Page 9 - Denver, CO Sunken Gardens

HISTORIC ASSESSMENT

park. However, this also means that the condition of the
original land uses, including swimming and ice skating,
flower gardens and a rock garden, is poor. While rem-
nants of some original land uses still exists, many can no
longer be interpreted due to the current park landscaping
and structures.
Treatment
A variety of land uses could be explored for the future of
the park, many of which could assist in interpreting origi-
nal features. Some specific uses to explore include:
• Reintroducing a water element to the former reflect-
ing pool and ice skating rink
• Reintroducing flower gardens (formal or informal) The grade change from the adjacent neighborhoods is a key
• Incorporating new recreational equipment vs. leav- feature of the park that should be maintained. A further grade
change from the path to what used to be the formal gardens is
ing the park open to a variety of uses also a key feature to preserve. (Winter & Company, 2020)
• Exploring outdoor teaching opportunities such as
demonstration gardens, archaeology, park planning,
horticulture, etc. for both the school and the com-
munity
Topography
Aptly named for its grade separation, Sunken Gardens
Park is unique in its physical and visual grade change
from the surrounding neighborhood. This creates a
peaceful and intimate experience, despite the park’s
location along a bustling corridor and in a growing neigh-
borhood. In their design of the park, Kessler and DeBoer
successfully articulated the natural depression in the
park space to respect the existing topography and create
a well-defined space. Without the depression, the park
might appear to be connected to the high school, and
would feel loud and unprotected from the vehicular traffic
along Speer.
The photo above shows the swale that is a highly significant
The embankments along the edges of the park vary in component of the southern portion of the park. Although it is no
their width and steepness, but are also used as a space longer filled with water, this swale continues to contribute to the
to gather and lounge, in addition to the interior park woodland glen feel of the southern portion’s design. (Winter &
areas. The embankments that define the park edges Company, 2020)
are dotted with a series of historic staircases to ease
in accessing the park. On the western side, the grand
staircase descends from Elati Street to what was once
the pavilion and then further down into the park. While
the embankment along the eastern side of the park is not
as dramatic in grade separation from the western side, a
series of small, historic staircases connect the park visitor
to the perimeter path along Speer. The other gateways
into to the park connect through the use of sloping path-
ways to ease the visitor from the adjacent streets into the
park space.

In addition to the sunken character of the park, the
serpentine swale in the southern portion of the park is
a significant part of the natural design of the southern
portion. While it once was part of the streamlet leading Recently planted trees at the corner of Speer and Delaware
to the rock garden and waterfall, the swale contributes Street will dampen vehicle noise from the heavy traffic along 8th
to the meandering character of the southern portion of Avenue once mature. These will then contribute to the original
the park. This serpentine swale should be maintained in wooded design intent for the southern portion of the park. (Win-
future planning efforts. ter & Company, 2020)

Finally, the series of rooms within the park are articulat-
ed by the use of grade changes, including berms, as well
as landscaping. While easily crossed without the use of

CITY & COUNTY OF D ENVER | P ARKS & RECREATION
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