"There are still some approvals that need to happen before anything starts to move forward," Denver parks director Jolon Clark said on September 2, the day the city announced a $50 million plan to restore Sloan's Lake. "So in the very short term, not a lot of changes." Denverite reported his remarks from the press conference, where Mayor Mike Johnston called the lake's health the most important thing the city could do for the neighborhood's long-term health.
That quote explains the next several months on the loop. The big lake project is real and funded, but the city has not set a start date. Meanwhile, the construction on the city's schedule for this winter is smaller and sits at the edges of the park, at the corner of Sheridan Boulevard and West 17th Avenue and at the courts on the north shore. The fourth piece, the historic boathouse, has its own calendar and is a 2028 story. Each project runs on its own clock, so it helps to take them one at a time.
The $50 million plan, and why the water looks the same
The restoration money is mainly for dredging. According to Denverite's account, the goal is to pull out decades of sediment, which would restore the lake's depth and cut down the nutrients that toxic algae feed on. The plan also calls for shoreline bank and habitat improvements, so incoming sediment gets filtered before it settles in the lakebed again. Once work starts, it is expected to take 30 months.
The city's own numbers show how much sediment there is. Denver Parks and Recreation's environmental assessment page puts the lake's average depth at 3.5 feet. It ties that buildup to more frequent algae blooms, fish kills and other problems for aquatic life. Water quality sensors have been collecting real-time data in the lake since summer 2021.
Shallow water shows up in more than the summer smell. Denverite reported that organizers of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival came to the announcement because shallow water has made it hard to find routes for their boats.
The funding comes from three places. Five million dollars comes from the voter-approved Vibrant Denver bond and another $5 million from the city's wastewater management fund. The remaining roughly $40 million comes from the Denver Urban Renewal Authority's special tax district, which was set up for the redevelopment of the old Saint Anthony's Hospital site. Johnston said that project has been "so successful ahead of schedule that we have additional dollars we can allocate."
The city is also designing a separate set of water-quality improvements with $5 million in Vibrant Denver funds. Its project page lists bank stabilization, erosion repair, wetland habitat, landscape changes, bioswales and new sediment capture facilities, with design heading toward 60% in late summer 2026. Earlier rounds of smaller fixes, including shoreline reshaping and aerators, are already done.
When work does begin, Clark said the goal is to "keep as much of the park open and usable as possible, doing work in the lake." Most of the disruption from the largest project is meant to stay on the water and off the path.
Where the fences go this winter
The trail-level construction comes from two smaller projects on Denver Parks and Recreation's Sloan's Lake neighborhood projects page. Here they are by where they fall on the loop:
- Southwest corner, Sheridan and 17th. The city is turning the building near that intersection into a maintenance yard and shop for parks across northwest Denver. Its schedule closed the parking lot and basketball court there starting in September 2026, with part of the trail to close later in construction. The city expects closures to last through early 2027 and asks visitors to follow the posted detours.
- North tennis and basketball courts. Paid for by DPR capital funds and the RISE Denver bond, this project replaces both sets of courts and improves access to them. Tennis court abatement happened in fall 2025. The city's schedule lists winter 2026 for the start of construction and fall 2027 for completion.
That leaves a clear gap in the middle of the park. The south playground and tennis courts were replaced and reopened in October 2023, and nothing on the city's current list touches them. Its sand play area took the place of a splash pad that was dropped from the design over permitting.
The boathouse runs on a 2028 calendar
The historic boathouse on the north side, near Wolff Street and West Byron Place, currently houses Parks Operations, Adaptive Recreation and Park Rangers. The city plans to turn it into a community and event space of 2,500 to 3,000 square feet, connected to the marina. Denverite reported in February that the project will cost about $7 million. The city's May concession document describes the finished building in more detail. It lists a food and beverage space with an outdoor patio, renovated public restrooms, a ranger's office, an outdoor equipment rental hub, a spot for one food truck, and a 177-person event space with its own patio and a catering kitchen.
The most specific timeline comes from the city's May 19, 2026 request for information on concession services. It puts the start of construction in April 2027 and has crews working through early 2028. Fixtures and the concessionaire's setup follow, and the public opening is expected in spring 2028. The city is looking for a company to run concessions there, alongside a kiosk at Skyline Park downtown.
On that schedule, the new north courts are due in fall 2027 and the boathouse in spring 2028. The north shore is set to get its two biggest upgrades within about six months of each other.
The people pushing for the lake
Kurt Weaver, executive director of the Sloan's Lake Park Foundation, has spent five years pushing for investment in the lake, according to Denverite. He described the restoration as a possible turning point for his group, which could then shift into a "Friends of the Park" role. "We want to make sure we are out here every week to see what smaller problems are out there," he said. "Can we plant some more trees? Do we need more benches? Are the soccer fields upkept?"
Across Sheridan, the stakes are commercial. Edgewater Mayor Steve Conklin told Denverite that his city relies heavily on park visitors to support its nearby businesses. "This is such a regional asset," he said. "It's something that's important to Denver and to Edgewater right across the street."
The Edgewater side has a new place to sit
Conklin's point about park visitors and Edgewater businesses fits this fall's opening on the west side. Black Box Bakery, the stall at Edgewater Public Market, opened a second location called Black Box Cafe in the former Suzette space at 5901 W. 25th Ave. The two spots are less than a mile apart. Westword reported a full opening date of November 7 after a soft opening the week before. The cafe offers the bakery's laminated pastries plus ice cream, chocolates, a bigger sandwich menu and, for the first time, tables. Westword's October roll call listed it among the month's arrivals.
With the southwest corner of the loop under construction, a stop on the West 25th Avenue side may be easier to reach than usual.
Two December dates on the calendar
Neither event depends on any of the construction above:
- Holiday BAZAAR at Sloan's Lake, Saturday, December 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free outdoor market sets up at 1611 N. Raleigh St. with up to 80 Colorado makers, food and drink, and leashed dogs welcome, rain, snow or shine.
- Second Fridays at Edgewater Public Market, Friday, December 11. The market's monthly pop-up artisan and art market typically runs 5 to 8 p.m. at 5505 W. 20th Ave.
The Raleigh Street address puts the BAZAAR on the east side of the park, well away from the Sheridan and 17th corner.
If you want to know how the work around the park could affect your block, your commute or the value of your home in the years ahead, Wayne and Brooke at Six Seasons Realty keep track of these Sloan's Lake projects closely and are happy to talk through the timeline with you. Start a Neighborhood Consultation whenever it suits you.