From June 15 to Aug. 15, the blacktop from Lawrence to Larimer streets will be replaced with street art, a lawn, food trucks, a pop-up dog park, a performance stage and more. The block will close May 22 to prepare for construction.
The idea is to temporarily show what the city can do with public streets and sidewalks, with a permanent redesign possibly coming for one or more block in the area later. The project is also meant to "provide a temporary gathering place for a neighborhood that doesn't currently have open or public spaces," according to the city.
The project is a collaboration of the city, Downtown Denver Partnership, neighborhood businesses — including the Colorado Rockies and the Inventing Room, among others, and neighborhood groups such as Ballpark Collective. Altogether, a $200,000 budget will cover construction, design, events, security and the rest.
The Square on 21st will serve as a proof of concept for the "downtown loop," an idea that would create a 5.3-mile loop of activities and pathways for cyclists and pedestrians around downtown.
In particular, this project is "testing out the concept of transforming a street to a community gather space permanently," for the Arapahoe Square and Ballpark area, according to senior planner Steven Chester.
If you'd like to paint planter boxes and other stuff ahead of the opening, the city is seeking volunteers for May 27 and May 28.
For more on Arapahoe Square:
Adrian has this roundup of the biggest plans in progress for the area.
Correction: The park is one block. I said two blocks because I was counting the alleyway.
