“Sing and swing at Paco Sánchez Park” the signs might as well say. Paco Sánchez Park is more than just a park. It is a Denver must-see attraction. It is beloved by the community. The park pays a musical tribute to Paco Sánchez. He was Colorado’s first Hispanic DJ and radio host.
Paco Sánchez Park opened in early 2020. The beautifully designed 50-acre park is engaging. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon.
The park’s design draws inspiration from Francisco “Paco” Sánchez. He was a local DJ and Hispanic activist. Sánchez launched Denver’s first Spanish language radio station in 1952. The park celebrates his contributions to music. A bright orange and red sign stands at the foot of the park. It spells out ‘Paco’ in honor of the man himself. Colorful accents add to the park’s charm.
The park’s inventive design features Mic Tower. It is a custom one-of-a-kind climbing structure. The Mic Tower reaches 33 feet high. The musical journey continues throughout the park. You will also discover a concrete gramophone-shaped slide and a skate park.
Artist Carlos Frésquez created a new installation. It is titled “Que Vive Paco”. The art celebrates Paco’s contributions to music. Three stainless-steel disks form a chain link of vinyls. The colors represent the Mexican and American flags. They pay homage to Sánchez’s contributions to the Hispanic community.
The biggest feature is the giant 1950s microphone playground. It is a tower with stairs and a slide inside. Attached is a bridge lined with rails resembling chimes. Below the bridge are netted climbing adventures shaped like sound waves.
The Paco Sánchez Kiosk is located here. It includes restrooms. There are spaces for an outdoor teaching kitchen. Also you can find equipment checkout for ice skating. Park storage is also available. An “S” shaped shade structure mimics flowing music. It provides cover at the teaching and check out areas. The brightly colored exterior pattern is inspired by Latin American textiles.
Before playtime, the team remediated the landfill below the park. They focused on importing soil. This ensured minimal disturbance to the neighborhood. The former landfill is now a beautiful park. It boasts more than 130 trees.
Visitors give Paco Sánchez Park an impressive 4.5-star average rating. They appreciate the engaging climbing equipment. There are shaded areas here. Additional features include a splash pad, baseball fields, and disc golf. The park offers activities for older children and families.
Paco Sánchez Park provides a little bit of everything. There is a playground and open fields for sports. You can also find picnic tables here. There is even a basketball court and a splash pad. Skateboarding is also possible. The play equipment is a star. It’s massive with ample climbing areas, slides, and swings. There are multiple picnic tables near the playground. Many people bring camp chairs or blankets. They find a spot on the grass.
So come sing and swing. Come celebrate music and community here at Paco Sánchez Park.