Jefferson Park and the surrounding neighborhood of the same name overlook downtown Denver from its situation in the area known as North Denver. Stationed on a bluff above the city, the park has excellent views over the city, particularly the Central Platte Valley.
Excellent transport links connect Jefferson Park to the downtown area and the rest of the city, and with downtown Denver and Highlands Square within easy reach, there are plenty of nearby opportunities for entertainment, dining and shopping. The main commercial area within the Jefferson Park neighborhood is Federal Boulevard, which offers a good selection of stores and restaurants.
A diverse range of architectural styles can be found in Jefferson Park, due to the gradual way in which the neighborhood has been built up. There are houses dating from the late 19th century alongside those built in every following decade, up until the 1950s, when most of the land had been used. Some modern buildings can be found in the area, but most of the buildings in Jefferson Park date from the first half of the 20th century. There are both apartment blocks and single family homes.
Jefferson Park was incorporated within the town of Highland, which was initially formed after General William Larimer Junior waded across the Platte River to create a town on the opposite shore from Denver, in late 1858. The original town was built around a street known as the boulevard, which has been known as Federal Boulevard since the area was annexed to Denver.
Before they were united, there was a lot of political and social rivalry between Highland and Denver. Highland had been created for the elite, as a haven outside the city where people could live in luxury while working in the city of Denver itself. The mayor of Denver, a man named Wolfe Londener, was so enraged by the superior attitude of the Highlanders that he would not allow a viaduct across the Platte to be constructed unless Highland agreed to be annexed to his city. Access to the employment available in Denver was essential for the people of Highland, and eventually they agreed to be annexed to the city in 1896, becoming North Denver.
As the city and the North Denver area grew, sections began to be called by different names. One of the oldest parts of North Denver became known as Jefferson Park. Jefferson Park grew gradually as the city expanded, until the housing boom of the 1950s, by which time most of the land had been filled. After this, the area suffered from a decline as many of the wealthier residents deserted the neighborhood to move out into the suburbs.
During the late 1990s, the decline of Jefferson Park began to be reversed. People returned to the area in order to be closer to the city center and to enjoy an urban lifestyle. Plans were made for a major new development that would have completely destroyed the area’s traditional character and condemned many of the historic properties, but in 2000, these plans were blocked by a dedicated group of local residents. Under the name of the Jefferson Park United Neighbors (JPUN), the group began to work to improve their local community and ensure that future development remained sensitive to the history and character of Jefferson Park.
The Jefferson Park neighborhood has come a long way since the 1990s, although there are still some underdeveloped areas. These are likely to be rapidly improved, however, in line with the rest of the neighborhood, which now features well cared for streets, lined with trees, and many thriving local businesses. The concurrent development of the Central Platte Valley and construction of attractions such as the Invesco Field Mile High Stadium and the Creekside Retail Center have been a major boon for Jefferson Park, turning it into one of the busiest and most rapidly developing areas in the city.
Jefferson Park was created during the early 20th century on the site of a disused landfill. It was named after Thomas Jefferson in order to compete with Washington Park, another park in the city, which had recently been named. The park is beautifully landscaped and features a basketball court, children’s playground, picnic areas and a picnic shelter.
