Kennedy

Kennedy is not really as much of a neighborhood as it is a golf course. It's a public course, so maybe this would be good for people who like golf but can't really afford the country club lifestyle. This neighborhood also borders on Cherry Creek State Park, which is a large area for recreation. The reservoir and paths offer outdoor activities for those who are not swinging a club. This area is fairly close to the Tech Center, but really it is more of a spot for anyone who does not want to live right in the city.

Kennedy is out in a southeast area that hasn't seen many changes over the years. That is to say, at least not compared to the rest of the city. The Hampden/Havana stretch and nearby S Parker Rd have retail stores, bars, restaurants, etc. There is a lot of strip-mall, chain-store stuff mixed in with a few neighborhood bars that give these areas a bit of character.

There are some residential and retail areas in Kennedy itself, and this is not an expensive part of town. If you're house (or apartment) hunting, though, you might have better luck finding available living spaces in the surrounding neighborhoods.

If you live in the Kennedy neighborhood, you are probably a groundhog residing in the John F. Kennedy Golf Course. Although technically a neighborhood, Kennedy’s acreage is mostly taken up by the golf course and by Cornell Park. These green, grassy spaces provide a play space for the residents of the nearby Hampden and Hampden South neighborhoods, as well as the neighboring suburb of Aurora. Along with the course at City Park, Kennedy is one of the courses maintained, and maintained well, by the city. The regulation course stretches along Cherry Creek, flat and sprawling. Billing itself as a “golf mecca,” Kennedy also has a pro shop, a restaurant, and a mini golf course. The Cinderella-style castle on the mini-golf course stands conspicuously at the side of the road, its gold-topped turrets beckoning to local youngsters or striking dread into the heart of teenagers who are being reluctantly dragged there for mandatory family fun.

The neighborhood is home to about four thousand people who live within its bounds. The neighborhood is at the intersection of Hampden and Havana, kitty-corner from the Hampden neighborhood. The surrounding area is heavily developed, with car dealerships on Havana, lots of shopping plazas on Hampden, and a tendency towards heavy rush-hour traffic. (See my review of Hampden for more information.) Perhaps it’s all the better, then, that Kennedy is where and what it is, providing a great big swath of green for southeast Denver residents – especially those who like golf.