15th and Little Raven Sts., Denver
720/913-1311
www.denvergov.org

HOURS: Daily 5 a.m.–11 p.m.

Depending on your perspective, Denver has been blessed or cursed with some blizzards in recent years. Sure, the roads were a nightmare of icy potholes, but it made for great urban sledding conditions and a chance for residents to sample what’s within walking distance of their homes.

One of the more popular sled slides was in Commons Park, where different sides of the hill provided a variety of speeds and chutes for all ages. For those who aren’t close enough to walk and don’t want to drive on winter roads, Commons Park is just a short walk from the light rail station behind Union Station.

In 2001, the city unveiled Commons Park, an ambitious 20-acre park along the east side of the South Platte River. As people began moving into LoDo and the Platte Valley, this became the place for them to play. On any given day, depending on the season, you will see fitness classes, scrimmage games, skiers, sledders, and dog walkers or dogs in obedience classes.

One portion of the park was designed to re-create how it would have looked before the settlers came, complete with native grasses, trees, and sand.

One side of the park follows a street and looks up at new condos and apartments, while the other drops down to foot and bike paths along the river. New bridges on either side of Commons Park lead to shopping and dining districts in historic neighborhoods.