Denver’s ambitious plan to revamp Civic Center Park failed to secure enough votes at a Landmark Preservation Commission meeting last week.
The proposed changes — which include rotating the stage 180 degrees, adding a modern canopy, enhancing accessibility and creating a pedestrian loop around the park’s central promenade — aim to transform the Greek Theater into a vibrant hub for smaller, community-focused events while maintaining its ability to host large gatherings.
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However, only four of the six attending commissioners voted in favor, leaving the project one vote shy of approval. Commissioners Graham Johnson and Rusty Brown opposed the changes, citing concerns about altering the park’s historic integrity, according to The Denver Gazette.
Johnson said flipping the stage would oppose the theater's original design, comparing it to transforming Denver’s most famous concert venue.
“I don't think that we'd ever consider reversing Red Rocks,” he said, according to the Gazette.
The plan, crafted by architectural firm Studio Gang, seeks to balance functionality with the park’s storied past. Proponents argue it offers a more nuanced approach than previous proposals, such as a 2021 plan for a canopy directly over the theater.
Commissioner Larry Sykes, who voted in favor, called Studio Gang’s plans “thoughtful” and “delicate,” adding that the redesign would make downtown Denver the backdrop for concerts, showcasing the city's evolution.
Critics, including preservationists and historians, worry the changes could irreversibly harm the park, designated a National Historic Landmark in 2012. Letters submitted to the city raised concerns about removing curved seating and altering historic materials, while others questioned the compatibility of the modern canopy with the park’s neoclassical style, according to the Gazette.
Denver Parks and Recreation plans to refine the proposal and return to the commission for another review. For now, the timeline, which originally targeted construction in late 2025 with completion in 2027, is uncertain.
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