Phased Reopening Plan for Denver Recreation Centers

Neighbors, we know you are as eager as we at WPENA are to have our recreation centers reopened. Well, good news from Denver Parks and Recreation, they have a plan to reopen the centers in phases. See below for more information:

Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) is pleased to announce a phased reopening of Denver Recreation Centers, pools, registered programs and additional activities beginning this spring. Staff have implemented precautionary measures to prioritize the safety of visitors during each phase of reopening. Operating within state guidelines, facility and activity capacity will vary by location to maintain social distancing. Detailed information about which facilities will be opening and on which dates, as well as how to make a reservation, will be available online. Information will be updated as it become available.

Phased Reopening Services:

CityWide Sports is offering spring softball, and registration will soon be announced for activities including Arts and Culture, Indoor, Outdoor and Adaptive Recreation, Active Older Adult, Fitness, MY Denver and summer adult sports leagues throughout the city. 

Beginning May 3, weight room and cardio spaces within a few recreation centers are scheduled to open and will offer access to fitness equipment by reservation. Several other recreation centers will begin offering indoor programing and outdoor activities at limited capacity. MY Denver will begin activities and the Tasty Food Meal Program will continue to offer youth ages 5-18 an afternoon meal.

Eight Outdoor Pools are scheduled to be open June 7 – August 14 for aqua aerobics, lap swim, group swim lessons and open swim. Seven Summer in the Parks youth day camps and Youth Sports Camp locations will also begin in June. In partnership with Office of Children’s Affairs and Denver Afterschool Alliance, DPR will provide park space to non-profits to offer free youth programming. Additional recreation center sites, indoor pools and other activities will continue to open during the summer and throughout the rest of the year. Prices vary based on activity and many are free for MY Denver, MY Denver Prime, SilverSneakers and Renew Active members. 

Welcome back!

Since early in the pandemic, recreation centers and staff have had to readjust to serve the pressing needs of the city. Recreation centers have been repurposed and staff have been redeployed to support testing and vaccination sites, emergency shelters, meal sites, learning labs, virtual programming, Denver’s Department of Public Health and Environment, Human Services, Transportation and Infrastructure and Park operations. 

All reopening plans are contingent upon CDC guidance and CDPHE public health orders as we continue to balance safety, equity and the immediate needs of the community. While recovery efforts are underway, full operations will continue to be impacted by staffing restraints as the majority of recreation employees are seasonal and on-call which will require recruiting, hiring and re-training. Reopening details will be announced as they become available. Detailed information, current online programming, outdoor programming and other resources are available online at Denvergov.org/Recreation.

From DPR Executive Director Happy Haynes:

We are elated to begin reopening some of our facilities and registered programming. Our employees have gone above and beyond in preparing plans for a safe reopening to provide the community with quality amenities and healthy recreation opportunities in neighborhoods throughout the city.

Continue checking in on DPR’s YouTube channel for new recorded programs each week. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for direct links to this content!

In partnership with Denver Community Media, recreation activities will air on Comcast channels 56 and 881.