Insider Tour: A National Historic Landmark in the 21st Century – Civic Center’s Past, Present, and Future

Doors Open Denver Early Bird ticket sales begin on July 21st at 4pm for DAF Members and end on August 4 at 4pm, when DAF Member pricing will increase. DAF Membership will be verified upon ticket purchase. Click here to become a DAF member. Tickets will be available for non-DAF members beginning August 18.

About the tour: We’ll explore Civic Center Park’s rich past, dynamic present, and ambitious future. From its roots in the City Beautiful movement to today’s successes and challenges, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the park’s evolving role in Denver’s urban landscape. We’ll also take a look at conceptual plans for future improvements—both architectural and programmatic—that aim to reenergize this National Historic Landmark as a vibrant public space for the 21st century.

About the space: Nestled in the heart of Denver, Civic Center Park offers visitors a respite from the bustling downtown area surrounding it. The park boasts the most square feet of flower beds, the largest collection of public art in the city, and structures dating back over 100 years. Visitors to the park will enjoy the sense of being immersed back in time while strolling the beautiful landscapes. With nearly 1 million visitors per year, Civic Center Park is a space where visitors can play, pause, process, and process.

About the tour guides: Tina Bishop, founding Principal and Partner at Mundus Bishop. In her 40+ years of experience planning and designing public spaces, her work has yielded places nationwide that engage and enrich the communities they serve. Tina is a recognized leader with important works in historic preservation planning, rehabilitation design, and new designs that are ecologically and culturally sustainable. 

Jenna Harris, Downtown Parks Program Manager at Denver Parks & Recreation. Jenna oversees major planning, design and construction projects including Reimagine Skyline Park (RIOS), Civic Center Next 100 (Studio Gang & Olin), Speer Boulevard & Cherry Creek Visioning (Snohetta & HDR), and La Alma-Lincoln Park Vision (Livable Cities Studio). Previously, she worked with award-winning Landscape Architecture, Planning and Design firms, earning recognition from the American Society of Landscape Architects and American Planning Association. Jenna is a licensed Landscape Architect with a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia.

Eric Lazzari, Executive Director of the Civic Center Conservancy. Eric is the nonprofit steward of and fundraiser for Denver’s historic Civic Center Park. Since joining the Conservancy in 2011, he has led transformative efforts in programming, strategic operations, and public engagement, helping activate the park nearly 200 days each year. With a background in event operations and youth development, Eric previously held leadership roles at USA Swimming and the Metro Denver Sports Commission. He is a proud alumnus of Leadership Denver and a recipient of the John Parr Leadership Award.

Accessibility: Wheelchair access to the Greek Theater is from Broadway or Bannock Street. There are currently a significant number of steps and level changes in Civic Center.

Refund policy: The Denver Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization. Ticket sales support the Foundation in continuing to provide quality events to the public. We are unable to provide refunds or credits for any reason less than 14 days prior to the event.

Please note that DAF tours take place rain, snow or shine. If your tour includes an outdoor portion, please dress for the weather. DAF staff will contact all attendees directly should a tour be cancelled for any reason.

Photo provided courtesy Civic Center Conservancy