Washington Park

Washington Park -- known locally as Wash Park -- is the most beloved family park in Denver. Spanning 165 acres in the heart of the Wash Park neighborhood, it features two lakes, two large playgrounds, paddleboat rentals, a summer outdoor pool, flower gardens, fishing, and a 2. 6-mile loop trail that is perfect for family biking.

While tourists head to City Park for the zoo and museum, local families spend their weekends here.

The park is anchored by two lakes: Smith Lake (south) and Grasmere Lake (north), connected by a tree-lined lawn that serves as the park's central gathering space. Smith Lake is the family activity hub, with a boathouse offering paddleboat rentals on summer days ($5-8 per 30 minutes). Kids pedal around the lake, dodging ducks and geese and occasionally spotting great blue herons wading in the shallows.

Grasmere Lake is stocked with fish and open for shoreline fishing (Colorado fishing license required for ages 16+; kids under 16 fish free). The excitement of a child catching their first sunfish at Grasmere is a Wash Park rite of passage.

Two modern playgrounds serve different age groups. The playground near Smith Lake (south end) was recently renovated with climbing structures, slides, a sandbox, and a toddler-specific area with rubber surfacing. The Grasmere Lake playground (north end) has older but still solid equipment with swings, a larger climbing structure, and more shade trees.

Both have park benches where parents can sit and watch.

The Smith Lake flower gardens are a formal display of seasonal flowers -- tulips and daffodils in spring, roses and dahlias in summer, chrysanthemums in fall. The gardens are immaculately maintained by the city and provide a gorgeous, fragrant setting for a family walk. In June and July, the gardens are at peak color and photographers from all over Denver shoot here.

The 2.6-mile gravel loop path that circuits the park is ideal for family biking, scootering, or jogging. It is flat, wide, well-maintained, and mostly separated from vehicular traffic. On weekends, the path buzzes with strollers, dog walkers, cyclists, and joggers. For more ambitious rides, the park connects to the Cherry Creek Trail, which runs 12 miles to Cherry Creek State Park.

Washington Park Pool, the outdoor swimming pool on the park's east side, opens Memorial Day through Labor Day. It features a lap pool, a shallow kids' pool, and a small splash pad area. Admission is modest ($5-8 per person), and on hot summer afternoons it is the neighborhood's cooling station.

The surrounding Wash Park neighborhood is one of Denver's most desirable and walkable. South Pearl Street, a 5-minute walk from the park's east entrance, offers excellent family dining, a Sunday farmers market (June through November), and boutique shopping. Devil's Food Bakery is a local breakfast institution, Kaos Pizzeria serves excellent wood-fired pies, and Sweet Action Ice Cream scoops inventive artisan flavors.

Parking is free along the park's perimeter streets but fills quickly on sunny weekend afternoons. Street parking on Downing, Franklin, and Louisiana is usually available. The park has no dedicated parking lot.