Tag Archives: Petitions

Press Release June 10, 2013

Posted on June 10, 2013 by | 1 comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2013

Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) is joining the lawsuit to save Hampden Heights North Park. Denver attorney John Case will represent INC on a pro-bono basis, along with two individual homeowners and the non-profit corporation Friends of Denver Parks.

Case said, “We are honored that INC will protect this unique wildlife park for all Denver citizens.”
Established in 1975, INC is a city-wide association of Registered Neighborhood Organizations.  With current membership of 94 residential based organizations, INC’s mission is to advocate for Denver citizens by bringing together, informing and empowering Denver neighborhood organizations to actively engage in addressing City issues.

On Wednesday, June 12, 2013 Judge Herbert L. Stern III will decide whether to grant a preliminary injunction preventing Mayor Hancock and city council from trading 10.7 acres of Hampden Heights North Park for an office building downtown. The plaintiffs rely on Section 2.4.5 of the city charter, which says that no part of any park acquired before 1955 may be sold without a vote of the people. Hampden Heights North Park was acquired by the city in 1936.

In addition to the lawsuit, Friends of Denver Parks is circulating a petition to allow voters to decide the issue in November.

City officials oppose the right of the people to be heard. On May 22 Denver Clerk and Recorder sent a letter to the plaintiffs telling them not to circulate petitions. On Saturday, June 8, Michael Sapp Jr., who is Mayor Hancock’s Neighborhood Liaison, warned INC at its public meeting not to join the lawsuit.

More information and copies of the legal documents may be viewed on the website www.FriendsOfDenverParks.org

People who wish to volunteer or donate should call Renee Lewis 303-337-2947.

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New Announcement June 7 2013

Posted on June 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

On Wednesday, June 12, 2013 Denver District Judge Herbert L. Stern III will decide whether to grant a preliminary injunction preventing Mayor Hancock and city council from trading  10.7 acres of Hampden Heights North Park in southeast Denver for an office building downtown.  Friends of Denver Parks, a non-profit corporation whose mission is to protect and preserve Denver parks, natural areas, and open space, joined two individual homeowners and filed suit on May 30 to block the trade.

 Denver attorney John Case, who is representing the plaintiffs pro-bono, said that he is excited to have an early hearing date.   “Denver city charter section 2.4.5 says that city officials cannot transfer any part of a park without a vote of the people,” Case said.  “We are asking the Court to let the people decide.  We believe that citizens want Denver to be a beautiful outdoor environment where parents can teach their children to enjoy wildlife in the city, and people throughout the city can walk and bicycle through natural areas.”

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Thank you for visiting Friends of Denver Parks!

Posted on June 1, 2013 by | 1 comment

Thank you for visiting Friends of Denver Parks!

We are a non-profit Colorado corporation organized for the specific purpose of protecting Denver parks and designated Natural Areas.  Our first challenge is to save 10.7 acres of Hampden Heights North Park, located at S. Havana St. and East Girard Ave.  This beautiful park land is part of a 90 acre natural area which includes Hampden Heights North Park and Paul Hentzell Park.

The City Charter says that no park land can be sold or transferred without a vote of the people.  On April 1, 2013 our mayor and city council voted to trade this priceless land for an office building downtown.

The Natural Area borders the banks of Cherry Creek.  It includes an Historic Trail.  It was formerly used as a Native American hunting ground for bison and deer.  Motor vehicles are not allowed.  The natural area is home to numerous and fascinating indigenous species of plant and animal life, including deer, fox, coyote, skunk, raccoon, muskrat, prairie dogs, beaver, hummingbirds, chickadees, robins, sparrows, finches, blackbirds, magpies, crows, woodpeckers, flickers, other small birds, butterflies, caterpillars, ant colonies, roly poly bugs, insects, crawdads, minnows, ducks, geese, heron, owls, and hawks, all of which are seen, heard and enjoyed on a regular basis by citizens of Denver and their children who walk and play and bicycle in the natural area.  Our mascot baby owl was born this year in a cottonwood tree in the natural area.

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