Executive Committee Releases List of Recommended Bond Projects

Executive Committee Releases List of Recommended Bond Projects

Published on July 08, 2025

DENVER, CO - The City and County of Denver today shared the Vibrant Denver Bond Executive Committee's recommended list of infrastructure improvement projects for potential 2025 ballot measures. These recommendations have been presented to Mayor Mike Johnston for consideration.

The Executive Committee's recommendations were shaped by months of public engagement, including more than 6,200 survey responses and nearly 1,000 attendees at town halls across Denver. Five subcommittees composed of 55 community and City Council members helped refine and prioritize all of the input, feedback, and project suggestions.

Mayor Johnston will now review the Executive Committee's recommendations and submit a formal package to the Denver City Council for consideration in the coming weeks. City Council will decide whether to refer the bond measure to the Nov. 4 citywide ballot and consider a companion ordinance identifying specific projects.

If approved by voters, the bond package would fund critical infrastructure repairs and improvements across Denver over the next six years - without raising taxes.

"The Executive Committee spent countless hours receiving a vast amount of input over the past few months," Executive Committee member Mary Nguyen said. "The projects we are recommending to Mayor Johnston reflect the voices of thousands of Denver residents who care deeply about repairing and improving our roads, bridges, parks, libraries, and other vital infrastructure we rely on every day. This package will also position Denver to meet the needs and demands of tomorrow by expanding parkland and open space, connecting neighborhoods and growing our economy."

"I'm incredibly proud of the work we did together on the Executive Committee. As one of the chairs, it was an honor to collaborate with the dedicated community members who volunteered their time, energy, and ideas to help shape this package. I'm also grateful to our city staff for their deep expertise and support throughout the process," said City Council President Amanda P. Sandoval. "The proposal we've crafted reflects the priorities of our city-reinvesting in our parks, libraries, roads, city facilities, and essential infrastructure. The package now goes to the Mayor, and then to City Council for formal referral. If approved, it will head to Denver voters on the November ballot and importantly, it does so without raising taxes. I'm proud of what we've built together and excited for what's ahead."

View Executive Committee Members

The Executive Committee's Recommended Bond Package

The Executive Committee proposed that the bond package prioritize critical street, bridge, transportation, and pedestrian safety improvements, including:

• Repairs to bridges and underpasses including Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea (GES) Connections - Marion Underpass, 38th St. & Blake Street underpass, 6th and 8th Avenue viaducts, bridges over Cherry Creek, Quebec Street bridge over Airlawn Road, and intersection improvements at 1st Avenue and University Boulevard
• New pedestrian crossings, repaved streets, and traffic signals
• Much-needed improvements to Santa Fe Drive between 6th and 13th Avenues and to West 38th Avenue between Sheridan Boulevard and Fox Street

The committee recommended projects that advance public health and safety, including:

• Improvements to the Denver Health Sam Sandos Westside Family Health Center
• Construction of the Denver Children's Advocacy Center's (DCAC) Children's Center
• Expansion of the Denver Animal Shelter
• Construction of a First Responder Safety Training Center
• Accessibility improvements to shelter and supportive housing

For improvements to city parks, playgrounds, pools, libraries, and facilities across Denver, the committee recommended:

• New safety lighting along the Cherry Creek Trail and Highline Canal Trail
• Improvements to playgrounds, sports courts, lighting, and pool upgrades at Harvey Park, Garland Park, Lindsley Park, Aztlan Pool, Eisenhower Pool, Cook Park Pool, Montbello Recreation Center, Washington Park Pool, Sun Valley Riverfront Park, Southwest Recreation Center Pool, and Southwest Auto Park
• Build-out of two new parks at Emporia Park and Park Hill Park
• Aquatic and environmental health improvements to Sloan's Lake
• Renovations of the Decker Library, Montbello Library, and the Blair Caldwell African American Research Library and Museum
• Landmark signage and public art for the 303 Artway
• Electrification and repairs at city facilities
• Co-locating housing alongside city facilities, starting with funding a new library (with housing on site) in East Denver
• Middle-income housing project development
• Enabling site prep for a future American Indian Cultural Embassy

Finally, and as in previous bonds, the Executive Committee proposed capital maintenance support for city-owned, public institutions, including the:

• Denver Zoo
• Boettcher Concert Hall
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• Denver Museum of Nature and Science
• Red Rocks Amphitheater

The city is committed to fiscal responsibility in this bond package and is working to ensure the bond cost ultimately referred to voters will not impact property tax rates. Precise funding levels will be included in the Mayor's submission to City Council, after project costs and scopes are finalized with the relevant partner agency for each project listed above.

To see further detail of proposed bond projects, please visit denvergov.org/vibrantbond.

The city maintains records of all community input, subcommittee meetings, and executive committee meetings online at denvergov.org/vibrantbond.

About Denver GO Bonds

General obligation (GO) bonds are a long-term debt instrument issued by state or local governments to fund public capital improvement projects such as roads, bridges, bikeways, public facilities and parks. This includes restoring, replacing and expanding existing capital assets. Local GO bond programs are authorized by Denver voters every 4-10 years and repaid through property taxes. Denver's previous bond programs include Elevate Denver, a 10-year, $937 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2017, and RISE Denver, a five-year, $260 million general obligation bond program approved by voters in 2021. For more information, visit denvergov.org/gobonds.

About the Denver Department of Finance

Committed to being the best financially managed city and county in the nation, the Department of Finance (DOF) unifies the financial and accounting functions of the City and County of Denver and provides residents easy access to key financial data through Transparent Denver. DOF is divided into the Office of the CFO and seven divisions, including the Assessor's Office, Controller's Office, Budget and Management Office, Capital Planning and Real Estate, Cash and Capital Funding, Risk Management and Worker's Compensation, and Treasury. For more information, visit Denvergov.org/finance.

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Related Information

• 2025 Vibrant Denver Bond

• Vibrant Denver Bond