The Walk that Sparked an Idea
Parks are more than green spaces — they are places where our community comes to celebrate and socially interact with each other. They are where kids learn to ride bikes, neighbors meet for the first time, and families come to unwind at the end of a long week. In Wheat Ridge, we’re fortunate to have a strong parks system, with 21 city parks covering more than 170 acres, plus miles of trails and hundreds of acres of open space.
Even with 21 city parks, there are still neighborhoods without a park within walking distance — where getting to the nearest green space means crossing a major arterial road or walking miles. That lack of access can make it harder for families, kids, and seniors to enjoy the simple, everyday benefits of a park close to home.
When my kids were young, I was fortunate to be able to walk them to Wilmore-Davis Elementary school every morning and back home every afternoon. It’s a route I still know by heart. In fact, there’s even a sweet, heart-warming photo on a streeview map from June 2012 that caught us walking home together one sunny afternoon — me holding their hands as we walked home together after enjoying the school’s playground on that beautiful day. Every time I see that image, I’m reminded of how much this neighborhood means to me, and how valuable it would be to have a small park nearby where families could gather and play safely.
Our community was devastated by the closing of our neighborhood school. I have talked to many residents who moved to this neighborhood specifically because of the proximity of the school, as we did 19 years ago. That’s why, along with my District 2 co-councilor, Rachel Hultin, we have been pursuing the idea of repurposing the North half of the Wilmore-Davis school yard into a neighborhood park ever since it closed its doors years ago. It’s an idea that would bring real benefits — providing local families and seniors with a place to connect, relax, and enjoy the outdoors without having to cross busy roads. By transforming the Wilmore-Davis green space into a shared community space, we’d be making an investment in both safety and connection.
Beyond recreation, parks strengthen neighborhoods. They improve physical and mental well-being, increase property values, and give us shared spaces that reflect our values of sustainability and community. When parks are placed equitably across the city, they make sure everyone has access to those benefits, no matter which side of town they live on. I will always champion improving our parks and green spaces and prioritizing investment in community spaces.
Creating a park at Wilmore-Davis Elementary would honor the past while building for the future — a place where today’s children could make memories just as mine did on that same walk to school.
You can learn more about Wheat Ridge’s parks, trails, and open spaces here: Wheat Ridge Parks & Recreation