St. Charles Place Park in Denver’s Cole neighborhood reopened Monday after the completion of a renovation project by Five Points Youth Ambassadors and Denver Parks and Recreation.

The renovation added three nature play spaces to the park and increased its overall green space. The new design was created by the youth ambassadors, who also led community outreach to determine what the neighborhood wanted from the park.

“St. Charles Park was based on us creating a place for all types of people living in the Five Points community and the city of Denver,” said youth ambassador Phranklin Gerdine. “As ambassadors, we wanted to bring everyone together to help and support our purpose of using this park to unify and grow as one.”

The park, located at 3777 N. Lafayette St. next to the St. Charles Recreation Center, is the largest of only three parks in the Cole neighborhood at 2.5 acres.

To increase the park’s green space, the renovation relocated a nearby parking lot and removed the outdated playground, replacing it with new natural play features, including water, sand, slides, climbing features and a basket swing.

Other improvements to the park include decorative lighted gateways, trails, additional plantings, new sidewalks, boulders, logs and an accessible ramp to the recreation center.

“There is no better way to preserve and enhance our parks than by involving our community in the process, and that starts with our youth,” said Mayor Michael Hancock. “Their personal investment in St. Charles Place Park is a point of pride for our city and for everyone who supported this outstanding project.”