City Park West

City Park West has a lot to offer it's residents. There are many charming homes which were built in the 1920s to 1940s. They are all unique and attractive, and many are made of brick which has stood the test of time. Many of these homes are going for just under a half million dollars, but if you can afford to live here it may be well worth it. It is a very short commute to downtown Denver by car or bus and there are a ton of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars within walking distance. For those who are exercise buffs, City Park is just across York Street to the east, and you will also find City Park Golf Course. If you're looking for a great way to spend the afternoon, both the Denver Zoo and Denver Museum of Nature and Science are there too. Just west of the museum is the Gates Planetarium as well. The park is large and you can always see people running or jogging around. In the summertime at Ferril Lake you can rent paddle boats and spend an afternoon on the lake or feeding the geese. This is a great big park with lots of paths to follow.

In addition to the numerous things to do within walking distance there is the Presbyterian St. Luke Hospital here, and St. Joseph's Hospital is just a few blocks west of the neighborhood. Both of these are big hospitals in Denver. While there isn't a lot of shopping in the neighborhood, there are liquor stores, gas stations and banks. If you're farther into the neighborhood going north, you won't find these a detraction to the charm of City Park West.

In my opinion, the only drawback to this neighborhood is that it borders Colfax Avenue. Colfax always looks dirty and unkept to me, not to mention the incredible amount of traffic that is here at any given time of day. It's almost strange how much the feeling changes when you're inside the neighborhood. It's quiet and peaceful, yet has a fun, upbeat vibe to it.

This area is in the thick of city activity, but has a different vibe than Cheesman Park and Capitol Hill to the north. The stretch of Colfax and particularly of 17th Ave running through this neighborhood has great restaurants and bars, and of course the proximity to City Park is a huge plus. This area lies right around Presbyterian St. Luke's hospital, where my niece and nephew were born, and St. Joseph's medical center. These are major area hospitals, and there is a lot of activity here because of that.
Investments have been made in the apartment housing in this neighborhood. There are some great apartments here at reasonable rents. I believe that a lot of work has been done here. This is both the result of the general revitalization efforts in Denver over recent decades, and the relocation of Childrens' Hospital. Childrens' used to be near St. Luke's, but moved east to the new Aurora medical campus. This move relieved some of the congestion and provided some new development opportunities.
The northern end of this neighborhood used to be a very dangerous place. It has improved, but there are still some spots to look out for. Parking is tough and crowded. Overall, though, this area is a great place to live, work, dine out, and party.