The Blog

The Denver City Council has officially approved a significant land swap that marks a major turning point in the long-debated future of the Park Hill Golf Course. In a unanimous vote on Monday afternoon, councilmembers gave the green light to exchange 145 acres of land near 56th Avenue and Powhaton Road—located just south of Denver International Airport—for the 155-acre former golf course along Colorado Boulevard.

Cooling off in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood will remain a challenge for the next few summers. The pool at Mestizo-Curtis Park, Denver’s oldest park, has been closed since 2023 and isn’t expected to reopen until 2027. Built in the 1950s, the pool and bathhouse are overdue for replacement, and city officials say the current facilities no longer meet community needs.

The City of Denver is moving forward with a landmark plan to transform the former Park Hill Golf Course into a large public park through a land swap agreement with Westside Investment Partners. This decision follows years of legal and political battles over the site’s future, with strong public support favoring the preservation of open space. Under the proposed agreement, the city would trade a similarly valued parcel near Denver International Airport to gain control of the 155-acre property, paving the way for rezoning, park planning, and eventual development. While the initiative represents a major investment in green infrastructure and community recreation, city officials are also weighing concerns about potential gentrification and displacement in surrounding neighborhoods.

For years, builders across Denver have echoed a familiar sentiment: permitting takes too long, costs too much, and lacks consistency. It’s a reality that Sustainable Design Build (SDB) knows all too well. Since 2016, SDB has been helping homeowners across the Front Range turn their visions into custom homes, additions, and ADUs—but often while waiting months (even close to a year) for permits to be approved.