Cheeseman Park
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Congress, which had originally designated the acreage
for burials, switched it to park land at the request
of Denver officials. By 1894, graves had been relocated,
burials suspended, and the area fenced, but the incipient
Cheeseman Park remained barren and deserted until landscape
architect, Reinhard Schuetze, drew up formal plans in
1898 that included a lily pond, Pavilion, and rows of
Linden trees. Adjacent cemetery tracts became Morgan’s
Historic District, Congress Park, Denver Botanic Gardens,
and soccer fields - planted above the city reservoirs,
the soccer fields are located directly north of Congress
Park.
As conceived of by Schuetze, Cheeseman is a serene expanse
in the midst of the bustling city, a peaceful enclave
for quiet contemplation, picnicking, reading, and viewing
the mountains. Its seclusion is sufficient to lure the
occasional bagpiper out to practice amidst the rolling
fields at the park’s center.
In 1907 funds for a pavilion were donated by the widow
of Walter Cheeseman in exchange for naming the park in
his honor. Inspired by the Acropolis in Athens and hailed
as Denver’s “temple in the sun,” the Pavilion was constructed
of white Colorado marble and decorated on the west by
reflecting pools and fountains.
The Colorado Mountain Club contributed a guide to the
Front Range peaks cast in bronze and mounted along the
Pavilion’s west promenade to enrich the viewing experience.
Cheeseman Park Esplanade, created in 1912, linked Cheeseman
to Seventh Avenue Parkway and the Williams Street Parkway
leading to the Country Club neighborhood.
Intended as a Japanese tea house, the wooden edifice
at the park’s north end is currently undergoing renovation
after years of neglect. During the '30s and '40s, supported
by Helen Bonfils, owner of the Denver Post, Cheeseman
Park hosted seminars and theatrical productions that
drew enthusiasts by the thousands each summer.
Cheeseman Park remains a significant neighborhood gathering
spot, attracting legions of joggers, walkers, picnickers,
and sunbathers, much as Schuetze may have originally
envisioned. He might also be gratified at the sight of
parents and their children flocking to the west-side
playground. On breezy days, the sky above Cheeseman springs
to life with brightly colored kites, and following winter
storms, ski tracks soon crisscross the freshly fallen
snow.
Hang around long enough and you’re sure to spot some
of the diverse wildlife that periodically wander into
the park from Cherry Creek or the Botanic Gardens, among
them, marmots, foxes, rabbits, and even deer. More common
visitors include crows, pigeons, woodpeckers, squirrels,
and, on occasion, herons, hawks, Canadian geese, and
ducks.
Cheeseman Park and environs offers an unparalleled opportunity
to fully engage with Colorado’s outdoor lifestyle in
an urban setting. “Central Park” in Denver is a compelling
reminder to us all why “'tis a privilege to live in Colorado.”
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