INC PARC (Parks and Recreation Committee) met Nov. 17. Present were co-Chair Maggie Price, Kathleen Wells, Nancy Francis, Brad Cameron, Sonia John, Ronnie Crawford, Greg Sorensen, Steve Fisher, Katie Fisher, Diana Helper, and guests Scott Gilmore of DPR, Ginger White Brunetti, Deputy Dir. of Denver Arts and Venues (DAV), and Kim Kucera, DAV consultant from CRL Associates.

Ginger distributed copies of “The Next Stage: The Future of Denver’s Performing Arts Complex” and discussed plans to remodel the present park area along Speer Blvd. The city believes to stay competitive it needs an informal “arts active” park to suit modern taste. The plan calls for the sculptures to be relocated, land reconfigured into a “neighborhood” area with a playground and dog run spaces, and a “festival” area with indoor and outdoor performance spaces, a café, video wall, pavilion, etc. A fresh market and Arts High school, Cycle and Crossfit, Creative Industries, and Commercial Tower are proposed on the southeast border. The entire park would be raised to provide a parking structure of one underground and two above-ground levels.

PARC concerns included the treatment of the Speer Blvd. aspect to create an attractive view, stepping back from the street, landscaped, connecting the park with the Cherry Creek trail, finding alternative parking so the entire park need not be raised, concentrating on pedestrian and bike access with the reality that many of the visitors will come from downtown apartments, a variety of quality entertainment at low or no charge truly to serve the public, funding sources (to be determined), time-table of project. The planning team was appointed by the mayor, and expects to bring its completed concept to him by the end of January. Comments may be posted at www.ArtsandVenues.com.

PARC also discussed:

• Red Rocks Park which now has a broad-based committee considering the park’s Landmark boundary and related matters, with Nancy Francis and Cindy Johnstone representing INC on the committee Arts and Venues has canceled the plan for tree removal at Red Rocks
• Parkway concerns were reported by Brad who is meeting on this topic. Scott mentioned Vanderbilt Park East (in the Gates complex) which the developer wants to own, and the need for vote of people on such a matter, plus the need for Arts and Venues to bring its plans to DPR early in the process, and have public process.
• Sonia stated national and international tree groups are soon meeting in Denver.
• Ronnie reported on S. Platte area, trail route changes, completion of Pasquale’s Landing Park and the Grant Frontier park work where the cabin and its relics are to be removed – new venue is sought for these historic items.  The river was “scoured” in the storms earlier, fishing spots have moved, but fishing is still good.
• Diana said the Prairie Park sign dedication Oct. 28 was a success.
• Nancy spoke of  the effort by City Park Historic Designation Exploration Committee (organized by Historic Denver to explore the pros and cons of local landmark designation for City) to raise $200,000 to  fund development of a Master Plan update and Design guidelines for City Park.

Next meeting 6:00 p.m. January 19, 2016 at Brookdale, 2020 S. Monroe St.

–Diana Helper, PARC member