Our Approach
To enhance and expand Denver’s park system in a thoughtful, equitable, and sustainable way, the Denver Park Trust is intentional about what projects we fund, where we work, and how we select our projects.
What We Fund
New Parks
New ParksThrough our Park Fund, powered by ten percent of every general donation, we help Denver Parks and Recreation acquire land to build parks in areas that lack access to a public park.
Park Enhancements
We support Denver Parks and Recreation by fundraising for large-scale park enhancement projects, including playgrounds, trails, skateparks, and other park amenities that keep communities active and healthy.
Community Grants
We fund community-led park initiatives by providing grants for small-scale, high-impact projects up to $5,000 in historically under-resourced areas of the city.
Explore Our Park ProjectsWhere We Work
To guide investment decisions and prioritize areas of greatest need, we use Denver Parks and Recreation’s Neighborhood Equity Index. The Index is updated every two years and considers factors such as income, health, population density, youth population, and other key indicators. With rare exceptions, the Denver Park Trust investments are in the highest equity priority neighborhoods. 
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- Communities of Color: Percent of population of color (non-white)
- Youth Populations: Percent of population under 18 years of age
- Low Income: Percent of population below the city median income
- Health Disparity Indicator: Prevalence of health disparities like obesity, heart disease, and asthma
- Population Density: Number of residents per square mile
- Park Access: Residential units within a 10-minute walk or roll of a public park
- Park Investment: 10-year history of capital investments in parks
- Park Acres: Park and open space acres per 1,000 residents
How We Select Projects
The Denver Park Trust works to ensure more equitable access to parks across Denver. The Denver Park Trust uses a set of criteria to select projects that are most in need of support.
1. Equity
Using the Denver Parks and Recreation’s Neighborhood Equity Index as a guide to evaluate the socioeconomic, environmental, and health barriers that residents of Denver neighborhoods face as well as existing park access, size, and investment, will this park project contribute to a more equitable park system?
2. Access
Referencing the Trust for Public Land’s 10-Minute Walk, which states a goal of all Americans living within a 10-minute walk or roll of a park by 2050, will this project contribute to improving park access to a high-quality park in a historically under-resourced area?
3. Historical & Cultural Significance
Does this project have cultural or historical significance specific to Denver or the neighborhood it serves?
4. Community Involvement
Has this project garnered interest or action from community members? Is there noticeable interest in residents in the neighborhood, volunteer work, assistance, or other support?
5. Health & Wellbeing
Referencing Denver Parks and Recreation’s Game Plan for a Healthy City, which focuses on providing more resilient green spaces to more Denver residents, will this project contribute to the overall health and environment of Denver?
6. Funding
Does this project have any financial support or commitments either from the government or community that can be leveraged by the Denver Park Trust’s fundraising efforts?