If you’re looking for a family-friendly, close-knit community, you can’t beat Central Park, Denver. It’s a nice mix of small businesses, outdoor space, and family activities.
Even though it’s a relatively new neighborhood, it’s frequently named one of the best neighborhoods for living and visiting in Denver.
If you’re thinking about moving to the Central Park neighborhood in Denver, here’s everything you need to know.
Researching the best neighborhoods in Denver? Check out our next area guide on the Golden Triangle, Denver.
A short history of Central Park, Denver
Denver’s Central Park neighborhood was a development project started by the Stapleton Development Foundation in 1990. The area used to be home to Stapleton International Airport, but this was closed during the construction of Denver International Airport.
Construction of Central Park didn’t start until 2001, and it wasn’t opened until 2007. It was originally called Stapleton, after Benjamin Franklin Stapleton, the Mayor of Denver, in the 20s and 30s. However, he was a known member of the Ku Klux Klan, and the residents voted to change the name.
Votes were unsuccessful in 2015 and 2019, but they eventually passed in 2020, and the area became known as Central Park. Today, it has 80 acres of green space and is a vibrant Denver community.
Top things to do in Central Park, Denver
Although Central Park is mostly filled with homes, there is still plenty to do, especially if you’re into the outdoors.
Urban Hiking
Urban hiking is a growing trend in Central Park. The Bluff Lake Nature Center is a popular spot to start, which has 123 acres of open space, trees, and a beautiful lake. The nature center also has indoor and outdoor activities to help kids learn about the lake and the local ecosystem.
Central Park Recreation Center
The recreation center in Central Park has state-of-the-art facilities, including a gym, pool, and lazy river. The pool has a gentle slope, which is perfect for kids, so this is a popular spot for families.
Real estate
Central Park covers the 80238 zip code and is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Denver. Located just east of Downtown Denver, there are 12 sub-neighborhoods:
- Beeler Park
- Bluff Lake
- Central Park North
- Central Park West
- Conservatory Green
- East 29th Avenue
- North End Neighborhood
- South End
- Westerly Creek
- Wicker Park
- Willow Park East
You’ll find a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes, condos, and apartments throughout all 12 neighborhoods. There’s also a mix of styles between contemporary and modern revivals.
The average price for a home in Central Denver is $585K. However, they don’t come on the market often.
If you’re looking to rent in Central Park, Denver, the average price per month is $2,622 for a three-bedroom apartment.
Favorite places
Whether you’re visiting Central Park or moving there, we have some favorite spots you need to visit.
Art + Culture
There are 20 public art installations scattered throughout Central Park, all created by local artists. Most of them can be found in neighborhood parks, but a few are inside community buildings. If you’re out for the day, it’s fun seeing how many you can find.
On the community website, you’ll find a map and walk
ing tour taking you to all 20 installations, or you can go on a treasure hunt to find them yourself.
Shop
The Shops in Northfield is one of the largest business centers in Central Park. It has all the big-name stores as well as restaurants, clubs, a movie theater, and other facilities.
There’s also a smaller shopping center called the East 29th Avenue Town Center. Right in the middle of the neighborhood, it has a great selection of shops for a day of retail therapy. It also hosts a weekly farmer’s market with local fresh produce.
Eat
There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to try in Central Park. Several well-known Denver chefs opened second locations here, including ChoLon, Cattivella, and Hashtag.
But a few of our favorite spots are:
- ND Street Bar – for street food and strong drinks
- Bonchon – for fried chicken
- The Constellation – for ice cream
Outdoor life
The acres of greenery in Central Park are the perfect playground for adults and kids. There are wide pathways, a climbing wall, sports fields, picnic areas, and even a sledding hill.
If you want something a little more adventurous, part of Central Park goes into the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. That covers almost 16,000 acres of open space that’s perfect for hiking. In fact, there are over 20 trails with varying difficulty levels to choose from.
Cost of living & employment in Central Park, CO
There are over 40 small retail shops, medical facilities, and professional service companies in Central Park, as well as many big-name brands. If you’re looking for a new job in Central Park, there are some great opportunities.
The average household income in Central Park is $35,166, with 71% of households being families. The average age in the neighborhood is just under 35, so it’s a young community and thriving community.
Is Central Park, Denver, right for you?
The Central Park neighborhood is a thoughtfully designed community with a big focus on outdoor living. It’s often voted one of the best neighborhoods in Denver, even though it’s still new.
Visitors love the shops, markets, outdoor activities, and close-knit community feel, so it’s easy to see why families are looking to move here.
If you’re thinking about moving but you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got the entire home-buying process explained here.