Arkins Park (RiNo ArtPark)

Denver, CO


Adaptive reuse approaches at new urban park reflect eclectic Denver neighborhood

The City and County of Denver Parks and Recreation and the North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative (NDCC) determined that a new park was needed in the emerging River North (RiNo) neighborhood.  The City envisioned the park to be a direct reflection of the up-and-coming trendy arts district – an intimate, creative, and iconic park that would highlight the sustainability, arts, and culture of the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as enhance the ecology of the river corridor in new and creative ways.

Wenk Associates led a multi-disciplinary team in preparing a master plan and construction documentation for the 3.5-acre park, located along the South Platte River, and in providing conceptual design for the adjacent riverfront promenade that will eventually connect to downtown Denver.  The public outreach process included a unique, grassroots approach to engaging the public and stakeholders, as well as public meetings to present ideas and solicit community feedback.  The park plan includes an adaptive reuse approach to repurpose existing buildings as plaza and makerspaces.  The park will also provide lounge areas with moveable seating, performance areas, flexible event space, creative play areas, public art, urban agriculture, stormwater gardens, and access to the South Platte River.

See 2023 ULI Colorado Impace Awards Inspire Category Winner video.

CLIENT

City and County of Denver, Parks and Recreation

COMPLETED

2020

PROJECT CREDITS

Wenk Associates – Lead Consultants, Landscape Architects
Tres BirdsArchitectsArchitecture, Building Demolition, Custom Furniture
Laura CurryPublic Outreach/Cultural Audit 
Entitlement and Engineering Solutions (EES)Civil Engineers
RockSol Consulting GroupGeotechnical Engineers 
LT Engineering LLCStructural Engineers
BCER  Engineering, Inc. Lighting Design/Electrical Engineering 
Pinyon EnvironmentalMaterials Management Plan
HydroSystems*KDIIrrigation 
Pedro Barrios & Jaime MolinaArt sculptures
Iron Woman ConstructionContractor 

LINKS

River North Park Cultural Audit 
by Laura Curry

AWARDS

2023, ULI Colorado Impact Award, Inspire Category, Winner (video)

2022, Denver Downtown Partnership, Downtown Denver Award