About the Denver Park Trust
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as a vital support system for Denver Parks and Recreation, attracting philanthropic investment to preserve and expand our city’s cherished park system.
Vision
A thriving, resilient, and sustainable Denver where everyone has access to exceptional parks, trails, and recreation.
Mission
The Denver Park Trust is the philanthropic partner for Denver Parks and Recreation, mobilizing support to fund projects to ensure every resident has a place to gather, play, and enjoy nature.
What We Do
As the city-wide fundraising organization for Denver Parks and Recreation, the Denver Park Trust builds relationships with individuals, foundations, and local businesses to support transformative park projects in Denver parks. We take an equitable approach to park access and amenities, centering the people who use parks and creating spaces that reflect each neighborhood’s distinct character and needs.
Partnership With Denver Parks and Recreation
Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) is responsible for the planning, daily operations, and management of Denver’s parks, trails, natural landscapes, urban forest, park structures, parkways, city greenhouse, golf courses, and other land and water assets. The Denver park system encompasses more than 6,000 urban park acres, 14,000 mountain park acres, and 80 miles of trails. As stewards of this park system, DPR is dedicated to enhancing the health of residents and the environment through innovative programs and safe, beautiful, sustainable green spaces. Read more about DPR’s comprehensive parks and recreation plan, Game Plan for a Healthy City, here.
The Denver Park Trust is proud to be the city-wide fundraising organization for Denver Parks and Recreation. By funding transformative park projects, awarding community grants, and engaging residents to care for their parks, we foster a culture of giving to our parks that ensures green spaces and outdoor recreation remain accessible to all Denver residents.
History
In the early 1900’s under the leadership of Mayor Robert Speer, Denver embraced the City Beautiful Movement, leading to the creation of a renowned system of public parks. As our population grew, the city parks budget alone could not provide the financial support necessary to ensure all communities had equitable access to parks and quality outdoor amenities.
In 2018, then Councilwoman Kendra Black and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Member Frank Rowe created a nonprofit that would serve as a philanthropic support system for parks and strengthen the City of Denver, one green space at a time. The Denver Park Trust held its first Board of Directors meeting in the summer of 2019 and later opened its doors as Denver Parks and Recreation’s philanthropic partner.
Since then, the Denver Park Trust has funded transformative community projects and park enhancements across the city.
Parks have long been a part of Denver’s legacy.
