Smith Lake at the Washington Park Boathouse

Washington Park is the largest park in this district and is over 100 years old. It hosts over 250 picnic permits per year and has many unique features such as a 2.6-mile jogging path, the busiest recreation center in Denver and 2 of the most flamboyant flower gardens in Denver. It has several soccer fields, 2 playgrounds (1 handicap accessible), 1 basketball and roller blade court, 1 horseshoe court, 10 tennis courts and a lawn bowling green and 2 lakes and 1 pond.

WashPark gardens Beautiful, wide-open spaces and two lakes dominate the landscape, and an indoor pool and gym facilities at recently renovated rec center are just some of the recreational opportunities available. Tennis courts (on both sides of the south lake), a massive playground and jogging paths provide additional diversions. It's a fantasyland for in-line skaters and bicyclists as well as gardening enthusiasts - the park's colorful flower beds along Downing Street are some of Wash Park's best summer features.

This is a terrific place to take in a free concert during the summer (the Colorado Symphony plays here annually in June), and to sneak a peek at the Denver Country Club's annual fireworks display in July. The restored boathouse pavilion is available to rent for special occasions. The after-work population swells tremendously during good weather; come earlier if possible to avoided being crowded out.

Plenty of shops plus restaurants offering nearly every type of cuisine are nearby: to the east along Old South Gaylord Street, and to the west on South Pearl Street.

Washington Park Facts

* 165 acres in size
* 54 flowerbeds
* 25,000 annual plants are planted
* Land acquired between 1899 and 1908
* Voted by One of Top Ten Reasons to Return to Denver by 10best.com
* 2.6 mile jogging path
* 2 playgrounds (1 handicap accessible)
* 10 tennis courts
* Recreation Center
* 2 lakes
* 1 pond