Page 3 - Denver, CO Sunken Gardens

HISTORIC ASSESSMENT

This era in the history of Sunken Gardens Park marks the
completion of the basic form of the park and its key his-
toric structures. Based on this analysis, this time period
represents the most complete synthesis of design ideas
for the park.

1940 – 1980: Responding to Changing
Conditions
With the form, circulation patterns and built structures
established by the late 1930s, the mid-twentieth centu-
ry marked a time of changing the park to reflect current
needs. Just outside the park boundaries, the pedestrian
suspension bridge spanning Cherry Creek was removed had left when the CSO refused to concentrate its efforts on organizing farm workers. This organization
in the 1940s. In 1951, the reflecting pool in the northern
section was filled with rubble and soil, replacing the pool worked with communities to solve their problems through organizing and direct action. He based his new
“Skating at the Sunken Gardens pool”, one of the original
and skating rink with baseball and soccer. While this re- activities in the park, shown with the original wooden pavilion
structure. (Denver Municipal Facts: Volume 3 Number 1, 1910
moved some of the original land uses and activities in the organization that eventually became the UFW, United Farmworkers Movement in Delano. He traveled
park, it provided opportunities for new land uses with the December 31. Denver Public Library.)
greatly expanded green space. Also during this time, the from town to town, trying to convince groups of farm workers to organize because he hoped one day they
drinking fountain near the reflecting pool, the dock over
the pool and the concrete pathway surrounding the pool would band together and form an effective union.
were removed to accommodate the new functions in this
main part of the northern section.
Simplifying the maintenance of the park was a key In 1964, Chávez was able to band together with other unions, churches, and community groups
objective behind many of the park changes during this
time. The formal plantings in both sections of the park, that were sensitive to the civil rights movement, in an effort to help put pressure on politicians to end the
including the flower beds and the landscaping surround- bracero (strike breaking) program.
ing the rock garden, were discontinued in the 1950s. The
1960s saw the paving of existing gravel paths to ease
maintenance. The closure of the public restroom building
constructed into the embankment occurred in the 1960s, http://www.laits.utexas.edu/jaime/cwp2/ccg/historyofufw.html
along with an end to the maintenance of the rock grotto
and waterfall in the southern portion. The meandering From the Article: History of the UFW More
creek bed in the southern portion no longer held water by
the 1970s, and while the wooden footbridge was removed information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hm7miqHLXg
during this time period, the exact year is unclear.

Changing needs in the park called for a merry-go-round “Waterfall in the rock garden” shows children playing in the
and a playground to be installed in the southern portion, original rock garden at the southwest corner of the park. While
and for an expansion of the maintenance garage with a remnants of this rock garden still exist, the waterfall and stream
storage yard and parking area in 1969 and 1970. The C) West High School Blow Out
are no longer part of this park feature. (Denver Municipal Facts,
original playground was replaced with a new playground April 1, 1919; Denver Public Library: X-27746, May 1918.)
in 1979.
In addition to these physical changes, the latter years On March 20, 1969, more than a hundred Chicano and Chicana
of this time period began to show changes in the use
of the park as well. For instance, in 1969, Sunken Gar- students at Denver's West High School walked out of class to
dens Park became the host of a “walk-out” supporting
Chicano rights. On March 20, 1969, a hundred students protest racism in their school. The West High walkout (or
left the high school, crossed Elati Street and began their
demonstration in Sunken Gardens Park. The following "blowout," as it is also known) was one of the largest and most
day, March 21, 1969, the walkout expanded, with at least
1,000 protesters supporting Chicano rights and joining violent student protests in Colorado history. Many students of
the original demonstrators in Sunken Gardens Park. Mexican descent attended West High, but the school was often
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This period was defined by physical changes - removals
and additions - that responded to the changing needs unwelcoming to minority students. With the help of Rodolfo
of the park. New walkways emerged while others dis- "Corky" Gonzales and other members of Denver's Crusade for
appeared; parking along Elati Street was permitted Students from West High School participate in the “walk-out”
between the park and the high school; and landscaping to support the Chicano movement. The walkout began on the Justice, students organized a walkout, calling for the firing of a
1 Sanchez, Hayley. “Chicano Progress Today Owes Much steps of West High School but moved into Sunken Gardens Park,
seen above in the background. March 20, 1969. (“A Brief History
to the Denver West High Blowouts of 50 Years Ago.” CPR News. teacher who frequently made discriminatory remarks in class. Students also demanded more bilingual
2019 March 18. of The Chicano Rights Movement in Colorado: El Movimiento”,
education, classes in Chicano history and literatures, and for teachers to stop advising students to join the
2015/2016.)
military, at a time when the United States was fighting in Vietnam.
CITY & COUNTY OF D ENVER | P ARKS & RECREATION
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On the morning of March 20, student left classes in small groups. They were joined by members
of the Crusade who were there to support the students and monitor authorities. Nearly 300 people

marched to nearby Baker Junior High to get students there to join the protest. The group returned to West
High, where they were met by police in riot gear. The police ordered the students to Sunken Gardens

Park, across from the school. As students were walking to the park, an altercation broke out between

several protesters and police. Protesters claimed that fifteen Denver police officers began hitting students.
Observer Jim Hall wrote in the neighborhood newspaper West Side Recorder, "Everything broke loose —

night sticks started swinging and cops were pulling girls' hair by the handful. Nearly every cop I saw had
a mindless look and was beating kids savagely." At the end of the day, 25 people were arrested, and six

people including one officer were injured.

Students from other Denver junior-high and high schools joined the protest in solidarity and on

March 21, more than 1,200 students of all races gathered at West High and marched to nearby Lincoln
Park for a rally, where students and police clashed again.

http://www.9news.com/story/news/local/2015/03/15/this-week-in-colorado-history---west-high-
walkout/24810237/

From the Article: This Week in Colorado History - West High walkout

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