La Raza Park in the Northside will reopen Friday, May 1, after a year of construction, featuring a brand new playground, basketball court and more.
The 2020s have been eventful for the Sunnyside park. In 2021, it was officially renamed La Raza Park to move away from Christopher Columbus, its controversial original namesake. And then, in 2023, it was designated as Denver’s third historical cultural district to protect its history of activism, art, summer solstice celebrations and community.
The historic designation protected its Kiosko — the raised pyramid-shaped pavilion known for its inward-facing art and the "La Raza Unida" sculpture.
One thing that wasn’t preserved: the simple yet outdated play structure. The recent improvements focused on rebuilding the playground to fit the history-forward aesthetic of the rest of the park.
Gone is the cookie-cutter matte red, blue and yellow playground. In its place, is a new design is inspired by dragonflies, local Aztec dance group Grupo Tlaloc, and the sun and water.
Additionally, the reopened park will feature an upgraded basketball court and picnic areas, ADA-compliant pathways, native landscaping, and a new irrigation system. The city spent about $2 million on the renovations, using money from previous bond measures and capital improvement funds.
The park will officially reopen with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
