Denver Playcast: A Parks, Recreation & Trail Mix

Meet John Martinez, DPR Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation. John has (literally) grown up with the department and is now leading a team of around 1,800 staff. With 30 recreation centers, 32 pools, 8 golf courses, and even more ways to play, Denver Recreation keeps the city moving. In this episode, John shares his insights on how Denver recreates, and what make our programs so unique. DenverGov.org/Recreation

Denver Parks and Recreation and Denver Mountain Parks, have worked closely with surrounding indigenous communities on projects and initiatives to not only honor those who have stewarded this land for generations, but to hopefully begin to repair and rebuild relationships between government, andindigenous Peoples.Host Stephanie Figueroa had two separate conversations for this episode, with three very important voices in these efforts. She first sat down with former deputy Director Scott Gilmore, who is no longer with DPR, but has and continues to shepherd these efforts , and Lewis Tallbull jr, a member of the Cheyanneand Arapahoe tribes of Oklahoma and utility worker for Denver mountain parks forestry division. Stephanie also spoke with Shannon Dennison, Director of Denver Mountain Parks. Shannon was able to listen to Lewis andScott’s interview, and throughout this episode, you’ll hear excerpts from both discussions.

Denver Parks & Recreation is working hard to identify the most underutilized bluegrass lawns and transforming them back into drought tolerant and resilient native prairies that support pollinators, birds, and community health! In this episode, Stephanie is joined by Denver Water and DPR's Urban Ecology Planner to talk about the benefits of reintroducing native grasses to our city.

In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Denver’s new City Forester, Luke Killoran, to talk about our unique urban canopy. And that pesky little bug that finally made its way into Denver, the Emerald Ash Borer.

From rule enforcement to fire prevention—and yes, sometimes reminding you to leash your pup—Denver Park Rangers do it all. But who are the folks in brown and green? Stephanie finds herself in some ranger danger (not really) with Jodie Marozas, DPR Park Ranger Training Manager.

A once-in-a-lifetime park is coming to Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood. Jolon Clark from Denver Parks & Recreation and Anna Cawrse from Sasaki join Stephanie to discuss what it’ll take to convert this former 155-acre golf course into Denver’s newest regional park in over 100 years.ParkHillPark.org

Stephanie sits down with Shannon Dennison, DPR's Director of Mountain Parks, to talk about the city's backyard parks, the mountain parks! Resources mentioned in the episode: https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Parks-Recreation/Urban-Parks-Trails/Mountain-Parkshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRN-Lu-m-oY&t=34s

Denver's trail system is expansive. Nicole McSpirit and Adam Lind teach Stephanie about Denver's one-of-a-kind trail system and what it means to be a trail user and advocate in our city.

Denver's first National Historic Landmark, Civic Center Park, is undergoing a major transformation. Stephanie Figueroa speaks with Jenna Harris, Downtown Parks Program Manager about the planned changes to Denver's crown-jewel park.

Stephanie Figueroa, DPR Marketing and Communications Specialist, sits down with  DPR Executive Director, Jolon Clark to discuss the magnitude of our parks and recreation system and the impact that the Legacy Fund has on so much of what we do. Get to know Jolon and how his passion for sustainability and a love of outdoor spaces guides his leadership at DPR.