Keep The Wheels Turning
A whopping 2,347 groups signed up this year for National Bike & Roll to School Day. Of those, 103 were in Colorado, including six in Park Hill and Central Park. On Friday, May 9, students across the neighborhood hopped on their bikes or scooters, strapped on their rollerblades, or otherwise rolled or walked to school in groups, embracing the joys and benefits of active travel to school and calling attention to the need for safe, accessible biking and walking routes. (The event was originally scheduled for May 7, but many local schools delayed by two days because of cold, rainy weather.) Shown here, a gang of Bike Bus riders are headed to Park Hill Elementary. Other neighborhood schools that rolled that day included Stedman Elementary, Odyssey Elementary, Blessed Sacrament, Westerly Creek and William “Bill” Roberts K-8 School in Central Park. Photo by Reid Neureiter
It’s Showtime!
Eight Park Hill Gardens Are Yours To Explore On Sunday, June 8
The Fine Print
The 25th Annual Park Hill Garden Walk Sunday, June 8
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Adults: $15
Seniors (65+): $12 Day of Event: $20
Children under 12 years: Free Tickets are online at parkhillgardenwalk.org, and can also be purchased at the following locations:
• City Floral: 1440 Kearney St.
• Spinelli’s Market: 4621 E 23rd Ave.
• The Park Hill Branch Library: 4705 Montview Blvd.
• Day-of ticket location at 19th Avenue and Forest Parkway.
If you are interested in joining the Garden Walk committee, volunteering, sponsoring a garden or know of a garden for next year’s Garden Walk, contact Paula Marinelli: paulagardenwalk@gmail.com
gphc mee T Ings
Community meetings are conducted on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., except for July and December. Meetings are held in person at 2823 Fairfax St. People can also attend via Zoom at greaterparkhill.org/join-us/community-meetings The next meeting is June 5. There is no meeting in July.
Iconic Colorado Boulevard Motel, Notorious For Crime And Bad Vibes, Has Been Demolished
By Cara DeGette GPHN Editor
The Royal Palace Motel has been none of those for many years. After being closed and boarded up for 12 years, the dilapidated blueand-white-trimmed motel at the continued on page 7
By Kate Blanas Park Hill Garden Walk Organizer
Photo by Mark Silverstein
Photo by Cara DeGette
Photo courtesy of the Park Hill Garden Walk
By Cara DeGette GPHN Editor
After a 10-year run, Fiction Beer Company, at 7101 E. Colfax, closed at the end of 2024. At the time, its owners cited burnout and a need for less stress in their lives. But apparently you can’t keep a good book closed. In March, a group of seven longtime fans and patrons of the taproom announced they had purchased the brewery. Fiction Beer, the sequel, is now reopened, and the taps are flowing.
Further east on the ‘Fax, the Circular Lounge opened last month. The address is 5126 E. Colfax (at Filbert Street), in the building that previously was home to Bellwether coffee shop and bar, as well as the Horror Bar and Slashers. A May Denver Post story described the Circular Lounge as “one part brewery taproom, one part retro dive bar and two parts make-believe.” Its owner is Chris Marchio, the founder of Nederland-based Knotted Root Brewing. In addition to craft beers, the bar features arcade-style games, pool, darts, a jukebox and mini golf on the patio.
Another new Colfax venture is Couscous Hice, which opened in April in the spot previously inhabited by GB Fish and Chips. The tiny restaurant, owned by a husband-wife team, serves up Moroccan specialties, including beef, salmon, chicken and vegetarian entrees, as well as pastillas, sandwiches and Moroccan pastries and desserts. The address is 5325 E. Colfax — next door to Mod Livin’ and on the same block as the Benjamin Moore paint store.
It’s been a roller-coaster for Benzina, the upscale Italian restaurant in the distinctive Googie-style building that used to be a muffler shop at 4839 E. Colfax Ave. In February, Benzina owner Brad Anderson announced that the celebrated restaurant would close by the end of March. “We have been serving some really great food and drink to the Denver community for almost four
Who We aRe
Editor: Cara DeGette
Manager: Brenda Morrison
Ad Sales: Melissa Davis and Denise Fisher
Art Director: Tommy Kubitsky
how to fIND US
Voicemail: 720-287-0442
Email: newspaper@greaterparkhill.org
Address: 2823 Fairfax St. Denver, 80207
Website: greaterparkhill.org
Facebook: facebook.com/greaterparkhillnews
Twitter: @parkhillnews
CoNtACt US
Story Tips and Letters to the Editor: Cara DeGette: 720-979-4385, editor@greaterparkhill.org
Advertising information: Melissa Davis: ads@greaterparkhill.org
Denise Fisher: sales_denise@greaterparkhill.org
Deadline for submissions is the 15th of every month
years, but it has been an uphill battle since day one,” he wrote in a thanks to loyal customers. “COVID did the food industry no favors. The state and city government have made it almost impossible for a single operator to survive in Denver. The cost of labor, food, rent and property taxes has created a situation where the small guy can’t compete.”
The news inspired a rush of customers. Anderson announced the restaurant would remain open after all.
In the latest twist, last month Anderson said on Instagram that Benzina as we know it will indeed close at the end of May. He’s now planning to open a new restaurant in the spot. What that will be is not yet known, so stay tuned.
Another new Colfax restaurant is BOXBOX, whose owners describe as a fast-casual concept featuring healthful, picnic-inspired salads served in “bento-inspired” boxes. Think chicken salads, pasta salads and seasonal veggie dishes. BOXBOX is slated to open this summer at 5038 E. Colfax.
Just off Colfax, at 1401 Krameria St., it looks like the long-anticipated JP Nori Sushi II restaurant is finally about ready to open. No word yet on an actual date, but the menu shows a variety of sushi, sashimi and special rolls, as well as entrees from teriyaki to tempura and other Japanese dishes. The restaurant is across the street from the Mayfair Plaza Shopping Center, in the space that was previously inhabited by the Krameria Cafe.
These days, opening or owning a restaurant (or any other business for that matter) along Colfax is not for the faint of heart. Ongoing road work has taken its toll on many — and construction for the Bus Rapid Transit project has not even reached Park Hill yet.
Please support independent businesses — both on Colfax and all over the neighborhood. The owners deserve the love.
The Greater Park Hill News is published by Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. (GPHC) on the 1st of each month. Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained herein. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily the opinions of GPHC. GPHC does not necessarily endorse the companies, products or services advertised in The Greater Park Hill News unless specifically stated. GPHC reserves the right to run any advertisement.
Circulation is 13,000 and is distributed in the Park Hill Area by neighborhood volunteers.
The Greater Park Hill Community, Inc., is a volunteerbased registered neighborhood organization that: promotes the character and vibrancy of Park Hill; provides resources, information and advocacy; and preserves quality of life and the history of the neighborhood through community participation.
This newspaper is made possible
Inc.
Getting Lucky
5/23/25, 1:36 PM
If you are lucky, you can spot a Burrowing Owl in a prairie dog colony. These little owls stand about 9-11 inches tall, and they live in abandoned rodent burrows. Burrowing owls are a threatened species in Colorado and endangered elsewhere, due to their loss of habitat to development. This Burrowing Owl was photographed by Mark Silverstein at the Coyote Ridge Natural Area, between Loveland and Fort Collins. You can also find them at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge seven miles north of Park Hill.
trees. You can spend the day exploring the gardens at your own pace. Expect the unexpected this year; one of the themes is the creative use of repurposed, reused and found materials.
Attendees also have the opportunity to see other artists at work in the gardens. These include graphic artists, printmakers, water colorists, sculptors, fabric artists, glass blowers, ceramicists, metal workers and potters. Their work will also be available for purchase.
This year, garden visitors can also buy raffle tickets to win a Denver Water Garden in a Box, worth approximately $200. Raffle tickets are available at all the gardens and at the central day-of ticket location at 19th Avenue and Forest Parkway. Raffle tickets are $5, or three for $10.
The Garden Walk raises approximately $20,000 every year. Proceeds support the nonprofit Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. and its food and other programs.
Annual July--Ween Block Party
Join us July 19 @ 10 am on Ivanhoe St between Colfax and 16th! th
Wear your favorite costume, enjoy trick-or-treating, bring chairs & something for the grill, & meet your neighbors! Questions? rachel@therorybellefoundation.org
Chiminea fireplace and metal cactus sculpture in one of the Garden Walk gardens. All photos on this page courtesy of the Park Hill Garden Walk. Buddha statue in a featured garden on Glencoe Street. Fish Pond, a painting by Garden Walk participating artist Rebekah Robinson.
Stone sculpture in the garden of Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church.
Flowers and foliage create a peaceful patio setting at this Ash Street home.
wild In the Garden
The Sweet Smell Of Success Can Be Yours. Here Are A Few Good Resources, Plus How To Deal With The Hazards Ahead
Gardener Potential Quiz
SOMETIMESALWAYSNEVER
Do your muscles need stretching?
Do you like getting your hands dirty to make something beautiful?
Do you appreciate the quiet peaceful time spent outdoors on a cool summer morning?
Do you dread mowing your lawn?
Do you go to the store just for a bunch of cilantro or parsley, which wilts in three days?
Total 1 point each 2 pts. each0 points
Your score:
0-3: Enjoy your neighbors’ gardens.
4-6: Keep reading to help you get started in the garden.
7-10: Get gardening now!
By Kate Blanas Park Hill Garden Walk Organizer
For many, a beautiful garden is a joy to behold, but for others, it suffices to behold it from afar. Gardening can be a lot of work but brings many rewards — some expected and some unexpected.
It is often overwhelming to start something new, but if you start small and simple, gardening becomes more accessible. Gardening can also be extremely expensive, but by using these resources, you will only need to provide water.
The Good Stuff
Tools: The Denver Tool Library, via the Denver Public Library, currently has 1,107 gardening tools available to borrow.
Seeds and plants: The Denver Public Library also has free seeds and plants available. Facebook groups are another source of free items. Gardening neighbors are also often willing to share when they thin their plants. Wild Ones, an organization that promotes native landscapes through education, advocacy, and collaborative action, is another resource. You can join Wild Ones for $40 a year and get access to many resources, including free plant swaps all over the Front Range (frontrange.wildones. org).
Compost and Mulch: Denver Waste Management offers compost and mulch each year at various loca-
tions. Adding compost to Denver’s clay-heavy soil is necessary for plant health and water retention. And, if you are new to gardening in Denver’s semi-arid climate, you will need mulch. Lots of it. And don’t forget to use your own fall leaves as mulch, which becomes compost material. Sod removal: if you want to plant a garden where you now have grass, contact Denver Water for a $750 discount on the cost of removing your grass. If you do the removal yourself, you can get four free Gardens in a Box, each worth around $200.
The Challenges Ahead
Beware! As with many happy stories, there are hazards and villains. Here are a few solutions to some common challenges: Japanese Beetles: A multi-pronged approach works best against these
destructive summer pests. Regularly (daily, if possible) brush the shimmery beauties into a bowl or bucket of soapy water. Do not crush the beetles, because their pheromones will be released, which attract more of them. Many believe beetle traps have the same unhelpful effect as crushing them. Marigolds, garlic, and chives repel the beetles, while raspberries, roses and Virginia Creeper attract them. Neem oil sprayed on plant leaves is also effective to ward off the beetles. Their grubs live in and feed on the roots of your grass, so replacement with grass alternatives like clover can also help.
(Scarce) Water: Denver has a semiarid climate, and only native plants can survive without watering. Depending on the size of your garden, hand-watering is an option to keep other plants and flowers flourishing. Hoses and surface sprinklers are less expensive and more user-friendly
than a sprinkler system. Raccoons, squirrels, birds and more: Netting, scarecrows, blaring music, and shiny objects can be used to deter these pests. Cayenne pepper, garlic, human or dog hair are often used as repellents.
Hail: This is the most dreaded of all the threats to your garden. Hail can severely damage your beautiful garden, but many plants will come back with time. But remember, ’tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Japanese Beetles are real heartbreakers in the garden. Photo by Mark Silverstein
This lush and well-tended garden is featured in this year’s Park Hill Garden Walk. Photo courtesy of the Garden Walk
Illustration by Tommy Kubitsky
How’s This For Film Trivia?
I read your article in the May newspaper about movies and want to add a Park Hill movie trivia tidbit.
In March of 1975, we purchased our home at 2635 Clermont St. from Steve and Rebecca Tesich. Steve was a writer and had composed the screenplay for the movie Breaking Away in an upstairs room of the house. Steve won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for this movie in 1979.
Steve was born in Serbia and immigrated with his family to the U.S. He lived and attended college in Indiana, where he was on the cy-
cling team. Breaking Away is about this cycling experience. He also wrote the screenplay for American Flyer, starring Kevin Costner, about cyclists in Colorado. Take note, Park Hill Peloton.
Steve moved from Park Hill and sold us the house because the airplane noise was too great for him to concentrate. How proud we are to have had an Academy Award screenplay written in our house, and we are still living here — with no airport noise.
Reola Phelps, Park Hill
Kudos All Around
Congratulations on your numerous Top of the Rockies journalism awards, from the Colorado Society of Professional Journalists, which were announced in last month’s issue. Each month, I look forward to your publication. There’s a distinct dearth of interesting, accurate news from our area.
Also all the best to youth columnist Anya Nitczynski. Her focus, her energy, and her hard work over five years certainly make her set for success in journalism, as well as many other careers. I can’t imagine having the focus and determination she’s shown when I was in high school, when I fell in love with writing. All the best to the paper and Anya. Bonnie McCune, Central Park
They Made Our Lives Better
Although I am originally a north Denver guy, I have now been part of
Park Hill for 60-plus years. It is leafy and beautiful, and it has been a marvelous place to live and to raise our family. It is energized by very special people; they care for our neighborhood and they enrich the entire City and more.
I have been able to share time with many of these souls, some with general acquaintance and others with long and close friendship. Two important fellows have recently died, and I want to take a minute to think of them and to acknowledge their long and strong presence with us: Jerry McDermott and Terry Kelly. Both were humble, able, and very effective lawyers. Their wives Rosemarie and Alice were equally active and effective leaders. Their children follow as next generation leaders. Jerry and Terry filled their roles so completely, ethically and happily. They made all of our lives better. They were truly pro bono, for the good, of all of us. They have our gratitude.
Success
Joseph
M. Fanganello, Park Hill
Story At Messiah
Neighbors and volunteers made Messiah Community Church’s inaugural Park Hill Plant & Art Sale a huge success. The sale, held on May 3, raised almost $1,500 for Greater Park Hill Community’s emergency food pantry.
Demand was so high that nearly all plants were sold out in the first day of the anticipated two-day sale. Thank you to our neighbors who came out to the church at 18th and Colorado Boulevard to pick up environmentally sustainable flow-
ers, grasses, and vegetables. Special appreciation goes out to the Green Team volunteers from Messiah who made the sale possible.
Chad Lorenz, Messiah Community Church
Flowers First, Then Fall Fest
All of the flower beds in City Park are being planted this year. That means we need more volunteers than ever to keep the park blooming. Adopt-a-Flowerbed volunteers can join a team centered on a particular garden bed, or they can work on their own schedule. If you are interested in participating, contact me at mjflora@msn.com. We hope to see you in City Park this season.
We also have a date for this year’s Greater Park Hill Community Fall Festival — Sunday, Oct. 12. The free event, at City of Axum Park, is designed to thank the incredible newspaper bundlers and blockworkers who deliver the Greater Park Hill News every month. If you are able, consider making a donation today to helps us cover the costs of food, supplies and entertainment. Donate at greaterparkhill.org and earmark your gift “Fall Festival.”
Maria Flora, Park Hill
We love your letters, and we give preference to those that address an issue that has been covered in the newspaper, or a topic that is Park Hill or Denver-specific. Send letters to editor@greaterparkhill.org, and include your full name and the neighborhood in which you live. Deadlines are the 15th of each month, for the following month’s issue.
Go wild for Front Range air quality.
Ozone, created from pollutants like car exhaust, is the Front Range’s biggest air quality issue and a leading cause of respiratory problems. Walk, bike,
Screenwriter Steve Tesich, with his Oscar. Photo courtesy of Bob Shaver
highly-visible spot on Colorado Boulevard and Colfax, found itself at the receiving end of the wrecking ball in mid-May. Its iconic neon sign, featuring a large royal crown topped with a spinning disco ball, is all that remains, now in the care of Denver resident and Colfax Avenue relic collector Jonny Barber.
According to city records, a developer plans to build a new six-story apartment building on the one-acre site, with at least 153 units.
It took nearly a week to reduce the old structure to rubble. Who knows how long before its notoriety as a creepy haven for criminal activity will fade?
The Royal Palace was originally designed in 1967 as a massive 300-room structure, with two towers and plans for a gourmet lounge suspended in midair. By the time the motel actually opened two years later, it had been downsized to 70 rooms and no lounge — though it did feature a fancy exterior glass elevator.
The marketing hyped it as, “Convenient to everything. Minutes from the airport.”
And, simply, “Be Our Guest.”
Over time, the glass elevator lost its sparkle, and then it ceased working entirely. The place became synonymous with drugs and prostitution. The 1998 (still unsolved) murder of John Eggers, a 31-year old guest, helped to seal the Royal Palace’s reputation as a haunted place with a dark aura. People began
making comparisons with the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles, which was notorious for its checkered clientele, tales of paranormal activity and mysterious deaths.
The Royal Palace permanently closed in 2013, but the internet will undoubtedly keep the memories alive. A single 1-star review appears on Yelp. Discussions pop up in social media spaces like TikTok, Instagram and Reddit, where comments like the following are the norm:
“I remember when it was up and running. It’s always given off negative energy.”
“That whole area has sketchy vibes.”
“The place is haunted. When I was little I was homeless with my parents and we stayed there several times. Bad things happened.”
“I live down the street and every time I drive by I feel like the building is watching me.”
“Even in the 90’s it basically looked the same; dilapidated and run down.”
As one Denver native recently noted, “if you lived here your whole life you probably have a story or two about this place.”
The demolition of the Royal Palace Motel, near the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Colfax Avenue, took nearly a week. Photo by Cara DeGette
Playing Yo-Yo with the IRA
Colorado Climate Action Jobs And Programs Face Cuts And Hits
By Tracey MacDermott
For the GPHN
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — one of President Biden’s signature achievements — was signed into law in August, 2022. Since then, its positive impacts have been far-reaching. With more than $369 billion planned for climate action and to develop renewable energy, it also prioritized environmental justice initiatives with a $60 billion commitment.
It is important to remember the people who suffer the most from the climate crisis and will continue to suffer if this funding is slashed or eliminated. That’s the risk we are facing.
Historical inequities have led to environmental racism, leaving communities of color disproportionately located near polluted areas. So, when such a monumental bill such as the IRA passed, it also provided an opportunity to end these injustices and begin to heal centuries of harm. It should be our nation’s priority to right these wrongs. The IRA prioritizes over 50 percent of its investments to disadvantaged communities, for electrification upgrades,
climate resilience, transportation equity and reducing air pollution.
As highlighted on Sen. John Hickenlooper’s congressional website, the IRA, as it was written, will bring $1.7 billion to Colorado. These funds, directed to projects for clean energy manufacturing, would create more than 4,900 jobs and would address environmental health disparities.
Part of that includes a $199 million package, awarded to the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), to improve air quality.
This program is focused on decarbonizing buildings by electrifying and transitioning away from natural gas. The DRCOG grant included decarbonizing homes in low-income communities, which included free home retrofits and upgrade services. The program also has an eye towards equity by supporting recruitment of low-income youth and previously incarcerated individuals for job training.
Now, under the Trump administration, the program may be threatened. Others have been cut entirely; it is unclear how many are at risk of elimination.
The “Solar for All” program, for
bills for low-income households and disadvantaged communities. The money was to enable Colorado to increase the number of communities that could take advantage of distributed solar investments (think solar farms and large-scale utility plants). That would increase the number of communities who could benefit from clean and affordable solar energy.
Unfortunately, in February the Trump administration froze those funds.
In Southern Colorado, Pueblo was granted $200 million to expand manufacturing facilities for wind, while creating 800 jobs. Under Trump, funds for this program were frozen — and then unfrozen.
Meanwhile, the city of Brighton was awarded $250 million for a facility to manufacture solar photovoltaic modules. The facility is projected to create over 900 new jobs. It does not appear that funding has been stopped for this project, but the current trend of freezing and revoking funds could put it at risk.
The threat of eliminating the Advanced Energy Project Credits could lead to a billion-dollar gap for energy projects. That would ultimately lead to higher electrical costs for business and households. Losing these credits puts our state’s energy goals at risk, slowing down the work we can do and delaying the solution to the climate crisis.
In early May, Colorado congressmen Jeff Hurd and Gabe Evans signed onto a request for restraint
in cuts to the IRA. The two Republicans expressed concern about “disruptive changes to our nation’s energy tax structure.” Gutting the IRA would greatly impact both representative’s districts.
Two weeks later, Hurd and Evans did an about-face. Both voted for the Trump-endorsed budget reconciliation bill, to repeal clean energy investments and deliver tax handouts to billionaires. The organization Climate Power reports that Evans’ vote directly threatens $140 million in clean energy investments and 484 good-paying clean energy jobs in his district alone. Hurd’s vote directly threatens 1,920 good-paying jobs in his district.
I urge you to call both congressman. Let them know what you think of their betrayal. (Hurd’s DC number is 202-225-4676, and Evans’ is 202-225-5625.) You might also remind them the IRA is not just about the climate, it’s about equity and environmental justice.
Tracey MacDermott is an at-large board member of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. She was trained as a Climate Reality Leader in 2017. She chairs the Sustainability Committee for the Business and Professional Women of Colorado and the National Federation for Business and Professional Women. Email her at traceymacdermott@gmail.com
Double The Fun
$100M Facility Will Boost Colorado Recycling Programs
WM (formerly known as Waste Management) is building a $100 million recycling facility adjacent to the Arapahoe Disposal site at
vanced sorting facility was triggered by policy that is expected to double the rate
These funds are distributed by a board, with oversight from the state public health department. The new WM facility is privately funded and should be up and running by next year, with capacity to sort 168,000 tons of recyclables per year.
To ReCYCLe
In 2022 Gov. Jared Polis signed a “producer responsibility” law that requires local packagers like Coca-Cola and Molson Coors to pay a small fee to be used for expanded curbside recycling and new recycled-goods industries.
Mark Kuhl is an environmental advocate who lives in Park Hill with his family. His handy tips and news about recycling household items appear every month in these pages. A directory of his past columns for recycling everything from paint to Styrofoam to shoes is at greaterparkhill.org/sustainability/ recycling-directory/.
we Can have It All
One Vision: A Park Hill Park And Youth Sports Complex
By Wellington Webb Special to the GPHN
Recently, my neighbor returned to Denver after taking his granddaughter, who is 13, to a basketball tournament, where she played five games in two days. He put a lot of miles on his vehicle — not because the tournament was out of state but because Denver doesn’t have adequate youth facilities to host a tournament.
Listening to my neighbor brought back memories of my basketball youth.
they have skills?
Denver, we have to take care of our own kids. Our youth should not have to waste precious time commuting to Aurora, Thornton, Lakewood, South Suburban, Douglas County and beyond.
I began playing basketball by shooting a balledup sock into a paper bag hung on a door and visualizing driving to the basket, and I progressed to a basketball rim in the alley with neighborhood kids.
As we grew, we would find and play at outdoor courts at the nearest school and recreation centers, such as the one in Denver at 20th Street. Pickup games were played seven days a week, with the winner playing and the loser going home. On to high school and later at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, where we all piled in cars and traveled long distances to most games.
But that’s all ancient history. Today, these kids that have basketball skills play on club teams, and the teams must fight for gym space in Denver. I was struck how the basketball tournament my neighbor’s granddaughter participated in required travel to Thornton, where nearly 1,000 parents and boys and girls played. Then they traveled across town to Gold Crown in Lakewood for more games and more large crowds.
Sadly, basketball is not the only sport requiring Denver’s youth athletes to commute for adequate facilities.
I’ve supported a CASA soccer team, and I had to drive to East Colfax and Tower Road in Aurora. There, I saw hundreds of kids and parents packed in to watch the games. One track coach told me they regularly travel to Boulder and Colorado Springs for meets and track practice. It’s even worse for young hockey athletes fighting for ice time in Denver. The Big Bear Ice Arena at Lowry is always booked. Then there’s the youth football players, lacrosse players and tennis players not having facilities close to home. Denver has dropped the ball for too long for our youth. Are our kids being discriminated against if they are competitive, or is there some nearsighted policy that gives Denver kids less opportunity if
The city now has the opportunity to provide a space for our athletes to practice and compete in Denver. Voters saved the Park Hill Golf Course property from a concrete jungle and false promises of “affordable” housing and a grocery store. That 155 acres is a great location for new youth athletic fields and a complex with adequate parking, as well as walking trails and open space for a neighborhood and regional park.
This can be done for our children and adults for future generations. If done correctly as a public-private partnership, much of it can be funded through sponsorships without being a burden to the taxpayers.
On the 155 acres of the former golf course, I envision outdoor trails and open space, an ice hockey rink, a pickleball court, fields for soccer, a track and field area, facilities for basketball, volleyball, lacrosse and much more. We can have it all.
This vision is for Denver kids and their parents. Let’s be bold: Park Hill Park and Sports Complex.
Wellington Webb was Mayor of Denver from 1991 to 2003.
what’s In A Park?
The City Wants To Hear From You Trails? Tennis courts? Native flower gardens and a lake? What is your dream for the new Park Hill Park?
The Denver Parks and Recreation Department is holding an open house on Saturday, June 7 and wants neighbors to come and share their vision for the 155-acres of what used to be the Park Hill Golf Course.
The “visioning” session is at City of Axum Park, at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Birch Street. The session is from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Check out parkhillpark.org for additional resources and the current planning and building timeline for the park.
Wellington Webb
Banner on the chain fence at 40th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, the north end of the soon-to-be Park Hill Park. Photo by Cara DeGette
bluff lake news
the time is now to invest in our ecosystem and community
we have one month left to reach our goal of 1,000 donors and unlock a $500K gift
Bluff Lake has raised over $7.1M of our $8.5M goal. We have an opportunity to unlock a collective gift of $500K from three generous families if we can reach 1,000 donors, and we are over 70% of the way there! Be a part of this community project and make your donation today.
Your donation of any dollar amount (whether $5, $50, or $500) will help us reach our goal! Already donated? Making a new donation counts too! Donate online via the link below or through Venmo @blufflakenaturecenter!
Visit blufflake.org/campaign to learn more about the project & discover all the tax credits and ways to donate!
campus improvements key elements
“Gateway” Area: welcomes visitors to the site
Indoor Public Spaces: enables expanded programming
Accessibility Improvements: new ramp and parking lot
Administrative Spaces: connects the team with the site
Visitor Experience: bathrooms and shaded outdoor areas
Net-Zero Building: utilizing sustainable technologies
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES AT BLUFF LAKE; PARKING LOT AND MAIN ENTRANCE CLOSED
For up to date Construction Site Access information as well as a map of the new entrances please visit blufflake.org/construction-site-access
BUILD THE FUTURE: Invest in our ecosystem and community!
Civics In Action
57 Immigrants Become U.S. Citizens At Park Hill Elementary
By Michael J. Williams Special to the GPHN
The neighborhood welcomed 57 new American citizens from more than 15 countries on May 12 during two naturalization ceremonies at Park Hill Elementary School.
Naturalization ceremonies are formal events where immigrants become U.S. citizens after completing the naturalization process. Schools across the country often host naturalization ceremonies, usually the brainchild of staff or community members. In this case, the inspiration came from young students, who have been learning about civics and social studies at their various grade levels all year.
“They learn that many people come to the United States as immigrants from other places in the world, and that’s part of our history, and they learn what an immigrant is,” said Mara Anderson. Anderson is a management and program analyst with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Her son, Will, is in the 2nd grade at Park Hill.
Citizenship and borders are often complex concepts for children to understand, Anderson said. Even parents who work for USCIS sometimes struggle to explain to their own kids what they do.
During back-to-school night, Anderson said she learned from her son’s teacher, Sharyn Kline, about the civics unit in his class. The idea was born to bring some of those lessons to life
“Park Hill has an auditorium, so there is a space [for a naturalization ceremony],” Anderson recalled thinking. Kline took the lead from there. She, along with Park Hill Principal Ken Burdette, reached
out to the Denver Field Office of the USCIS, which enthusiastically came on board to help organize the event. The organizers decided to hold two ceremonies as a culminating event near the end of the school year, so as many students, staff and community members could participate as possible.
In the first ceremony, first graders led the Pledge of Allegiance. Second graders, guided by music and drama teachers, performed the National Anthem. A parent who is a naturalized citizen also shared her story, but the moment that stole the show wasn’t scripted.
“The children took cheering for the new citizens very seriously,” Anderson said. “They were really rowdy; it was really cute.”
Anderson’s son, Will, said he enjoyed seeing so many people in his school’s auditorium, watching people receive certificates, and “singing the song I Choose.” His mom, and the Denver field office director of the USCIS, both cried, Will noted. Older students took the lead in the second ceremony, marching in with handmade flags representing the 15-plus countries of origin of the new citizens. A faculty member who had gone through the naturalization process spoke about her experience, rounding out the day’s festivities.
The event drew a strong turnout from families, neighbors, and community organizations. Plans are already underway to host future ceremonies at the school as an engaging, student-driven way to bring civics education to life.
The author is a community relations specialist covering Colorado, Utah and Wyoming for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He lives in the Mayfair neighborhood.
New citizens raise their right hands to take the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at Park Hill Elementary on May 12. Photo by Mara Anderson
Park hill Parade turns 15
From Humble Roots, The Event Has Grown Into The Grandest 4th Of July Spectacle In Denver Staff Report
For the GPHN
Way back in 2008, neighbors on the 2300 block of Eudora looked around for a local 4th of July parade to attend. They couldn’t find one close, so they made their own. That first year, a group of kids decorated their bikes to ride up and down the block. A few neighbors came out to watch. Then a few more. Then all of them. After that first humble year, the Bresler family decided to research how to put on a proper parade, including the required permits and all the other official stuff. And so, in 2010, the
neighborhood Park Hill 4th of July Parade was born.
As the parade turns 15 this year, it has grown to be the largest in Denver. As of mid-June, nearly 50 groups have signed up this year to march, twirl, dance, float and roll along the route, which stretches along 23rd Avenue from Dexter to Krameria streets.
Expect to see dance troupes and cheer squads, classic and vintage cars, martial arts demos, plenty of costumed characters and Captain America rumbling through on his motorcycle. The equestrian Westernaires — always a crowdpleaser — will be back, along with
the 134-strong Forever Cyclists and dozens of other groups.
As always, the parade kicks off at 1:30 pm. Parade watchers can line up anywhere along 23rd Avenue with blankets or chairs. Some neighbors have started staking out prime shady spots in the early hours of the morning – or even the night before – but there are plenty of great viewing areas. Pack out a picnic, invite some friends over, and be sure to bring plenty of water.
More information, including how to sign up or become a sponsor, is at ParkHillParade.com. Follow the parade on Instagram @parkhillparade.
Above: The first Park Hill 4th of July “Parade,” circa 2008. Photo by Justin Bresler
At right: Nearly 50 groups have signed up so far to march, twirl, dance, float and roll this year. File photo by Brent Andeck
June h a ppen I n gs
Celebrating Juneteenth
Celebrate Juneteenth on Welton Street in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood east of Park Hill on Sunday, June 15 from noon to 8 p.m. The festivities kick off with a street running parade and includes cultural vendors and food trucks and a youth zone. There is entertainment and live music all day, with a headline performance by hip hop legend Juvenile. The event is free and open to all. Juneteenth is also known as Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, and Emancipation Day. It celebrates the day African Americans in Texas learned of their freedom two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Three years ago Juneteenth became an official state holiday in
Colorado, a year after then-President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation making June 19 a federal holiday.
Check out schedules and details for this year’s celebration at juneteenthmusicfestival.com.
Denver PrideFest June 29
Dust off your rainbows and join 100,000 of your closest friends at Denver PrideFest on Sunday, June 29. The PrideFest Parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with colorful floats, marchers, music, and more. Historically, the parade travels Colfax Avenue from Franklin Street west to Broadway. But this year the parade has moved to 17th Avenue, due to the massive construction from the Bus Rapid
Transit project underway on Colfax. The staging and step-off will be at 17th and Franklin Street, with the parade concluding at Lincoln Street. More details and information is at denverpride.org/parade.
Not Another Black Art Show
The Niza Knoll Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District presents Not Another Black Art Show, now through June 29. Curated by Colorado artist Tyree Jones-Evans, the show aims to create a space that abandons imposed meanings behind black art and embraces nuance within the work. In addition to Jones-Evans, other participating local artists include Johnny Draco, Joseph Graves, Jazz Holmes, Angel Tirado and Devin Urioste.
The public is invited to an artists reception on Saturday, June 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. A free artists panel is also scheduled on Friday, June 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. The Niza Knoll Gallery is at 915 Santa Fe Dr. Visit nizaknollgallery.com for more info.
$10,000 For A Hole-In-One
This year’s City Park Alliance golf tournament is Monday, June 23. Swing Big For City Park includes a $10,000 Hole-In-One contest, open to men and women players. Tourney proceeds will be used for flowers in the park beds, renovations to the park’s handball courts and to install security cameras at the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue, which recently experienced vandalism. Sponsorships are also available.
Sign up at cityparkalliance.org.
Trick-Or-Treating In July
Save Monday, July 19 as the date for some early trick-or-treating at 16th and Ivanhoe in Park Hill. JulyO-Ween was created in July, 2020 by a Park Hill kid named Charlie to have Halloween with his sister Rory, when she was diagnosed with a terminal rare disease. The neighborhood tradition continues. Costumes, decorations, bouncy castles, sprinklers, and, of course, candy and other treats. Email rachel@therorybellefoundation.org.
Specializing in:
Image from Denver Juneteenth in 2019. Photo by Julius Garrido
Maps of Cowboys Soul by Joseph Graves
the Ultimate Goal
Park Hillians lead Denver East Rugby to 9th State Championship Story and photos by
Reid Neureiter
For the GPHN
Two failed last-ditch conversion kicks. That was the narrow margin that allowed the Denver East boys rugby team to escape in dramatic fashion with its ninth state rugby championship at Glendale’s Infinity Park rugby stadium, on May 10. The Angels vanquished defending state champs, Valor Christian Eagles, by a single point: 26-25.
East is no stranger to the state final, having made the championship game every year it has been played since 2013 (there was no game in 2020, due to the pandemic). But East had not won since 2022, and it faced a formidable opponent in the well-coached Valor squad, which had defeated the Angels in the season opener on March 1.
East Head Coach Zach Levek said that early season loss kept the Angels “hungry and motivated” for the 2025 campaign.
Levek singled out two players for their key contributions in the championship game: senior co-captain scrum-half Cole Conforti and junior co-captain 8-man Julian Rowse.
As scrum-half, Conforti is the equivalent of the quarterback in American football, retrieving the
ball from the scrum to start the offense by making initial distributing lateral passes. “His speed to the breakdown and constant probing of the defense allowed us to play a fast game, which suited our strength,” said Levek.
Of Rowse, Levek said, “in addition to making a ton of tackles, he demonstrated a high work rate [and] intercepted a pass in the second half, running it 60-plus meters for a try.” That, Levek said, “ultimately gave us enough points for a victory.”
Both Conforti and Rowse are Park Hill residents. Coach Levek is also Park Hill resident. He captained the rugby squad when he was a senior at East in 2007.
In the championship match, East had a quick start and seemed comfortably in control with a 19-5 lead early in the second period. But the disciplined Valor Eagles clawed their way back into contention, making the score 19-15 with 20 minutes to play. That’s when Rowse made his interception and sprinted for the Valor end zone.
“I saw the ball leave the ruck and it just shot in the air. I thought, ‘I can go get that’,” said Rowse. He did.
“Once I felt myself break free, I kept looking side to side and up at the Jumbotron to see if someone was
following me,” Rowse said. With the five points for the try and a twopoint conversion kick, his score put the Angels up by 11 points: 26-15.
But two rules in rugby made this a less-than-comfortable margin. Unlike in American football, if a team scores in rugby, then it gets the ball back, and the team that is scored upon kicks off to the scoring team. So, it becomes a game of “make it-take it,” and a team that is behind can quickly make up a deficit.
The second unique rugby rule is that the game does not end precisely when time expires. Instead, after the game clock ticks to zero, play continues until the team with possession either scores, loses the ball, or intentionally kicks it out of bounds.
Both these rules combined to make for a nerve-wracking final minutes for the Angel faithful.
With five minutes to go, East was still up by six points: 26 to 20. Valor
then received the ensuing kickoff and almost immediately scored another five points. But the missed conversion kick allowed East to prevail by one point.
A beaming Coach Levek had this to say about East’s championship program: “Playing rugby was probably the most formative experience I had while at East High School. Rugby helped me build confidence in myself and provided opportunities to develop my leadership style as well as hone my time management skills.
“When we first start practices in January, we work with the players to identify goals for the season and we continue to check in on these throughout the year. While we often identify winning the state championship as our ultimate goal, it’s a powerful experience to help these young men set ambitious targets and support them to track and achieve these aims.”
East boys rugby A-side players with their coaches after winning the 2025 Colorado Rugby state championship against Valor Christian on May 10.
Junior fullback Clay Smith (who attends Mullen High) leaps to receive the ball for East High in the state championship rugby match against Valor Christian.
East junior 8-man Julian Rowse glances up at the stadium Jumbotron as he sprints toward the endzone after intercepting an errant Valor pass.
East senior scrum half and co-captain Cole Conforti distributes the ball.
Summer of adventure
‘Check Out’ The Action At Park Hill’s Public Libraries
By Jesse Elston Pauline Robinson Branch Librarian
The Pauline Robinson Library has reopened, and it’s better than ever. After a beautiful renovation, we reopened our doors in late February, and we’re thrilled to welcome both new faces and familiar friends.
If you haven’t already, come say hello to our amazing new team members:
• Marilyn, our lead clerk, keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes and at the circulation desk.
• Jeanetta, our security officer, helps ensure the library stays a welcoming and safe space for everyone.
• Jesse, our new librarian, is already making story time a blast and bringing creative programming to life.
And of course, we’re still rocking it with our stellar veteran staff:
• Leslie, our passionate branch supervisor, is a true community champion.
• Paco, who many of you previously knew as security, has stepped into a new role as a clerk.
• Morgan is a library assistant, delivering the best customer service.
• Qua works hard to make sure our building stays clean and comfortable for all visitors.
At all Denver libraries, summer means adventure. From June 1 to Aug. 10, kids from birth through 12th grade can dive into reading, making, and exploring with a wide variety of engaging activities designed to keep minds sharp and spirits high.
At Pauline Robinson, there are three programs in particular that you do not want to miss: Kickoff with the Dollhouse Thieves on June 5; Renaissance Adventures on June 12; and Day of Play on June 23. (Details are in the following listings.)
We’re offering great programs for adults too, so come on by the library, join the fun, and let us “check you out” this summer!
June Library Programs
Note: All Denver Public Library locations will be closed on Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.
Pauline Robinson Branch
Toddler Storytimes | Tuesdays, 10:30-11
a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers.
Drop In Tech Help | Wednesdays, 2 p.m.
Need help navigating the internet, email, or social networks like
Facebook? Have questions about your phone or tablet? Want to know how to access eBooks on any device? Drop by to get your questions answered and learn how to use tech more effectively.
Summer of Adventure Kickoff with the Dollhouse Thieves | Thursday, June 5, 4-4:45 p.m.
Amazing local Denver band performing a fantastic mix of original kids’ tunes, timeless classics, and family favorites. All ages.
Renaissance Adventures | Thursday, June 12, 4-5 p.m.
Hear ye...hear ye! Come one come all (5-12 years old) to the Adventures of the Summer! The Pauline Robinson Library is hosting a medieval LARP (Live Action Role Play) program. Participants can experience sword fighting (with fake swords and shields, of course) and engage in battles like The Lord of the Rings. Who will be the knight in shining armor? It can be you.
Teen Book Club: Twenty-four Seconds
From Now… | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday June 23, 24, 25, 4-5 p.m.
Join us for discussion, snacks, and other activities related to the 2025 Coretta Scott King award-winning Young Adult novel by Jason Reynolds about young love and intimacy from the male perspective. Ages 14 and up.
Day of Play | Monday, June 23, 3 p.m.
Ready. Get set. PLAY! Come celebrate summer and all the great ways families, friends, and neighborhoods can play together. Join us for fun and lawn games, hands-on crafts and other activities. Dress to move and get messy.
Teens Game On! Lotería for Tweens and Teens | Friday, June 27, 4-5 p.m.
Play the traditional Mexican board game that’s similar to bingo and earn prizes. Available in English and Spanish. Ages 10 and up.
Pauline Robinson Book Club | Saturday, June 28, noon
We meet on the fourth Saturday of every month. This month we will be discussing The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
Park Hill Branch
Baby Storytimes | Thursdays 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their parents or caregivers.
Toddler Storytimes | Fridays 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their parents or caregivers.
Qi Gong | Wednesday, June 4, 11 a.m.-noon
Qi Gong is the cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine. Some-
times called “meditation in motion,” it includes slow, dance-like movements to improve breathing, reduce stress, and gently move the body.
Kids Game Club | Wednesday, June 4, Drop-in 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Drop by to play games in a fun, relaxed environment. Ideal for ages 5-12.
SPARK! Music and Mrs. Brown | Wednesday, June 11, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Did you know that Margaret “Molly” Brown was quite musical? What instruments did she play? Through images, recordings and videos, explore the types of music that were popular during her lifetime in a memory-friendly environment.
Queer Bawl: A Community Grief Circle | Thursday, June 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Life isn’t always a party, but it can be a bawl. Connect with LGBTQ+ community to share grief and hold space for one another. This event will focus on all different types of grief, including non-death losses such as sense of self and identity, loss of community, family dynamics, society standards. Note: This event is offsite, at Quince Coffee House, 1447 Quince St.
Park Hill Writers’ Workshop | Thursday, June 12, 1:30-3 p.m.
Come build your skills with your fellow writers. All levels of experience are welcome. Teaching artist Andrea Asali will lead a workshop in using insights from psychology and sociology to craft compelling characters and bring your stories to life. No registration required.
Rainbow Family Party | Saturday, June 14, 11 a.m.-noon
Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride with festive food and activities for the whole family. All families with children are invited.
Teen Advisory Board | Tuesday, June 17, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Anyone 6th-12th grade is welcome to join and help with library programming and resources geared towards teens.
Day of Play | Wednesday, June 18, 3:30-5 p.m.
Join us outside for an afternoon of fun lawn games, water balloons and icy snacks. Great for all ages.
No Strings Attached Book Chat | Saturday, June 21, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Read whatever you want; attend whenever you can.
Death Café | Monday, June 23, 2-3:30 p.m.
Death Café is an international movement that invites people to gather and normalize conversations around death - to make the most of life. This is not a grief support group or counseling session. Respect for all views is a priority.
Summer of Adventure: Teens Game ON | Tuesday, June 24, 3-4:30 p.m.
Join us for a variety of games, including card, board game, and RPGs. Ideal for ages 13-17.
Bike to Work Day Coffee Station | Wednesday, June 25, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Stop by the Park Hill Library Bike to Work Day Station for a quick cup of coffee and friendly conversation. Kids Locomotion, The Science of Motion | Wednesday, June 25, 3-3:45 p.m.
National Juggling Champion and kinetic comedian Peter Davison presents juggling, unicycling, balancing, acrobatics and more, while teaching the science behind the artistry. Davison mixes awesome circus skills with dance and physical theater in a unique performance for all ages.
Kids Book Celebration | Thursday, June 26, 4-5 p.m.
Read biographies about Taylor Swift and then come to test your Taylor trivia, make bracelets, and have more Swiftie fun.
Note: this month we meet on the 4th Thursday — not the 3rd Thursday. Ideal for ages 5-12. Parents of young children need to attend with their child.
Voice of the Wood Chamber Players | Saturday, June 28, 3-4 p.m.
Voice of the Wood Chamber Players will play pieces by Glazunov, Rodrigo, Dvorak and a new quintet by our very own Mike Marecak.
Greater Park Hill has two public libraries: The Park Hill Branch Library is at 4705 Montview Blvd. The Pauline Robinson Branch Library is at 5575 E. 33rd Ave. Visit denverlibrary.org, for other Denver library locations, including in Central Park, Whittier, and other nearby neighborhoods.
New Pauline Robinson Branch Librarian Jesse Elston reads to children from Stedman Elementary during a recent visit. Photo by Leslie Williams
another Planet
Colorado’s Remote And Mystical Wheeler Geologic Area
Story and photos by
Reid Neureiter
For the GPHN
Above 11,000 feet in altitude, hidden at the end of a teeth-rattling 14-mile four-wheel-drive road at the edge of the La Garita Wilderness, is a remote section of the San Juan Mountains. There, you will find a unique and eerie geological landscape unlike anything else in Colorado.
The 66-acre Wheeler Geologic Area, between the towns of South Fork and Creede in southwestern Colorado, features towering rock-capped hoodoos and tent-like formations of white and gray petrified volcanic ash, carved by wind and water. The freakish formations are the result of enormous eruptions from millions of years ago. Large hard rocks were thrown into the air along with the ash and, on landing, formed caps over the softer ash material below.
The soft material has eroded over the eons, leaving towers — or “hoodoos” — dozens or hundreds of feet tall, capped by protective hard rock. The area has been described as looking like a mysterious ghost city, covering a landscape so bizarre it seems to belong on another planet. A three-mile-long hiking trail encircles the formations and allows for closeup views.
Unknown to many Coloradans, the Wheeler Geologic Area was Colorado’s first federally designated National Monument, so proclaimed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. According to the informational web page of the town of South Fork, Colo., the monument honored George M. Wheeler of the U.S. Army Corp of Topographical Engineers. He carried out extensive geological surveys in the area from 1873 to 1884.
But the remoteness of the monument impaired access. In 1943, only 43 recorded visitors made the trek there. The Monument designation was abolished in 1950 and the area once again became part of the Rio Grande National Forest, un-
der management of the U.S. Forest Service. So it remained until 1993, when Congress passed the Colorado Wilderness Bill. The Wheeler Area was incorporated into the La Garita Wilderness, a protected designation that precludes any logging, mineral exploration, road building or mechanized travel.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, visitors can access the Wheeler area via a seven-mile one-way hike or a “grueling” 14-mile four-wheeldrive road. The Forest Service advises planning a full day for the trip to allow time to get there and back out. The road is extremely rough and rocky, with deep ruts. It is not recommended during monsoonal storms, because rain can make it impassable. High-clearance 4WD vehicles or ATV’s are required.
In addition, because of its high altitude, the rough road is one of the last to open for the season, in July, and the first to close, usually in October, when the first snows fall. Travelers are advised to check with the Creede Ranger District Office before making the trip. But those intrepid few who do make the trek will be rewarded with the opportunity to experience a remote and beautiful part of Colorado in near solitude.
Creede, the nearest town to the Wheeler Area, is 256 miles southwest of Denver. Getting there from Park Hill should take 4.5 hours, following US 285 most of the way. For more information about the Wheeler Geologic Area, including detailed directions, visit the town of South Fork’s informational site: southfork. org/wheeler-geological-area.
Up close with the hoodoos.
Photographer Jack Robinson of Denver captures a picture of the hoodoos and sculpted volcanic rock formations at the Wheeler Geologic Area.
who we Are, what we Do
The Board of Directors of GPHC, Inc.
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. is a volunteer-based registered neighborhood organization that promotes the character and vibrancy of Park Hill, provides resources, information and advocacy, and preserves quality of life and the history of the neighborhood through community participation.
GPHC world headquarters is 2823 Fairfax St. If you have an issue you’d like to discuss about the neighborhood, reach out to your board representative. Representatives can be contacted via the main office, at 303-388-0918 or info@ greaterparkhill.org.
If you are interested in volunteering for a board position or serving on a committee, contact GPHC Board Chair Shane Sutherland at chair@greaterparkhill.org.
• Board Chair Shane Sutherland
• Treasurer Heather Shockey
• Secretary Bernadette Kelly
• District 1 Kevin Doyle
• District 2 Brenda Morrison
• District 3 Heather Shockey
• District 4 Currently Vacant
• District 5 Bernadette Kelly
• District 6 Currently Vacant
• District 7 Jon Bowman
• District 8 Nam Henderson
• District 9 Currently Vacant
• District 10 Colette Carey
• At Large Bruce Campbell
• At Large Mona Estrada
• At Large Maria Flora
• At Large Tracey MacDermott
• At Large Louis Plachowski lplachowski@gmail.com
• At Large Shane Sutherland
• Blessed Sacrament Betsy Boudreau
• Park Hill UMC Jacqui Shumway
In Memory of Mark Pressey
By Lori Midson Executive Director, GPHC, Inc.
On the evening of March 26, my husband, best friend and partner in love, Mark Pressey, was killed.
Mark was doing his post-work ritual: walking our dog, Finley, around Fred Thomas Park. A 25-year-old man driving at a high rate of speed struck and killed Mark as he and Finley were crossing the intersection at 23rd and Quebec.
Mark was a professional pianist and vocalist who, for the past nine years, presided over the piano bar at the Perfect Landing restaurant in Centennial. He was a remarkable musician. He enjoyed a multitude of things: flyfishing, birdwatching, everything astronomy, old Cor-
purpose. Always an overachiever, he went overboard.
Mark contributed more than 300 hours of service to GPHC in both 2023 and 2024. Among his many gifts: He was a food pantry volunteer; broke down thousands of boxes; collected food from various donation sites; took out the trash, recycling and compost; repaired numerous things around the office; always showed up at the office to help clean up when our aging building flooded; shoveled the snow on the back patio; gave rides home to other volunteers lacking transportation; volunteered during our Thanksgiving giveaway; delivered the Greater Park Hill News; and oversaw all the entertainment stage sound mechanics at the Park Hill Street Fair, where he also performed with his trio.
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vettes, new Corvettes, gardening, the Denver Broncos and Denver Nuggets and spending time with Elliott, his stepson.
When I became the executive director of Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. in late fall of 2022, Mark immediately began volunteering. Giving back, he said, gave him
He also performed last year at the Oneida Neighbors Summer Driveway Concert Series. The free concerts are held during the summer on Thursdays at 6 p.m. in the driveway of Marc and Alice Applebaum’s house at 1623 Oneida St. This year’s concert season has been dedicated to Mark. “May his voice be remembered with the joy he brought to us.”
Please, please obey the speed limit signs. Be kind to — and forgiving of — your fellow humans. Volunteer and give back to your community. Mark was so, so proud of the work we do at GPHC. Memorial donations in Mark’s name can be made at greaterparkhill.org/ donate/ or at Colorado Parks & Wildlife: cpw.state.co.us/donate.
The following organizations and individuals donated to and volunteered with Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. last month: Businesses
Churches and Groups
Blessed Sacrament
Catholic Church
Cake Crumbs
Bakery and Cafe
City and County of Denver City Park Alliance
Common Hair Salon
Cure D’Ars Catholic Church
Curtis Park Deli
Dahlia Campus Farms and Gardens
Denver Food Rescue
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Denver Public Library
Food Bank of the Rockies Ivy Street 2200
Indviduals and Families
Ashley Ackley
Karen Adkins and Brian Moore
Sylvia Aldena
Ally Bailey & Matt McConville
Stephanie Alvarez Penny AshleyLawrence
Cathy Bauchwitz
Jasmine Brubaker
Jennifer Calderone
Inga Calvin Sara Carlson Todd Cooper
Michael Crawford
Casey Dinger
Erin Donovan
Martha and Bruce
Amelia Drumwright Avery Ehret
Denise Fisher
Anne & Joe Frank Mary Gambrill Eileen Garbisch Bobbi Gillis Amy
Natalie and Patrick
Mark and Debra
Carol Maclennan Mark and Lori
Martha and Dick
and
Mullaney
Dan
Hank
Lori Midson and Mark Pressey.
Chomping Like A Champ
Keeping Your Pet At Its Healthiest Comes Down to Oral Health
By Margot K. Vahrenwald, DVM, CVJ
For the GPHN
“Doc, [insert pet name here] has to live forever. How do I do that?”
Many versions of this refrain are heard by veterinarians multiple times a day. We all want our pets and patients to be with us for as long as possible. The flip side is that the one thing that could help your pet live its healthiest, longest life seems to be the hardest task for human beings: their pets’ home oral care and regular veterinary dental cleanings.
The most common disease that impacts our beloved pets is dental disease or, rather, periodontal disease. By age three, more than 80 percent of dogs have visible evidence of periodontal disease. The first sign is that dark pink-to-red line of gingival inflammation (gingivitis).
The brown stuff you also see (tartar) is not the problem; it’s just a significant symptom of the invisible enemy: plaque.
Plaque causes inflammation that breaks down the periodontal ligament and then the alveolar bone around a tooth or teeth. That leads to progressive, painful periodontal disease and bad breath. Most pets will continue to eat and act normally, despite a degree of disease that is at a minimum uncomfortable and becomes more painful over time. Did you know that the most common cause of heart murmurs, especially in small dog breeds, is acquired valvular disease? This occurs when bacteria from the mouth travel via the blood to the heart, causing endocarditis, infection and inflammation of the heart’s inner lining and valves. I know that many pets are not always going to welcome teeth brushing. But they can be acclimated when they are young, or over time, or when there are other means of ac-
complishing some home care.
A recent study in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry explored the effectiveness of dental home care protocols. The study involved 125 client-owned dogs in good health that had not previously had an anesthetized dental cleaning. For the first eight weeks of the study, the pets had no home oral care. The dogs and owners were then randomly assigned to either a control group receiving no home oral care or individual groups following one of six specific home care protocols for eight weeks. (For example, brushing every other day with toothbrush and toothpaste, a daily dental chew and daily drinking water additive.)
At the end of the study, they found that periodontal health improved in all the dogs except the control group. Increased home oral care does not mean that a pet will not need dental cleaning under anesthesia. But it can help slow the pace of periodontal changes and decrease the volume of plaque that promotes dental disease. The home care reduces the frequency that cleanings under anesthesia are needed.
Speak with your veterinarian today about how to start home oral care for your pet. And, visit the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) website at vohc.org to find the tested products used in the study and recommended by veterinarians. We may not be able to make our pets live forever, but we truly can gain time with regular oral care.
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, visit parkhillvet. com
Bugland | Mark Silverstein
Leaps And Bounds
The fancy name for this fella is North American Spur-throated Grasshopper (Genus Melanoplus, member of the subfamily Catantopinae.) But most of us usually just call it a big old grasshopper. These jumpers can grow to two inches in length (though most are smaller), and they can leap as far as 30 inches. Some are colorful and patterned; others are drab. They like to eat every kind of grass they find, plus leafy agricultural crops and garden plants. This specimen was photographed in Park Hill by Mark Silverstein.
gphn c l ass I f I eds
CONSULTING
NONPROFIT WORK CALLING
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GENERAL CONTRACTOR
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GUTTERS
Gutter Cleaning, repairs, and replacement. Gutter Cleaning prices start at $150 – House, Garage, Porches, and walks. 303-907-9223/skmehaffey@gmail.com
MASONRY SERVICES
Masonry Services- Brick, Stone, Concrete repairs, restoration, tuckpointing, chimneys, retaining walls, city sidewalks; planter boxes. 303-907-9223/ skmehaffey@gmail.com
Mason – Brick, stone, chimney repair, historic renovation. Your Park Hill Expert. Fully Insured, free estimates. Call Ben @720-670-0874.
PAINTING
Interior and exterior painting. Prep, power washing, professional. Owned and operated by Park Hill resident
with over 20 years of experience. Free estimate. JR Painting 720-485-7207 or jpabz04@gmail.com
Painting: Interior, exterior, small jobs welcome; sheetrock repairs and texture. 303-907-9223/ skmehaffey@ gmail.com ROOFING
Roofing: Repairs, Inspections, Flashings, Hail Damage, and reroofing licensed, bonded, and insured. Gutter replacement and cleaning. 303-9079223/ skmehaffey@gmail.com
TUCKPOINTING
Over 25 years of experience. Fully insured. Mortar color and brick matching, broken brick replacement, cement chimney crown replacement. 12 years Chicago union experience. Mr. Chimney and Home Masonry Repair. Call Chuck Bahnsen 303-9487999
WINDOWS
Complete wood window restoration. Custom wood storm windows and screens. General painting, restoration and handyman services for your charming old home. Contact Matt 479-871-8140
Double-hung window RESTORATION includes replacing sash cords (ropes) and removal of excess paint on wood and metal plus lubrication for smooth opening and closing. 40-year resident of PH. Contact David - 720550-2786
To advertise in the Classifieds contact newspaper@greaterparkhill.org 720-287-0442 (voicemail). the deadline for submission is the 15th of every month
Active Minds
Check out free lectures on topics ranging from music to history, current events to foreign affairs, including in and near Park Hill. A schedule of upcoming events is at activeminds.com.
Art Garage
6100 E. 23rd Ave., artgaragedenver. com, 303-377-2353.
The Art Garage is a nonprofit visual art community center whose mission is to offer arts-based programs that inspire, empower and promote creative self-expression by people of all ages, backgrounds, and ability levels. Check out ArtGarageDenver. com for details.
Denver Police District 2
3921 Holly St., 2.Dist@denvergov.org, non-emergency number is 720-913-1000. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1.
Denver Public Schools
dpsk12.org
Check the website for resources and updates. Call the helpline at 720-423-3054 for support in many languages.
Donations Resources
Check out our online directory at greaterparkhill.org/spreading-thelove/ for organizations who accept donations — from clothes and furniture to bikes and baby essentials.
Faith Communities greaterparkhill.org/faith
Greater Park Hill’s faith community, home to over 30 places of worship in just four square miles, is as diverse and robust as the neighborhood itself. The GPHN maintains a list of Park Hill’s places of worship at the website above. Contact individual places of worship for information about their current state of operations.
Greater Park Hill Community, 2823 Fairfax St., greaterparkhill. org, 303-388-0918
GPHC community meetings are conducted on the first Thursday of the month, except for December and July. The next meeting is Thursday, June 5 at 6:30 p.m. at 2823 Fairfax St. Check greaterparkhill.org/joinus/community-meetings/ for info on how to participate.
Libraries denverlibrary.org
See the “At the Library” feature on page 14 for updates and resources offered by the Park Hill and Pauline Robinson branch libraries.
Northeast Park Hill Coalition
The Northeast Park Hill Coalition hosts its monthly meeting the second Thursdays of the month. Location varies. Check the group’s Facebook page @ Northeast Park Hill Coalition for updates.
One World Singers
A choral group that performs music from diverse cultures and traditions, nurturing the musical abilities of all who wish to sing. Rehearsals every Thursday, September throughMay, at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Church, 22nd and Dexter. Email Sandy at owsmanager@yahoo. com or go to OneWorldSingers.org for more information.
Park Hill Community Bookstore
Established in 1971. Denver’s oldest nonprofit bookstore. Used and new books. 4620 E. 23rd Ave. 303-355-8508. Members and volunteers get discounts and book credits. Check parkhillbookstore.org for current hours of operation.
Park Hill Peloton
A recreational group of road cyclists that roll from Park Hill once or twice a week. Check the current status of their rides on the Park Hill Peloton Facebook page.
Sie Filmcenter 2510 E. Colfax, denverfilm.org, 303-595-3456.
Free Zoom Tai Chi
Free Beginner Tai Chi Zoom classes every Friday at 9 a.m. Longtime Park Hillers Jacqui and Joe lead the class. Call their clinic at 303-744-766 or register online at TaiChiDenver. com.
Walk2Connect
www.walk2connect.com
Park Hill Sunrise Walking Trips happen every Tuesday from 7:15 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Meet in front of Honey Hill Cafe at 23rd & Dexter Street for a casual, conversational-paced community walk. Everyone is welcome.
all The Bounty
A Guide To Local Farmers Markets & Food Stands
Compiled by Mollie Barnes GPHN Intern
It’s summer, so get ready for a bounty of fresh veggies, fruits and homemade delicacies. The following is a guide to local farmers markets.
Mondays
GPHC Free Food Stand
Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. holds a free food stand at 2823 Fairfax St. on Mondays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the end of October. Pop by and pick up some fresh produce and herbs. The goodies are provided by weekly donations from Denver Food Rescue, the Community Garden at Denver Urban Farm and Park Hill gardeners. The goal is to ensure that fresh delicious food is used by neighbors rather than ending up as waste. If you’d like to donate your own garden produce, but are unable to deliver it in person, consider signing up for Denver Food Rescue‘s Fresh Food Connect at freshfoodconnect. org. They’ll pick up your veggies at your door.
Wednesdays
Green Valley Ranch
June 4 through Aug. 27
From 5 to 8 p.m.
East Sixth Avenue, Aurora. Entirely neighborhood-run; a true community market. rebelmarketplace.com
University Hills
Now through Oct. 25
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
University Hills Plaza, 2500 S. Colorado Blvd. Plenty of free parking available. uhplaza.com
Sundays
Arvada Farmers Market
Now through Sept. 28
From 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
On the south edge of Town Center Park, 4890 Argonne St. More than 50 local businesses with regionally grown produce and fruits, food trucks and vendors. Free music and activities.
gvrfarmersmarket.com
Saturdays
Cherry Creek
Now through Oct. 11
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On the east side of Cherry Creek Shopping Center, along South Steele Street near Macy’s. Free parking; get your ticket validated at the market. Pop-up boutiques and fashion trucks, local produce, gourmet vendors and food trucks.
coloradofreshmarkets.com
City Park/East High
Now through Oct. 25
From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At 2551 East Colfax Ave. next to East High School. Plenty of parking available in the East High School parking lot. Fresh produce, food trucks, chef demos and other activities throughout the season.
cityparkfarmersmarket.com
Glendale
Now through Aug. 30
From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 4601 E. Kentucky Ave., near Infinity Park, Glendale. Run by the Hispanic Association. Expect local produce, chef demos and special booths. glendalefarmersmarket.com
Rebel Marketplace
Now through Oct. 18
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every 1st and 3rd Saturday Del Mar Park, at Peoria Street and
Olde Town Square, Arvada. Fresh fruit and veggies, Colorado honey, pastries, local vendors selling everything from tamales to fresh juices, art, jewelry and house plants.
Central Park
June 22 through Oct. 13
From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Founders Green at Central Park, at Syracuse Street and 29th Avenue. Live music and a variety of vendors; dog friendly as grassy areas (not hot sidewalks) protect their paws.
Highlands Square
Now through Oct. 12
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At 32nd Avenue between Julian and Mead streets. Live music and a variety of vendors. highlandssquarefarmersmarket. com
South Pearl
Now through Nov. 9
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
South Pearl Street between East Iowa and East Arkansas avenues. Live music and a large list of food vendors and merchants. southpearlstreet.com
Stanley Marketplace
Now through August on the second Sunday of every month.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
2501 Dallas St., Aurora stanleymarketplace.com
Saturdays and Sundays
Urban Market at Union Station
June 7; July 5, 19 and 26; Aug. 9 and 16; Oct. 11, 18 and 25; noon to 6 p.m.
Union Station, downtown at 17th Avenue and Wynkoop Street. Local producers and vendors selling fruits, veggies, meat, dairy and prepared goods. Also local arts and crafts. unionstationfarmersmarket.com
In this 2022 file photo, Greater Park Hill Community volunteer Carrol Rhead readies to distribute fresh produce and herbs at the Monday Free Farm Stand at 2823 Fairfax St. Photo by Cara DeGette
25th Annual
Park Hill Garden Walk
June 8, 2025 9am - 3pm
Purchase tickets online at parkhillgardenwalk.org or at the following locations: City Floral, Spinelli’s and the Park Hill Branch Library
PHGW Event Ticket Prices
$15 Adults | $12 Seniors (65+)
*Day of event, tickets are $20 Children under 12 years are FREE
Garden Walk participants will have the chance to win a Denver Water Garden in a Box!
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the event.
1 ticket for $5 3 tickets for $10
* Cash or Venmo accepted