The Denver Park Trust partnered with Sunnyside United Neighbors, Inc. (SUNI) and Denver Parks & Recreation to bring quality-of-life enhancements, including benches, bike racks, trash cans, and pet waste stations, to three (3) Sunnyside parks, with a fourth expected later this year in 2023.
In Summer of 2022, after forming the SUNI Parks Committee, SUNI and the Denver Park Trust surveyed the residents of the Sunnyside neighborhood to determine what improvements they would most like to see in their parks. The survey garnered over 130 results, with the top desired amenities being dog waste stations, water fountains, trash cans, benches & picnic tables, trees, and bike racks.
Over the course of the next six months, SUNI and the Denver Park Trust worked with Denver Parks and Recreation to determine which of these amenities would be appropriate for the three (3) parks – Chaffee Park, Ciancio Park, and 46th & Pecos Park – and where the amenities would best be located.
Ultimately, the three (3) parks altogether received: two (2) new bike rack sites, two (2) new benches, four (4) new pet waste stations, and several new trash cans. Additional enhancements are expected to be added to a fourth Sunnyside park, La Raza Park, later this year in 2023.
Through its Community Grant Program, the Denver Park Trust awarded SUNI almost $4,000 for these enhancements, with Denver Parks & Recreation purchasing and installing these amenities. Additionally, with Denver Park Trust’s support, SUNI held a fundraiser for park projects, raising over $2,000 for future improvements. A community-led, volunteer tree planting day is also tentatively planned for Chaffee Park which will add approximately 10 new trees to the park.
Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming improvements to Sunnyside parks!
