimate, creative, and iconic. The park would highlight the arts, culture, and sustainability of the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as enhance the ecology of the river corridor in new and creative ways. When asked, the community made it clear they wanted green space, activities for all ages, and a home for artists that reflected the industrial history of the neighborhood. As the project evolved, they identified additional specific needs: they wanted a local resource that promotes the arts, creates a safe space for kids, propels local business, and invites a wide range of people to innovate, learn, and play. Arkins Park & Promenade addresses all of those wishes and more.

Role

The Landscape Architect 1) served as the lead consultant guiding a multidisciplinary team including architects, civil and structural engineers, electrical and lighting engineers, and irrigation and public involvement consultants. This team developed the master plan, produced the design documents, and provided construction observation services to see the Project vision come into fruition; 2) facilitated public outreach events and stakeholder meetings and collaborated with the public outreach consultant who engaged directly with the neighborhood to develop key themes and recommendations; and 3) directed the development of strategies and design for integrating green infrastructure, for both on- and off-site runoff, into park spaces –a priority for the Project.

The Architect led the design of the buildings (and select deconstruction), the elevated walkway, and custom furniture.

Context

RiNo was flagged as a “High Priority” area for green space by “‘Denver’s Gameplan for a Healthy City.”  Plenty of studies correlate the presence and use of park spaces to increased vigor, the reduction of obesity, a boost in social skills, and better overall health within a community. The Project offers an abundance of elements aimed at improving the health of the neighborhood:  playground amenities include balance beams and jumping pads; a large green lawn provides space for organized play; a wheelchair accessible walkway, zig-zags visitors 16-feet off the ground to view the river below from the treetops; a promenade provides a vehicle-free zone for bikers and pedestrians; and free programming activates the space throughout the day. These elements bring people in and turn a great option into a compelling invitation to use the space. The location, the amenities, and the consistency of the programming incentivize first-time and return visits, thereby increasing the likelihood of that physical activity and its benefits.

Physical health must not eclipse the mental and spiritual health of our communities. The project, with its access to nature, attends to anxiety; with its new library, offers safe spaces and community safety nets; and with its art production, catalyzes learning, expression, and connection.

Special Factors

THE RIVER – The project addresses the river by introducing water quality and stormwater management measures along a quarter-mile stretch of riparian area. Moreover, it adds water quality testing mechanisms.  But the site does more than clean water, it reintroduces a community to the river and our responsibility to it. Stormwater features like runnels, raingardens, and filtration, are not hidden, but conspicuous and decorated.  “Course, a public art installation of symbolic columns, punctuates the promenade and describes water’s journey through the city.

THE REHABILITATED – It was the City’s original intent to demolish the buildings on site; however, the community wanted them to stay. The RiNo Art District stepped in and became responsible for the renovation, build-out, fundraising, activation, and free programming of the “RiNo ArtPark” buildings. Today, what was a vehicle maintenance bay, is now a porous plaza loosely enclosed within the vestigial remains of the building.

THE PROMENADE – The City swapped a little-used roadway parallel to the river for biking or walking and added valuable multimodal connections to an area lacking them thereby contributing to the critical mass of the neighborhood’s transit options. Remnants of the road remain, with asphalt selectively removed to provide space for water quality, plantings, play, seating, and gathering. A 16-foot high, 400-foot long, ADA accessible elevated walkway (envisioned by the landscape architect and designed by the architect) offers views up and down the river corridor from the vantage of the trees.

FINANCIAL – The Project resulted from a series of first-of-their-kind public, nonprofit, and private partnerships. Denver Parks & Recreation, Denver Public Library, the RiNo Art District, Focus Points Family Resource Center, and the Redline Contemporary Art Center are just some of the entities responsible. With so many groups invested in the success of the park, the space accomplished a “victory of the commons” with stable, diverse funding.

Environmental Sensitivity and Sustainability

Not only does the Project manage water within its boundaries, it also treats neighborhood runoff entering the park. The design consists of tiered water quality basins with selective planting, intentionally mixed soils for water polishing, and large areas of permeable pavers (15,900 sf). To reduce unnecessary heavy grading along the promenade, all the water quality collection points for runoff replaced pre-existing street inlets. In total, the project added over 16,900 sf of water quality planting areas which have a water quality capture volume of 2,600 cf. The result is a cleaner river, not only for Denver, but for all of those who depend on the South Platte River downstream.

Water was not the only resource taken into consideration. The Project resulted in a massive reduction in hardscape on the site which both reduced the heat island effect in the area and opened space for more natural areas. The Project now acts as a node for more than bikers; it’s a massing of native plants with greater diversity and productivity than the upland riverbank has seen in quite some time. The reintroduction of appropriate plant species also reduces irrigation demands, minimizes maintenance, and supports the important ecosystems along the river.

Finally, the designers selected environmentally conscious building materials when feasible. This includes benches of recycled plastic bottles; an elevated walkway of sustainably sourced lumber that used no concrete for its structure; and the reuse of materials on or near the site. And of course, the rehabilitation of the existing buildings on site rather than building new structures reduced total environmental impact significantly.

Significance

In recent years, RiNo buzzed with energy.  Impromptu art studios popped up in the neighborhood. Murals adorned everything from mailboxes to six-story apartments.  Even new housing could not accommodate the rush of artists, professionals, and business owners. But all this activity had no locus in which to congregate.

Arkins Park is more than a static place to meet. From its inception, it rode a wave of inspiration: a dozen groups, with overlapping dreams, shaped the vision of what this new park could be. Thousands of individuals used the polls, questionnaires, workshops, and focus groups to share their preferences and passions.  The result is a space where numerous simultaneous benefits play out every day – and look good doing it. Dogs are walked and concerts performed, community yoga taught, art classes held, stormwater cleaned, and pollinators provided for.

Arkins Park is where that creative buzz goes to thrive. It’s where families can play, explore, and learn. It’s where artists can innovate and perform. It’s where new perspectives are the norm – whether watching a performance, catching insects, or wheeling up the walkway.  It’s the evolution of a grossly underutilized riverfront plot into a space that not only inspires individuals, it empowers a community.