strategic plan: everyone everywhere

Nature Play in City Park

Nature Play is presented in partnership with

Nature Play in City Park

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Nature connects us... to science, to oneself, to each other and to something transcendent that ignites our imaginations and fills us with wonder and awe. Inspired by our community’s love of nature, we’re blurring the line between the world inside the Museum—and Colorado’s diverse ecosystems just outside our doors.

Opening in 2024, Nature Play is a 4-acre immersive experience in City Park designed just for you. Follow the water story from the alpine tundra to the grasslands of the prairie, celebrating Colorado as a place to learn, play and explore. Join the effort by becoming a supporter today! You can contribute to this incredible project in one of two ways. Either through a direct gift to DMNS or through Colorado Gives Day. When choosing to give through Colorado Gives Day you have the chance to multiply your impact!

Thanks to a generous group of donors, gifts made now through Tuesday, December 5th will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $74,000! Every gift is also boosted by a statewide $1.4 Million+ incentive fund.

For questions about the project or to learn more about the impact of your gift email [email protected].

Project Timeline

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science and Denver Parks & Recreation are breaking ground on the Nature Play & Waterway Restoration Project in City Park! Through the construction of this community-driven design project, the Museum’s award-winning Explore Colorado dioramas found on the 3rd floor of the Museum will be brought to life as an immersive experience designed for accessible, multi-generational, and multi-sensory exploration, respite, and play.

The project will be in construction through late 2024.

Project Renderings

Community Driven Design

Community feedback has led to design concepts that include inclusive, multigenerational, multi-seasonal play, along with opportunities for learning, respite and engagement through authentic, natural, playful experiences for people of all ages and abilities.

In spring 2021, the design team received feedback from more than 800 community members throughout a month-long design and outreach phase. Feedback from this phase informed the creation of key design and play features including climbing, jumping and sliding activities and the prioritization of water in the space.

Local partner, Dope Mom Life created this short documentary highlighting just one of the ways the design team solicited feedback through a hands-on activity catered to people of all ages.  

Ways to Give

Thanks to a generous group of donors, gifts made now through Tuesday, December 5th will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $74,000! Every gift is also boosted by a statewide $1.4 Million+ incentive fund.

Donate through Colorado Gives
Donate directly to the Museum
Donate Now
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