2014 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO Field Session
Stapleton and Lowry - Runways to Green Communities
Field Session #: FS-007


This tour visits two of the largest urban infill projects in America, the former Stapleton Airport and Lowry Air
Force Base, which were transformed into globally recognized sustainable communities. The driving vision and
prominent role of parks/open spaces at all scales have created healthy, vibrant, mixed use communities. Both
projects respect Denver’s historic park tradition, promote contemporary design, integrate green infrastructure,
promote the use of xeric plants, ecological storm water management techniques, active community
programming and innovative and distinct development approaches.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Discover how the largest urban infill sites in the country were reclaimed and became some of Denver’s
strongest neighborhoods.
Learn how the Open Space Systems have shaped the community and developed a culture that is
unique within the region.
Learn how the parks integrate into Denver's infrastructure and historic park design while
incorporating contemporary approaches to conservation and use. Understand how the Park Systems
have emphasized re-discovering the prairie landscape as the centerpiece of urban parks.
Discuss lessons learned with both Master Community Associations regarding community programming
and how it interfaces with landscape design and maintenance of community spaces.
Learn about the two fundamentally different development model approaches and how both succeeded
through challenging economic conditions.

When the Lowry Air Force Base closed in the 1990s, Denver and Aurora redeveloped the 1900-acre site as a
mixed-use community around 800 acres of parkland. Today, Lowry’s parks and recreational areas include a
sports complex, golf course, natural areas, community recreation center, a dog park and trails. Westerly
Creek links several large parks with different characters, purpose and functions. These areas include the top
of Westerly Creek Dam and its encompassing views, natural areas, a Sports Complex, the Great Lawn Park
and the wildlife habitat in The Wetlands. Lowry built parks responsibly, with 35% of the total acreage devoted
to native plants and grasses and less than half (41%) blue grass sod, all of which includes low-water grass
varieties. Numbers or symbols in parentheses refer to the Lowry Parks and Open Space Plan.

 includes 3 baseball fields, 7 soccer fields, 2 synthetic-turf lighted soccer fields,
basketball and tennis courts and a playground, which flank Sports Blvd., the spine of the complex (96 acres).
 Coors Field was the model for this Little League ballpark for metro Denver. Ages 14
and under play tournaments on 3 fields designed for that purpose (21.2 acres).
 A network of trails connects all of Lowry and links to the regional trail
system. The region is revitalizing the creek as a recreational corridor from the Highline Canal Trail to Sand
Creek. The US Army Corps of Engineers built  in 1990 to manage 500-year floods.
The 45-foot high, 1.5-mile dam provides scenic views. The ramps built from recycled materials allow
pedestrian access to the top of the dam.

 The park is 50 acres that mirrors Denver’s other parks such as Cheesman, Congress and
City Park. The center lawn accommodates community events or passive recreational activities. The day
lighted Westerly Creek creates a curving waterway with ponds and undulating landforms. Featured are picnic
areas, a playground, bridges, trails, roads, parking and over 25 acres of natural areas and wildlife habitat
including wetlands.
 A natural area with Westerly Creek winding through, flowing through a series of drop
structures, the area provides a wildlife habitat and trails. A ramp provides access to the top of
 (54 acres).
 A natural area with 32 acres of native plantings provides trails with
access to the top of Westerly Creek Dam and to a 5-acre dog park. Westerly Creek flows through the open
space.
2014 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO Field Session
Stapleton and Lowry - Runways to Green Communities
Field Session #: FS-007
 This Denver Parks and Recreation Center has a gymnasium with basketball
and volleyball programs, lap pool, leisure pool and other recreation opportunities (6.7 acres).

 The 14-acre park includes paved walkways, open lawn areas and “Prairie Wings” sculpture.
The playground includes a picnic area, play equipment, flight themed mobiles, with poetry sandblasted in the
walls.
 The park positions a large lawn at its heart and surrounds it with a high earthen mound
with a seating area amidst native grasses and views to the mountains, a plaza with a play area and picnic
pavilions, a promenade separating the active play lawn from more intimate spaces, and tiered stone seating.
Walkways called “mews” connect this park to smaller tot lots distributed through the Northwest Neighborhood
(8 acres).
 This Sister City Park features a playground, trails, native areas and a trellis that
marks the historic location of the Phipps Sanitarium. A sculpture represents a fireplace in Mongolian nomadic
culture (4.3 acres).
 A mix of lawn and native plant areas, concrete walks and crusher fines paths define the
park, and a trellis structure steps down into a grassy play area that serves as a detention area in a 100-year
storm. Mature trees shade a playground that features picnic tables, benches and a sand area (2 acres).
 This park sits at the highest elevation in Lowry. It features an area for active play, a picnic
shelter that suggests an origami form, a playground, seating areas set among native grasses and flowers and
crusher fine paths that are along the crests of raised mounds that offer views of downtown and the mountains
(2.5 acres).

 Connecting Crescent Park to Lowry Town Center, this one-acre space serves as both
passage and destination for surrounding townhomes. It features a crusher fine path that weaves through
drought-tolerant perennial plantings. A flagstone patio with tables and curved flagstone seat walls surrounds
a circular lawn area. (1 acre)
 This parcel serves as a transition between a residential area and office buildings. It
contains a collection of spaces or “reading rooms” positioned throughout sculpted green space. Surrounding
the spaces are inscribed quotes from classic books and permanent art sculptures, a shelter, benches, and
native grasses. Residents purchased the book spines as a fundraiser to support the park (.5 acres).
 These parks feature sand boxes, play equipment, picnic tables,
benches, and open play areas, pathways called “mews.” They connect to Crescent Park (1 acre each).
 Lowry originally intended this 50-foot long passageway to be a concrete emergency
fire lane, but instead, it serves as a place for Lowry workers to relax and reflect. It features shaded picnic
tables, seating areas and natural plantings, all within a small business common (.5 acres).
 An art piece, “Wind Catcher,” which consists of three metal mobile wind- catchers
makes this park unique (8 acres).
 This southwest neighborhood park has lawn, trails and plantings (7 acres).
 Townhomes surround a lawn area with benches (1 acre).
 Denver Public Schools included a small pocket park as part of the school (.5 acre).

The landscaping at Lowry is extensive with flowers, new drought-resistant trees and thousands of mature
transplanted trees. Major thoroughfares have landscaped medians much like traditional Denver parkways.
Every sidewalk has a tree lawn, and public art dots the streets (44.7 acres).
 This parkway is an extension of the historic 6th Avenue parkway that runs from
Colorado Blvd. to Quebec, and Quebec to Uinta Way. The Lowry identity project at its terminus is a large
stainless steel sundial. The parkway connects with the Great Lawn Park.

 Common Ground is an affordable public facility, owned and operated by
the Colorado Golf Association. It features 18 holes of regulation golf , a clubhouse, a teaching facility
and a driving range, and a 9-hole par 3 golf facility (237 acres).
 This air and space museum, in an original Air Force hangar, contains a great
deal of historical information about Lowry. It is a regional attraction with a B-52 bomber at the front entrance.
2014 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO Field Session
Stapleton and Lowry - Runways to Green Communities
Field Session #: FS-007

The Founders Green fountain plaza was design abstracts the idea
of a stream flowing from the mountains to the plains with the stacked stone mound representing the mountain
water source. The stream carves through layers of stone (granite) to a basin with in the flat plains.
Decomposed granite paving and a frame of ornamental grasses abstract Colorado’s high plains surrounding
the fountain centerpiece. The vertical sandstone pillars are carved with intricate patterns depicting Colorado’s
flora and fauna. Designed by Nuzer Kopatz.
Across Roselyn Street the Founder’s Green amphitheater was designed as Stapleton’s first neighborhood’s
community gathering place. Nearby retail, residential and offices activate the space year round. At the center
of this two acre park is a sloped lawn accommodating performances on a stage at one end and various
informal recreational activities on the lawn. The stage is framed by groves of stately columnar oaks. These
oaks perform two functions, one is to frame the view to the stage and the other is to direct the view down 29th
Avenue toward Westerly Creek. Below the oaks are plantings of Colorado perennials providing color
throughout the season. Beyond the oaks, a lower grove of hawthorns provide extended seasonal interest with
flowers, fall color and bright red berries throughout the winter. Designed by EDAW/AECOM
Eastward from Founders Green, 29th Avenue’s parkway extends the traditional Denver parkway
system into Stapleton’s residential neighborhoods; an important goal of the Green book. The first blocks of the
parkway are urban in character taking inspiration from the promenades of European cities. The overall feel of
these blocks is formal and geometric. Wide crusher fines path are bordered by clipped hedges, benches and
Bosque’s of deciduous trees. Small panels of irrigated lawn are utilized by the townhome residents that flank
the parkway. Further along the Avenue at Central Park Boulevard the median expands to an oval open space.
At its center a large eye shaped sculpture captures the view northward up Central Park Boulevard. This oval
open space terminates the formal portion of 29th Avenue’s parkway. From here as the parkway progresses
eastward it begins to completely transform. The paths meander within the median space. Lawns are replaced
with short native grasses sprinkled with native trees and native Colorado evergreen grids at the end of each
block. The idea behind this transition is to foreshadow the native expanse of Westerly Creek at the parkways
eastern end. Winding through the landforms, a soft gravel path is used by runners and strollers heading
toward the miles of paths in Westerly Creek. This native landscape is significant in that it was the first
parkway boulevard in Denver to utilize a water-wise landscape reflecting Colorado’s high desert ecology.
Designed by EDAW.
For decades Westerly Creek only existed within Stapleton in giant pipes below the airport
runways. As part of the Green Book vision Westerly Creek was freed from its concrete confines and allowed to
flow in a natural state again. The design approach was driven by aesthetics, native ecology and storm water
engineering. Storm water requirements defined the size of the large bowl like corridor which must contain the
waters of a 100 year flood. The meandering stream channel contains daily water flows and, although
reinforced to prevent wash outs, encourages natural evolution and change over time. The banks of the creek
were carefully planted with riparian species that transition up the banks in response to the amount of water
exposure. Circular drop structures repeat the circular forms of the multi-purpose paths but function to control
the savage destruction that storm water can impart. The park’s network of paths connects Stapleton’s
residents to miles of regional trails including connections to Bluff Lake, Central Park and Sand Creek. Homes
that front the park sell at a premium and the expansive open space is paramount in establishing the character
of Stapleton. Stapleton walls made out of chunks of eighteen inch thick salvaged runway pavement create
seating areas with benches that overlook the broad open space. Designed by EDAW, Engineering by Matrix
Design Group.
Greenway Park runs east-west within Stapleton’s residences. The park was conceived as a
woven pattern of native plantings and open play lawns interconnected by a central path system linking a
series of amenities that provide a variety of recreational opportunities. A climbing wall, skate-board park,
climbing wall, observation tower, shade structure and Mud Pie sand box and adventure play are all jewels to
be discovered along the parks necklace like path. Greenway Park also provided the original front door amenity
for the first model homes at Stapleton. Designed by EDAW
Four triangular pocket parks overlooking Westerly Creek gather their inspiration from the
progression of the seasons. The first park to the south is Spring Park. The story of spring is told in an
arrangement of gardens that highlight plants that bloom in the spring. At the head of the garden’s path a
custom designed May Pole stands centered in a flower shaped circular plaza. Ribbons attached to the poles top
can be used to dance the traditional May pole dance on May Day each spring. The focal feature of Summer
Park is a playground adjacent to a large lawn for recreational activities. Large shade trees are planted along
the south edge of the park to provide relief from the summer’s intense sunshine. Perennial borders feature
2014 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO Field Session
Stapleton and Lowry - Runways to Green Communities
Field Session #: FS-007
summering blooming flowers. The circular shape of the playground recalls the shape of the sun and stones
along its rim orient visitors to the path of the sun by delineating the cardinal points of the compass rose. Fall
Park celebrates autumn with plantings that offer vivid displays of fall color. Maple trees blaze red in early
October and the pathway is aligned intentionally with the diagonal promenade of Central Park. As a result the
view from the shaded lookout at the pathway’s end is focused across Westerly Creek down the promenade
and onward to the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Within the pergola’s beams, metal leaves are delicately
strung to cast their shadows on the pavement below reminding us of fall all year. To the north, Winter Park
calls attention to the seasons in its own unique way. Undulating landforms hold snow on their northern slopes
accentuating their graceful forms. The evergreen quality of conifer trees provides welcome green accents in
the winter months. Standing on the snowflake plaza at sunset on December 21st the winter solstice, it is
possible to glimpse the sun drop between the vertical stones perched on the nearby hill.
The signage of the Seasons Parks was the result of collaboration between the designers and the children at
the Odyssey school. With the help of the teachers, several classes competed in a Poetry Contest. A location
and length of poem was identified for each park. When the poems were installed the young poets were
acknowledged with a community ceremony. Designed by EDAW.
There were multiple inspirations for Central Park. The 80 acre park is one of the regional hubs of
Denver’s park system complementing City Park and Washington Park both built over a century earlier. The
genesis of the park plan came from a singular gesture that reminds visitors of Stapleton’s airport heritage.
This gesture is 1.2 mile long promenade that bisects the park diagonally. The promenade tapers in a forced
perspective from west to east, giving the view looking eastward the illusion of even greater distance. At the
terminus of the promenade an overlook ramps up over westerly creek enticing visitors to walk its length to
see the view. The promenade emerges in the western edge from within a large “urban grove” of shade trees
which hearken back to the Denver’s historic city grid. Further into the park the diagonal divides the park in
two areas of distinct character. To the north thirty feet tall “dunes” recall the rolling hills of Colorado’s
grasslands. These hills are planted xerically with drought tolerant native grass species. Their north slopes are
ideal for sledding in the winter and paths weaving between them are perfect for joggers. The southern half of
the park is predominantly flat green athletic fields that contrast the dry rolling lands to the north.
The focal area of the park is located intentionally one third of the way down the promenade, another device
for increasing the apparent length of the promenade path in perspective. An interactive fountain, plaza and
pavilion anchor the central gathering space. The idea for the Central Park playground was the life zones of
Colorado represented in a Dr. Seuss like manner. Rain falls from blue metal clouds perforated with birds and
the occasional flying pig. The “rain” flows down a bright blue rubber creek bed between purple mountains.
Kids climb rock structures, pull a chain to make it rain, strike hanging metal pipes to play a tune and run
down the creeks; up and over the mountain tops. One last feature of the park is a large lake intended for
model boating and a place to relax by the water. Designed by EDAW.
The mews of the Central Park West neighborhood are the first of their kind in
Stapleton. For six blocks the homes along the mews open their front doors to these green linear streets. The
experience of visiting a home along a Mew is unique. Instead of parking at the curb in front of a home, visitors
approach each home’s front gate along a pedestrian path that travels from one end of the block to the other.
The six blocks are divided into two green streets each designed to complement the character of the homes
that border them. Where contemporary homes line the mews blocks, the paths curve in broad arcs. Plantings
are linear and modern in feel with an emphasis on contrasting texture and pattern. Where the homes are
more traditional the paths are simple and orthogonal, framing panels of lawn contained by geometric gardens.
Situated at the end of one block is a custom designed twenty foot long harvest table shaded by a
contemporary pergola. Gardens along the mews feature edible plant to encourage pick-as-you go
opportunities. Designed by AECOM.
The Plaza and Performance Green at Conservatory Green will serve as the primary
gathering place within the northern Stapleton neighborhoods. The park was inspired by the sand hills prairie
setting and winds that blow from the northwest across the plains. The design reflects this powerful movement
in a grand gesture. From the stage at the north to the water skin at the south the park elements seem to
respond to and be molded by the wind. Tall narrow trees planted in hedge rows baffle the wind along the
western border and contain the view to the stage. A geometrically shaped berm contains the open space to
the east and abstractly recalls the hills of the native prairie. This distinctive angled berm form is a signature
element in the landscape design of the northern neighborhoods and can be seen along Central Park Boulevard
and Valentia Parkway. The amphitheater lawn faces the stage in asymmetrical swath responding to the winds
direction. Walls at the end of the amphitheater curve up and lean over as if blown into form. These low walls
contain plaza spaces that accommodate aisles for art shows food venues etc.
2014 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO Field Session
Stapleton and Lowry - Runways to Green Communities
Field Session #: FS-007
Tivoli lights mark the crossing to the Plaza. Within the plaza windblown walls define the spaces, while groves
of trees provide shady places for visitors to sit and relax. A broader plaza at the center covered with strings of
light can accommodate a skating rink in the winter or a fall harvest festival. The centerpiece of the Plaza is a
long flared “water skin” fountain feature. At the broader end of the water feature a “rain curtain” attracts
children’s interaction and delivers a visual accent. The movement from north to south within the park
culminates in a sail-like shade structure rising upward to nearly seventeen feet. Lawn covered landforms on
either side of the shade structure appear to be piled up by the wind and the “sedimentary” walls that slice
through the landforms seemingly reveal the layers of windblown earth. Designed by AECOM/Dig Studio
Unlike any other pocket park in Stapleton, Spinning Spokes Parklet is located in the
alley behind the garages. One of the goals of the Conservatory Green Neighborhood’s is to promote urban
agriculture; Spinning Spokes provides edible landscape opportunities of all sorts. Two spokes of the park are
divided into community garden plots while the central hub of the park is shaded by an unusual wire and metal
post pergola covered in grape vines. Several varieties of fruit trees border the open lawn of the parklet and
exterior planting beds feature currant, gooseberry and other edible plants. Since the alleys of Stapleton are a
favorite spot for kids on bikes, the pavement that encircles the parklet inspired the idea of an alley race track.
The Start and Finish signs of the circular “track” are etched into the concrete pavement encouraging
youngsters to organize some fun racing events! Designed by Dig Studio.
This grand corridor guides visitors into North Stapleton's
neighborhoods and parks. Wide open spaces dominate the existing landscape, and are celebrated on Central
Park Boulevard with a design that embraces Colorado's native prairies and immense sky. Columnar trees line
the boulevard and stretch into the sky while sculpted landforms and purposefully layered planting materials
create an almost visceral connection with the earth, not to mention a deliberate street edge and an iconic
gateway experience. Architectural concrete banding accentuates sloping native prairie beds, while the highly
engineered and unique landforms honor the utilitarian interventions required to domesticate the prairie as
civilization settled in. Designed by Civitas.
Grounded in principles of simple geometry and color, this park emphasizes both vertical and
horizontal planes, creating a focal point and destination for the high-density residential units that surround the
park. Tree bosques on each side of the Mondrian-influenced pool building feature strong seasonal variation in
color, and alternating zones of garden rooms and lawn extend this geometry into the park, defining spaces for
ping pong, horseshoes, and other neighborhood games that make this park a draw. Open lawn space
encourages residents to step out of their homes and participate in informal and flexible recreation, such as
pickup games of soccer, frisbee, touch football, or casual picnicking. Swaths of native planting weave into the
regular geometry of the open recreation lawn areas, and native grass zones, dotted with shade-lending trees,
introduce a strolling and meandering feel through the park, and break down the regularity of the otherwise
distinctly defined zones. Designed by Civitas.
This linear park blends the drifts of native seed and sod with the purposeful
definition of formal rooms and bosques, creating spaces for picnicking, ping pong, and small gatherings. The
proximity and connection to the Conservatory Green turns this lawn space into something of an oasis, which,
in addition to inspiring impromptu play, also provides spillover space for large festivals, holiday celebrations,
and gatherings extending from the Conservatory Green. The formal planting beds and engineered landforms
extend the integral concepts introduced in Central Park Boulevard into a more pedestrian-focused
environment. Sloped lawn areas are perfect for lounging and soaking up the sun while native planting
accentuates the passing of the seasons. Functioning as an important pedestrian and visual promenade,
Valentia Green supports a grand urban gesture between the Conservatory Green and Prairie Meadows Park.
Designed by Civitas.
The Green Links are a rambling series of garden rooms and play spaces featuring an agrarian
theme. Poachable fruit trees and berry patches offer seasonal grazing opportunities for strollers travelling the
pedestrian corridor between Uplands Park and Prairie Basin Park. Residents develop their green thumbs in
constructed vegetable garden plots, adjacent to their homes, with a community garden feel. A large harvest
table provides space for a true farm to table experience and brings the community together to celebrate the
season’s bounty. Rustic informal adventure-play areas are discovered along the Green Links. Oversized
Lincoln logs, enormous tree trunks, and large boulders inspire imagination and creative play while paying
homage to the site’s natural history. Designed by Civitas.
15
YOSEMITE ST.
14
4
LEGEND
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
8
12
6
6TH AVE.
9
13
UINTA WAY
19
21
16
3
D.
LV
B
RY
11
W
LO
17
22
QUEBEC ST.
23
10
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
1
2
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
5
24
1
1
Westerly Creek
Regional Trail System
24
7
25
18
20
26
E. ALAMEDA AVE.
PARKS AND OPEN SPACE PLAN
Lowry Sports Complex
Jackie Robinson Field
Great Lawn Park
The Wetlands
Lowry East Open Space
and Dog Park
Montclair Recreation Center
Bayaud Park
Crescent Park
City of Ulaanbataar Park
Sunset Park
Tailwinds Park
Roslyn Park
Reading Garden
Mustang Park
Liberator Park
Powerhouse Plaza
Parade Grounds
Quantum Park
6th Avenue Parkway
Common Ground
Golf Course
Lowry Swim Club
Big Bear Ice Arena
Wings Over the Rockies
Westerly Creek Dam
Maple Park
Denver Public Schools Park
lowry parks; recreation and open space
bayaud park
tailwinds park
great lawn park the wetlands park
lowry sports complex fields
1
13
2
7
8
12
4
11
9
6
10
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
5
Founders Green Plaza and Amphitheatre
29th Avenue
Westerly Creek
GreenwayPark
Seasons Park
Central Park
Central Park West Mews
Conservatory Green
Spinning Spokes Parklet
Central Park Boulevard North Gateway
Uplands Park
Valentia Street Parkway
Green Links
stapleton; parks for everyone
29th AVE PARKWAY
WESTERLY CREEK
CENTRAL PARK
TOWN GREEN
GREENWAY PARK
SEASONS PARKS
CONSERVATORY GREEN
mews
central park blvd.
green links
valentia green
uplands park